Jackson Waste Watchers
a program of:
Jackson Waste Watchers offers an award of distinction to local businesses who
demonstrate waste reduction, sustainability and leadership as environmental stewards.
This award program is designed to publicly recognize the leaders of the business
community of Jackson for their waste-reduction, recycling and repurposing practices
and their efforts to protect and improve our local environment.
Dahlem has opened the opportunity to local businesses to become an official WASTE
WATCHER by completing a questionnaire. If your organization qualifies – with all
general criteria and two or more of the additional criteria – your company will become
an official Jackson Waste Watcher. Membership to the Jackson Chamber of Commerce
is not required, although the business must be located in Jackson County.
REWARDS FOR PARTICIPATING:
Studies show that consumers want to patronize businesses that recycle or offer
recycled products. A window decal will be awarded to proudly display at business
locations and a printable certificate (badge) will be issued, which can be posted on
company’s website and shared with potential customers. Award recipients will be
recognized at the Dahlem benefit breakfast where they will be introduced to over 200
members of the Jackson business community. Recognition on Chamber website for all
recipients, and a live link to business website for Chamber members.
Additional Jackson Waste Watcher benefits:
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A recognition program helps market those businesses and improve their
corporate image.
Operational costs will decrease by reducing waste stream.
Dahlem provides free assistance from our experienced staff to implement or to
advance company’s established recycling practices.
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
WASTE WATCHER award recipient success profiles:
Green Business Excellence in Recycling
Craft Insurance Agency, Inc.
In 1923, two brothers, Merrill and Rafe Craft, founded The Craft Agency, Inc. Dedicated
to accommodating individuals, families and businesses with quality insurance options
that provide security and peace of mind, The Craft Agency Inc quickly established itself
as one of the premier independent insurance agencies in Michigan. The Craft Agency
Inc continues to add new services and specialty programs to meet the ever-changing
needs of individuals and businesses across the country. Today the Craft Agency Inc is
still led by members of the Craft family. With over 40 employees, including 30 licensed
agents, as well as two on-staff attorneys and a business consultant, The Craft Agency
Inc is well-suited to help both families and organizations get the financial protection and
the peace of mind they desire, well into the 21st century.
The Craft Agency aspires to be a “green” company by reducing, reusing and recycling
as much as possible. They have taken decisive steps to demonstrate their dedication to
the environment by implementing several smart office practices. The office has a
formal written policy on recycling and waste reduction. The employees feel they have a
duty to care for future generations, both through their insurance services and their
stewardship of the planet.
The Craft Agency has devoted a convenient and centrally located office cubicle to store
recyclables for sorting. There are recycling containers for metal cans, glass, plastic jars
and plastic water bottles in the lunch/break room. An employee collects the recyclables
and transports them in her/his own vehicle to a convenient drop-off center once a week.
Old fluorescent bulbs and cfl bulbs are recycled properly through Recycling Jackson.
Old electronics are collected and sent to Goodwill for recycling. Ink and toner cartridges
are sent to the supplier to be recycled. All Craft Agency employees are encouraged to
“watch what they throw”. Most copiers and printers are set to double sided. Email is
used for internal communication and sharing documents. All insurance policies are
offered as e-policies which has saved 1500 pieces of paper in just the first 6 months!
Disposable cups, plates and utensils have been eliminated, as the lunchroom now has
a dishwasher.
The Craft Agency has made significant efforts to affect change through their
comprehensive office-wide reduce, reuse and recycle program. The owners of The
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
Craft Agency involved their employees in developing their program, seeking their ideas
for waste reduction and recycling collection and storage. They realized this would be
both an everyday and long-term practice that was not difficult or expensive, but also did
not come naturally at the beginning. The employees were willing to change some old
habits and try new ideas, like using 30% recycled paper for the copier and printer,
maintaining electronic files instead of paper files, and receiving faxes through
computers, with selective printing. Also, they were eager to have an informal audit of
their offices and practices conducted, and welcomed all advice for increasing their
efforts.
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
Green Business Excellence in Recycling
The Toy House and Baby Too
Phil Wrzesinski’s grandfather started his “happy” business in 1949 in a small house he
called the Toy House. The business thrived and he moved the store in 1967 to its
current location in downtown Jackson, on the banks of the Grand River. Phil is third
generation of family ownership. Today Toy House and Baby Too is one of the largest
independent, family-owned toy stores in the United States. The 30,000-square-feet
store holds the largest collection of quality toys, dolls, hobbies, baby items, crafts and
books under one roof.
Phil’s grandparents and parents were ahead of their time, not just with the products and
services they provided, but with their forward thinking regarding their environmental
impact. Today Phil and his 17 employees continue their dedication to recycling and has
stepped up the level of conscientious business practices by including eco-friendly and
made in the USA toys in his inventory.
For over 30 years the Toy House has been recycling the vast amount of cardboard
boxes it receives from shipments. The cardboard dumpster fills up and is emptied two
times as fast as the garbage dumpster. All office paper and supplies, junk mail and
packaging pellets are recycled, and the store has a policy of using e-documents for its
employees. Recently Phil had replaced the overhead lighting with environmentally and
energy friendly bulbs and ballasts. Also, Phil purchases energy efficient appliances and
has come to enjoy a 13% decrease in his energy bill by lowering his thermostat by just 1
degree.
The employees at Toy House continue to strive to better the environment, both locally
and globally, by purchasing eco-friendly and made in USA products, and implementing
a reduced waste policy.
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
Green Business Excellence in Recycling
James C. Butterfield, Inc.
