Practical Recycling Tips for Businesses and Properties

By Daniel Butler
Municipal Relations San Diego County
Waste Management of North County

Did You Know? Half emptied plastic bottles and cans, food-soiled cardboard along with plastic wrap, trash and hazardous materials such as batteries and propane tanks, often make their way into recycling bins, resulting in contaminated recyclables, that upon arriving at recycling facilities, hinder the recycling process and cause safety hazards for workers.

Since 2012, California businesses that generate more than four cubic yards of solid waste a week and multi-family complexes with five units or more have been required to have a recycling program in place in support of reaching the state’s diversion goal of 75 percent.  As employers and landlords do their part to follow state recycling laws, Waste Management extends practical ways to engage with employees and tenants in order to further reduce their carbon footprint by focusing on recycling the right things the right way.
 
Influence proper recycling among employees and tenants with these tips:

1. Assign & Empower: Identify an on-site recycling champion who will take ownership of recycling efforts and help motivate others.
2. Learn & Set Up: Review the acceptable items as well as the do’s and don’ts of recycling with your champion to ensure sustainable practices are met. Place recycling containers in common areas, such as meeting and break rooms as well as recreation rooms and outdoor areas.  Visit greenoceanside.org for more helpful tips.
   1. Do: Recycle empty plastic bottles, cans, paper and cardboard, keep food and liquids out of recycling and always place recyclables loose inside containers when possible. Remember to always breakdown cardboard boxes to make room for all your recyclables.
   2. Don’t: Place plastic wrap, hoses, rope, bulky items, scrap metal or hazardous materials such as batteries in your recycling.
3. Engage & Sustain: Hold frequent meetings to promote your program as well as award those employees or tenants who have continuously done their part to stay compliant by recycling the right way.