Small Businesses
Waste Reduction and
Fact Sheet
Waste reduction and recycling in a office-type small business (fewer than 50 employees) can
pose many challenges. This fact sheet is intended to help the office-type small business overcome
those challenges by describing waste reduction techniques and presenting strategies for
implementing cost-effective recycling programs.
WHY WASTE REDUCTION IS GOOD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
Positive Public Image - The public appreciates and patronizes businesses that make efforts to
reduce waste
Free Publicity - Join Mecklenburg County’s Wipe Out Waste Business Recognition Program
and receive free publicity in local media
Cost Savings - Waste reduction techniques encourage reuse of materials/supplies rather than
buying new; reducing waste can reduce waste disposal service cost.
HOW TO REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE WASTE
√ Check the boxes that apply to your business.
Dining Areas
□ Use e-mail and maintain electronic files instead of paper files
□ Establish a company website instead of printing brochures
□ Produce documents in-house to avoid extra copies, rather than sending out to a printer
□ Receive faxes through computers and select which ones to print
□ Make double-sided copies whenever possible
□ Eliminate unnecessary reports
□ Participate in a Commercial Mail Reduction Program (contact Mecklenburg County
Waste Reduction for assistance)
□ Reuse office supplies, such as file folders and manila envelopes, when possible
□ Convert scrap paper, outdated forms, and letterhead into memo pads
□ Trade or swap materials with other businesses to conserve resources
□ Practice preventive maintenance on equipment to prolong service life
□ Sell or donate used equipment and furniture
□ Provide reusable glasses, cups, and dishes instead of disposables
□ Order items in bulk quantities to reduce packaging
□ Buy concentrated cleaning supplies
□ Reduce use of disposable items where possible
□ Purchase fewer toxic materials when possible
□ Ask suppliers to take back unwanted packaging and pallets; and use returnable or reusable
boxes or crates
□ Reuse plastic drums and buckets as recycling or solid waste collection containers
□ Use refillable pump-style sprays instead of aerosol cans
□ Collect mixed office paper, corrugated cardboard, aluminum cans, and toner cartridges
for recycling
□ Flatten all cardboard boxes before recycling
□ Purchase paper products (stationery, tissues, towels) made from recycled paper fibers
□ Purchase recycled-content solid waste containers, liners, and storage bins
Business Recycling Info Line: 704-432-3200
Mecklenburg County Business & Commercial Recycling Source Separation Ordinance
Small Businesses
Waste Reduction and
Fact Shee
□ When renovating, purchase building materials made from recycled-content, such as ceiling tiles,
carpets, floor tiles, and wallboard
□ Purchase supplies with minimal packaging or reusable packaging
Recycling Tip: A business buys 10 cases of copy paper per month@ $27/case. After setting their
copiers’ default to double-side copying, the business only needs 6 cases of paper per month.
Savings $108/month
HOW TO START A WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM
1. Commit to waste reduction – Demonstrate commitment with time and resources. Select
a volunteer Recycling Coordinator who is enthusiastic and has good communication and
organization skills, or encourage an existing recycling champion to serve as a focal point for
waste reduction efforts.
2. Know your waste – Determine the types and amount of waste being discarded. Examine
contents of solid waste containers, talk to janitorial staff/solid waste hauler about types of
waste and their percentages, or conduct a waste audit (contact Mecklenburg County Waste
Reduction for assistance).
3. Choose waste reduction techniques – Decide what waste reduction practices to implement,
based on priorities, such as largest portion of waste stream, ease of implementation,
convenience to employees, and cost effectiveness.
