Waste Reduction

The average employee generates a tonne of loose garbage every year. That’s over 100 household garbage cans per person!

If you operate a business, there is a financial benefit to managing your waste efficiently. These benefits are not just through cost savings. Studies show that businesses that commit to environmental and social responsibility benefit from customer recognition, higher employee retention and moral.

The real bottom line, committing to reducing your waste, decreases the amount of waste going to our landfills.

Basic Steps for a Waste Reduction Program

1. Take a look at your garbage – what are the most abundant items?

2. Most offices set up a sorting system for:  Paper, Cardboard, Compost, Refundable Containers & Garbage.  

3. Call your hauler to arrange collection - see Collection Providers below

4. Select containers to collect material. Clearly label bins. Download sort guides.

5. Create centralized sorting areas.  For recycling to work well, it needs to be just as easy as the garbage.  

6. For offices set a paper recycling bin at each work station.  Some offices remove the garbage cans at desks.  

7. Place paper recycling bins near printers, fax machines, & photocopiers.

8. Place compost container in areas where food is generated. Don't forget the washrooms if paper towel is used.

9. Education is key! Send memos or emails to staff and post reminders on bulletin boards. Regularly update staff on the amount of waste being diverted.

10. To save money, negotiate your collection contracts together. Garbage collection is generally charged by the frequency of collection & size of container.  By reducing the size of your garbage container, or the frequency of collection you will save money.

 Sorting Guides

Collection Providers of recycling programs

Containers

Your source separation containers should be accessible, clean and aesthetically pleasing. The colour of the bins and even the shape and size of their openings can improve their effectiveness. Use the following bin design basics to promote the best use of your waste sorting station:

Bin Tips:

• To avoid bin cross-contamination, leave the garbage opening uncovered. Also, put a lid on the opening for compost, hinged on the flat side.
  
  
• All bin openings should be easily accessible to everyone.
  
  
• Choose a bin with a slanted lid, so that waste cannot be left on top.
  
  
• Line all containers with clear plastic bags so waste can be easily identified. When full, the organics must be emptied into the green bin and the bag put in the garbage.

Bin Location:

Cluster bins together in a central, easily accessible location. Separating bins in different parts of a room can result in confusion and contamination.
To obtain free signage for your bin, please visit our signage page (downloadable sort guides).

Bin Suppliers:

Busch Systems: http://www.buschsystems.com/en-ca/

Protech Sanitation - Saint John, carries Rubbermaid recycling containers: http://www.protechsanitation.com/main.html

The Bin Doctor - Nova Scotia: http://www.bindoctor.com/index.php

ORBIS: http://www.orbiscorporation.com/

Thunderbird Plastics: http://www.thunderbirdplastics.com/index.php

Ecotainer Sales Inc.: http://www.ecotainer.ca/

Glasdon  https://gil.glasdon.com/recycling-bins

For office bins:

Peninsula Plastics: http://www.penplast.com/environmental-indoor-recycling-bin-lids.php