In 1924 Harold Butterfield entered the investment business as a matchmaker between
farmers and investors. Today, the family tradition of helping clients broaden their
financial options continues with the 3rd generation. James C. Butterfield Investments,
headed by Ken and Alex Butterfield (James’ sons) is a comprehensive financial services
firm, committed to helping clients improve long-term financial success.
At James C. Butterfield Inc, (JCB) the 4 employees believe in going the extra step to be
a local team player by supporting our local community both financially and with sweat
equity. In addition to connecting with local businesses, JCB believes in maintaining a
“green” office to help protect the environment. This is not something Harold or James
focused on, but this generation is very aware of the responsibility they have to
conservation.
Ken and Alex have adopted a policy on recycling and reduced waste at the office. The
office staff recycles every type of non-confidential office paper/folders/envelopes. All
confidential documents are shredded and recycled by a local company. As a result of
increased recycling, the office has been able to decrease its garbage collection, thereby
saving money. Several years ago Ken and Alex started using
biodegradable/compostable plates, cups and utensils for the large dinners at their
seminars, and use only washable, reusable items for small meetings. This has saved
several loads of garbage.
Recently the securities regulators have switched from a back up paper copy for all client
investment applications and statements to a computer file. This change is estimated is
save 200 pieces of paper a week, and about $25 a month! Also, the office staff
switched from paper coffee cups to reusable mugs, saving $15 a month.
In addition to a reduced waste office policy, JCB uses Energy Star qualified office
equipment such as the copier, printer, computers and the 5 gallon water heater (only 5
gallons!).
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
Green Business Excellence in Recycling
MACI
Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., MACI, is the largest manufacturing employer in
Jackson County with 590 associates (employees.) Established in Sandstone Township
on the west side of Jackson County in 1989, the company manufactures automotive airconditioning compressor units for North American automotive
manufacturers. Customers include GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, and Honda, as well as
Freightliner and John Deere.
Environmental Management is integrated into all processes at MACI. This includes
production processes as well as administrative, going so far as to include composting of
lunch scraps.
At a corporate level, the company is ISO 14001 certified. ISO 14001 is an
environmental management system that ensures that a certified company goes beyond
regulatory compliance and establishes goals to promote positive environmental
interactions, while minimizing any negative impacts. The associates responsibly
manage the parts and chemicals on their lines. When it comes to disposal, MACI has
over 20 different “recycling streams” in place, from production-process byproducts such
as grinding sludge and aluminum oxide to cardboard, plastic, Styrofoam and paper
towels.
MACI’s biggest office recycling area is the lunchroom where they recycle plastic,
cardboard, paper, metal, Styrofoam, glass and food scraps. As part of the
environmental outreach to their associates, MACI has a summer gardening program
using large cement “pots.” Associates raise vegetables, herbs and flowers in the pots,
growing them in the compost they make from food scraps and paper towels.
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
Jackson Waste Watchers Application Form
Company name: _____________________________________________
Contact person: _____________________________________________
Phone number:
_____________________________________________
E-mail address:
_____________________________________________
Website address: _____________________________________________
Number of employees: _______________________
Type of company: _____________________________________________
General Criteria – company must achieve all General Criteria to receive certification
1) All paper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail and cardboard are recycled.
2) All glass bottles, metal cans, plastic bottles (including those without a deposit) and #5
plastic containers are recycled.
3) Facility has a system–wide process in place to keep recyclable items separate from
the trash (such as desk side recycling containers) and ensures that these separated
recyclables are placed in outside recycling containers for pick up and are not thrown in
with the trash.
4) Recycling collection is provided through the business’ waste hauler or another
method is in place to transport and recycle the materials (i.e. business self-hauls
material to a Material Recovery Facility or to local drop-off center) Proof required if selfhauling option is utilized.
5) List one or more waste reduction practices the business has implemented to reduce
waste in the workplace (Example: use less paper, provide reusable water bottles or
coffee mugs to employees for reuse, etc.)
Detail:_________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org
6) Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are recycled.
7) Set copy machine(s) defaults to “double-side documents” to reduce paper usage.
8) Email is used for internal communication and sharing documents to reduce paper
generation, as opposed to making multiple hard copies of documents and
communications.
9) Has a company policy that emails are not printed unless necessary.
10) Electronics are recycled (including computers, monitors, printers and other
peripheral equipment); items cannot be thrown in the trash.
11) Business has a formal written policy on recycling.
12) Participates in an ink and toner cartridge recycling program.
Reduce & Reuse - Choose Two (or more) Measures
1) Participates in a business battery recycling program. [Y/N]
2) Utilizes rechargeable or lithium batteries as a replacement for alkaline. [Y/N]
3) Reuses training materials or switch to computerized training tools. [Y/N]\
4) Eliminates disposable cups and switch to reusable beverage containers for everyday
use (special events excluded). [Y/N]
5) Recycles Styrofoam cups if utilized. [Y/N]
6) Purchases used or refurbished office furniture and equipment. [Y/N]
7) Reuses boxes and packing materials for shipments. [Y/N]
8) Every office space has recycling containers for papers, as well as bottles and cans;
or general recycling collection bins are located throughout administrative areas and next
to every main printer. [Y/N]
9) Sets out additional recycling containers for special events or meetings. [Y/N]
10) Eliminate the purchase of bottled water in offices and for meetings and conference
events. [Y/N]
11) Uses at least one of these paper products (paper napkins, towels, or other tissue
products) made with 100% recycled content. [Y/N]
12) Openly promotes recycling to their customers or clients. [Y/N]
13) Purchase copy paper containing at least 30% recycled content. [Y/N]
Waste Watchers of Jackson – contact: Rod Malloy – rmalloy@dahlemcenter.org