4. Start a recycling program –
a. Decide what to collect. Materials commonly collected include cardboard, mixed paper, and
aluminum cans. Other recyclables include newspapers, magazines, telephone books, toner
cartridges, plastic bottles, aluminum and ferrous metals, and batteries. Involve employees in
deciding which materials are to be collected. Start the program with a few of these materials
and add more over time.
b. Develop a recyclables plan. Involve employees in deciding what collection containers
will be used, where they will be located, and where recyclables will be stored before pickup by
a recycling vendor or being transported to a County Recycling Center. Select recycling containers
that are a different color from the solid waste containers to help avoid confusion. Locate containers
near areas where recyclables are generated – such as offices, kitchens, and vending areas. In
public areas, clearly marked solid waste containers should always be placed near recycling
containers to avoid having trash thrown in with recyclables.
c. Obtain a recycling service that fits your needs. Many recycling service options are available
locally and services will depend on type and volume of recyclables. If contracting with a recycling
vendor is not a cost-effective option, collect recyclables and transport them to one of the County’s
Commercial Drop or Recycling Centers.
5. Involve/train/motivate staff. Involve all employees in waste reduction. Seek their ideas for
waste reduction and recycling collection and storage. Some of the best ideas come from employees
outside the major business area, such as maintenance or housekeeping staff members.
6. Monitor and evaluate. Monitor waste and recycling containers to determine what items people
are continuing to discard. If you experience low recycling participation rates or if wastes are
frequently found mixed with the recyclables, review your program’s instructions with employees
and ask for their feedback. Stress m a n a g e m e n t ’ s commitment to reducing waste. Record
the amount of recyclables recovered from the waste stream and use this data to calculate
cost savings and program efficiency. Also, review purchase orders to identify opportunities to
reduce supplies and purchase bulk or concentrated materials.
RECYCLING OPTIONS
Many recycling vendor or service options are available including the following:
Commingled recyclables (paper, cardboard, and aluminum cans) and non-food waste in
same container.
Business Recycling Info Line: 704-432-3200
Mecklenburg County Business & Commercial Recycling Source Separation Ordinance
Small Businesses
Waste Reduction and
Fact Sheet
In office areas, where the waste is primarily recyclable, clear solid waste bags are used. Dark bags
are used in kitchens and restrooms. The recyclable bags are sorted at the vendor’s facility. This
service does not require additional space for interior or exterior recycling collection containers
or changes in the janitorial service contract.
Mixed office paper. Paper is collected in 55- or 90-gallon roll carts. The carts are rolled to an
outside area for pickup. Pickups can be arranged for various service fees, depending on location
and frequency of pickups. This service requires space for the carts and an outside staging area for
pickups. The cost of recycling collection may be offset by the reduction in waste disposal services.
Cardboard. Cardboard is collected, flattened, and, depending on volume, placed in an outside
collection container or merely stacked. An exterior collection container may require site preparation
(e.g., concrete pad, screening, fencing). Little or no additional interior space is needed for
collecting cardboard. The cost of recycling collection may be offset by the reduction in waste
disposal services.
Aluminum Cans. Empty aluminum cans are collected separately for transport to: a recycling
vendor; County Recycling Center; or schools, fire stations, or charities that collect aluminum
cans as fund raisers. Small quantities may be taken home and added to household recyclables
for curbside pickup. Cans can be intact or crushed to minimize the space needed for storage.
Comingling of cans with other recyclables for pickup is allowed by some recycling vendors.
Where to Take Your Recyclables?
Mecklenburg County Commercial Drop Centers*:
• Mixed office paper
• Corrugated cardboard
• Bagged aluminum cans
Mecklenburg County Recycling Centers*:
• Mixed office paper
• Newspapers, magazines, telephone books
• Flattened corrugated cardboard
• Commingled: #1 and #2 plastic bottles, glass jars and bottles, aluminum/steel/tin cans
Local Recycling Vendors*:
• Mixed office paper
• Corrugated cardboard
• Aluminum cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• #1 and #2 plastic bottles
Recycling Barriers and Solutions
Lack of Cost-Effective Recycling Service
• If you are part of a multi-tenant building with garbage service provided through the property
management company, ask the property manager to also provide recycling services.
• Band together with other businesses. Check with other businesses in your building, mall, or block.
Coordinated efforts can raise recyclable volumes enough to make recycling services affordable.
