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Retail stores generate large amounts of highly recyclable materials, such as office
paper and corrugated cardboard. They also throw away plastics, such as plastic films
(shrink wraps and bags) and polystyrene packing "peanuts," newspaper, and
beverage containers. You can educate customers and employees about waste reduction by
promoting waste prevention through advertising campaigns and putting out recycling
containers. And retailers can save money by observing the three Rs: reduce, reuse,
recycle.
Reduce
The largest component of waste at retail stores is packaging. Work with your vendors and
suppliers and ask them to provide items without excess packaging. Retailers have a
tremendous opportunity to save money and reduce waste by following these packaging
guidelines:
- Give your customers the choice of whether or not they want their purchase bagged, or
offer a discount to customers who bring their own bag. Ask your suppliers to eliminate
packaging altogether, if possible.
- Minimize the amount of packaging used.
- Ask suppliers to provide packaging materials that are either refillable or reusable. For
example, retail stores can reuse certain packaging materials such as cardboard and
polystyrene packing "peanuts".
- Recyclable/Recycled Content. Use packaging that is recyclable and is made with recycled
materials. To the greatest extent possible, recycled content should be composed of
postconsumer recycled waste material, that is, material which has served its intended end
use and has been discarded by a business or consumer.
Reuse
Donate old and outdated merchandise to charities rather than throwing it in the trash.
Store remodeling produces construction and demolition debris in large amounts from time to
time. Many of these materials can be reused by other stores, schools, churches, or
community organizations. They can be reused or recycled by advertising in a materials
exchange, such as CalMAX, the California
Materials Exchange. Materials exchanges help businesses and institutions find markets
for materials they have traditionally discarded.
Recycle
Retail stores can reduce disposal costs and sometimes even earn revenue from the sale of
separated recyclables. Estimate the amount of recyclable materials your store produces and
arrange to have it picked up by your waste hauler or recycler. Services may include
providing recycling containers, promoting your program, and educating your employees.
Ask these questions when looking for a vendor to pick up your recyclables:
- What materials does the vendor accept for recycling?
- How should the materials be separated?
- Is there a minimum amount required for a pick up?
- Do they charge for pickup?
- Will the vendor pay for the recyclables?
- Will the vendor supply recycling containers to use throughout the workplace and large
bins for the main storage area?
- How will pickups be arranged? Scheduled? On-call?
- Does the vendor offer shredding services for confidential materials?
- Does the vendor have references?
Choose appropriate recycling containers. The size and style of recycling equipment
varies. Many vendors will supply a variety of small-size containers for business recycling
programs and nearly all provide and service the larger storage dumpsters. You may wish to
purchase your own personalized recycling bins with your company's logo or convert an
existing trash container into a recycling container. Many recycling containers are made of
recycled materials, so purchase and use them whenever possible.
Locate recycling bins strategically and label them clearly. Place recycling bins in all
heavy traffic areas, common work areas, and most importantly, in locations where
recyclables are typically generated.
Buy Recycled Products
By purchasing and using products made with recycled materials, you are "closing the
recycling loop." In addition to packaging materials with recycled content, there are
many other recycled products available, such as office paper products; tissue paper
products; plastic landscaping "timbers" and ceiling, wall, and floor tiles. Ask
your suppliers and contractors to make these products available to you.
At Malls
Mall property managers and anchor stores can provide leadership by coordinating waste
prevention, recycling, and purchasing programs at multitenant complexes. Mall managers can
consolidate efforts among businesses to generate large amounts of recyclable material
thereby making recycling more cost effective.
Sources
- Business and the Earth, a supplement to The Business Journal, 1991, Sacramento, CA,
95814
- U.S. EPA Reusable News, Spring 1992
Success Stories
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leader in procurement of reduced and recycled packaging. Sears
asked suppliers to identify ways to reduce the amount of waste, by eliminating packaging
where possible, and by increasing the use of recycled content. Suppliers agreed to reduce
the volume of packaging by 25 percent by 1995. Sears estimates the program will reduce
packaging by 1.5 million tons by the end of 1994 and save about $5 million annually!
Raley's Superstores bags groceries in plastic bags made from 30 percent recycled milk
jugs. Raley's offers customers a 5-cent credit for reusing their large printed grocery
bags, which has resulted in millions of bags being reused!
Herman Miller, Inc. has saved over $1 million annually, in part, with reusable or
cartonless furniture packaging. The company also holds workshops to educate employees
about waste prevention.
For More Help
- Reduce, Reuse,
Recycle, It's Good Business!: A Guide for California Businesses, 1994, California
Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB).
- Preferred
Packaging Procurement Guidelines, 1994, CIWMB.
- For information on how to prevent waste, call the Waste Prevention Information Exchange, (916)
341-6363.
- CIWMB Buy Recycled Program (916)
341-6481.
- For the name of your local recycling coordinator, call the CIWMB Recycling Hotline at
1-800-553-2962.
Publication #500-94-026
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more Business Waste Reduction Assistance, please contact us! If you have questions,
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