If every California home followed some waste prevention techniques, the state would still not meet its goal of reducing waste by 50 percent by the year 2000.
That's because 61 percent of the state's 45 million annual tons of waste is produced by businesses. If California is going to respond to the challenge of the state's waste reduction targets, then lots of creative thinking and waste reduction is going to have to be done while on the job.
Luckily, California's entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in innovative programs instituted at a variety of different types of commercial and industrial enterprises. Firms like Mag Instrument, Inc., producer of the Mag-lite flashlight since 1979, have reduced the amount of packaging in its products and reuses packaging received from suppliers.
All corrugated cardboard is baled and recycled, as is the computer paper. They also close the loop by purchasing recycled-content paper products and using recycled products in manufacturing their flashlights.
One of the best ways to understand the benefits of waste prevention is through a little research. In almost every field, there are a few firms that have active waste prevention efforts. Your business may realize economic savings or public relations gains through a new waste prevention program.
One option is to get your company to adopt an environmental policy reflecting how the firm sees itself in relation to the environment, neighbors and the people it employs. Today, more companies are adopting environmental policies. A typical goal is zero waste.
Some of the things to look for when evaluating the benefits of waste prevention are the waste disposal costs you avoid by reducing the company waste stream; the reduction in energy and water utility costs; the reduction in raw materials; the reduction in storage costs; and the reduction in printing and postage costs.
The most effective way to communicate the value of waste prevention is person-to-person communication. Seek volunteers in each work area who are willing to be trained "waste reduction pros." These pros can become friendly sources of waste prevention information and provide ongoing feedback. Train new employees. Let them know they are expected to use resources carefully and fully participate in waste reduction programs. Finally, use all-employee gatherings to promote waste prevention. Show what is being done and what areas need improvement. Document and verify waste reduced and money saved.
For example, Eat Your Vegetables restaurants in Sacramento are now diverting 88% of their waste. The owner chopped his annual waste bill from $4,200 to just $400. These numbers can be useful in showing the environmental and economic benefits of waste prevention.
The first step in a company wide waste prevention campaign is a waste audit or waste assessment. It helps you understand the waste stream and the major areas that need attention. A good strategy is to pick one area of waste where you can reduce, donate, reuse, recycle or compost. Do one thing at a time and use common sense. The bottom line: follow up and follow through!
After implementing thorough waste prevention techniques, there will typically still be some material that can be recycled. Small businesses often do not generate enough of these recyclables to attract hauling services. But forward-looking entrepreneurs have teamed up with neighbors to form co-ops. Through such partnerships, small businesses may be able to save money by sharing equipment such as balers, sharing space for collection and loading of materials, and collectively generating enough recyclables to make collection profitable for both the hauler and the small business. By sharing these expenses, small businesses are preventing waste while they are recycling.
Author: Lee Young
Author Bio:
Maybe you don't have time to thumb through the quarterly catalog, which could be a great read with your morning coffee. If not, try CALMAX On-Line . Want to put a free ad in the CALMAX catalog, get on the mailing list or learn more? Call the California Integrated Waste Management Board at (916) 341-6603 or write the board at 1001 I Street, PO Box 4025, Sacramento, CA 95812-4025.
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