• Piggyback with a large business in your area that is already recycling. Check to see if the large
business will allow you to empty recyclables into their large recycling bins.
• Ask trucks that bring supplies to your business if they would be available to back-haul clean
recyclables to a County Recycling Center.
• Join an existing program. Ask neighboring businesses if they have recycling programs and if
it is possible to join their programs as a partner and share in cost and revenues.
Inconvenience
Lack of Cost-Effective Recycling Service
• Integrate the separation and collection of recyclables into normal work routine.
• Sort recyclables at first point of contact (for example, collect cardboard boxes for recycling
as soon as they are unpacked).
• Locate recycling containers in or near work areas where recyclables are generated.
Business Recycling Info Line: 704-432-3200
Mecklenburg County Business & Commercial Recycling Source Separation Ordinance
Small Businesses
Waste Reduction and
Fact Sheet
Cost
• Practice waste reduction techniques to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be
disposed or recycled.
• Contact several recycling vendors for service that meets needs and negotiate the best price.
• Utilize County Recycling Centers.
• Reduce number and/or size of waste containers and pickup frequency to offset the cost
of recycling service.
• Work with employees to maximize recyclable collection.
• Ask vendors to supply paper collection boxes.
Limited Space
• Use collection containers that allow for side hanging orstackable collection containers.
• Use a recycling service that allows comingling of wasteand recyclables.
• Use smaller recycling containers and request more pickups.
• Downsize and/or reduce number of waste containers to provide space for recycling containers.
• Use a centralized recycling collection area in a hallway or storage area.
Example 1 – Five-employee company recycles mixed office paper, corrugated cardboard,
newspapers, bottles, and cans. Paper is sorted into two containers at each desk. One is for paper
to be shredded prior to recycling. The paper is collected and stored in a central location. About
80 lbs. of shredded and unshredded paper is transported monthly to a County Recycling Center.
Newspapers, bottles, and cans are also taken to the County Recycling Center. Cardboard is placed
in the cardboard collection dumpster of an adjacent business at no charge.
Example 2 – Six-employee company recycles corrugated cardboard, mixed office paper, and toner
cartridges. The cardboard is collected for recycling by the cleaning contractor at no additional fee.
Paper is collected in a container next to the copier. The paper is picked up by a recycling vendor
every two weeks at no charge, due to an existing large-volume client in the same office building.
Toner cartridges are returned to a reconditioner for recharging.
Example 3 – Nineteen-employee company recycles mixed office paper. The property management
company provides and pays for twice weekly pickup of mixed office paper for the building’s
tenants. Recycling containers for paper are located at each desk. The cleaning crew collects the
paper from each desk and deposits it in a 90-gallon roll cart. The carts are stored on two floors
of the building. This company recycles about 400 lbs. of paper per month.
Estimate of Recycling Savings – Forty-five employee company generates about 550 lbs. mixed
office paper and 400 lbs. cardboard, but does not recycle. The company has an 8-cubic yard
waste container that is emptied twice per week at a low monthly cost. However, the waste disposal
contract is up for renewal and monthly fees are expected to increase. The increase can be
mitigated by starting a recycling program for paper and cardboard. Monthly cost of waste disposal
and recycling using a vendor is estimated below.
Existing: Waste Service Fee = $87
Projected: Waste Service Fee*
(current level of service) = $218
Projected: Downsized Waste Service* (weekly pickup of 8-cubic yard waste container) = $109
Recycling Vendor Fee* (Bi-monthly pickup of 10 roll carts for paper and cardboard) = $58
Total $167
Estimated monthly saving $218 - $167 = $51
Other Potential Recycling Program Costs:
• Employee time/mileage for transport of recyclables to County Recycling Center
• Modification of janitorial service contracts
• Acquisition of desk-side collection containers and roll carts
Business Recycling Info Line: 704-432-3200
Mecklenburg County Business & Commercial Recycling Source Separation Ordinance