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Develop or Improve your Waste-Reduction Program

Designing a waste-reduction program requires an understanding of your waste stream, attainable objectives and goals and management support. Putting a program in place can help you comply with the law, reduce waste and save natural resources.

A successful waste-reduction program involves:

• Reducing
• Reusing
• Recycling
• Buying smart
• Reducing packaging
• Getting everyone involved
• Spreading the word

How to Get Started

Step 1:  Audit your waste stream

Tour the waste room in your building. Have a look in your garbage and recycling bins. It should be easy to determine if your current recycling systems are working. Sometimes this exercise alone can inspire ideas for improvements.

Find out if your office building falls under the 3Rs regulations. If it does, a waste audit and waste-reduction workplan are mandatory.

Many waste haulers/service providers can offer assistance at this stage.

Step 2:  Secure management support

Support from all levels of management is required. This will encourage and promote tenant engagement. And since waste-reduction programs often involve capital investments, management will need to approve budgets to ensure resources are available when needed.

Gain support by demonstrating how a waste-reduction program can save money, boost employee morale, attract new tenants and save natural resources.

Programs succeed when building management professionals:

• Implement building-wide waste-reduction policies
• Allocate resources (staff and money)
• Lead by example
• Stay committed and involved
• Support incentives to reward staff involvement
• Keep tenants in the loop with regular communications

Step 3:  Design your recycling program

Design a system for collecting recyclables.

Key considerations:

• Bins
  • Whether you buy new bins or repurpose existing bins, clear, well-placed signage is critical.
• Location
  • Make it convenient and easy! Put recycling containers in individual offices.
  • Place large bins in strategic locations where high volumes of materials are generated. For example, put paper recycling bins next to copiers and printers.
  • Always place smaller garbage bins near the recycling bins to prevent tenants from throwing “waste” into the recycling bin.
• Cleaning Staff Participation
  • If possible, encourage your cleaning staff to monitor program effectiveness. They can monitor who in the office is recycling and who is not.
  • Make sure the cleaning staff is comfortable with the system and any changes in workload.
  • Have cleaning staff leave reminder notices in individual offices. (Check out his example from HBC (PDF).) Individual accountability is a critical component of a successful recycling program.
• Service Providers
  • Many service providers offer a range of services. See our resources section for a list of reputable service providers.
• Mandatory Participation
  • Work with management to make tenant participation mandatory.

Step 4:  Buy smart

Purchasing decisions can greatly enhance your waste-reduction efforts. Choose environmentally preferred products and services that help protect the environment and human health.

Learn more about green procurement.

Step 5:  Raise awareness

• Let tenants know that you intend to put a waste-reduction program in place, and involve interested tenants in program development.
• Announce the launch of your program and provide instructions on how to participate.
• Communicate with tenants often by:
  • Hanging promotional posters in key locations around your building.
  • Labeling bins with clear, easy-to-understand stickers.
  • Sending out emails to address common sorting errors.
  • Sending out regular updates to let tenants know how they are doing.

Learn more about tenant engagement.

Step 6:  Maintain and improve your recycling program

• Let tenants know about your recycling policies, procedures and goals
• Encourage participation
• Stress that recyclables must be kept free of contaminants that can diminish their market value or ability to be recycled
• Work with your hauler and custodial staff to identify contamination problems and be sure to pass this feedback on to tenants and staff through emails, memos and newsletters
• Publicize program successes through staff meetings, orientation sessions for new employees, newsletters, fliers and posters
• Notify tenants about any changes to the program or any problems that need to be rectified

An ongoing education program for tenants will:

• Reduce costs
• Keep contamination levels low
• Keep materials out of landfill
• Help you avoid penalties