Ohio State University Fact Sheet

Community Development

700 Ackerman Road, Suite 235, Columbus, OH 43202-1578

Solid Waste Management for the Small Business

CDFS-184-95

William Owen

It is not uncommon to hear of dramatic solid waste reduction or recycling tonnages achieved by businesses. These stories usually focus on the efforts of large corporations, and the results achieved are impressive. While it is not as common to hear of activities undertaken by small businesses, it is just as important for these businesses to implement waste reduction strategies, and cumulative results can be equally dramatic.

No matter what the size or type of business, the first step in reducing waste is to take a close look at the waste produced. This is sometimes called a waste audit or waste assessment. Depending on the complexity of the business, you may wish to conduct the audit yourself, or it may be worthwhile to hire a consultant.

The waste audit is simply a visual inspection of the facility to determine what types of waste are being produced and in what quantities.

• Is most of the waste generated in the production processor is it primarily office paper?
  
• How-much waste is brought into the business in terms of packaging?
  
• Is the waste mostly one material such as metal tubing?
  
• Does the waste include a wide variety of materials? How much waste is generated?
  
• Is there more waste at certain times of the week?
  

Sometimes a simple walk through the facility or a visual inspection of the trash cans will provide many of the answers to these questions. Asking an outside party to accompany you may provide an additional perspective. Certainly your trash hauler can give you an idea of the total volume of waste hauled. Once you have an idea of the types and quantity of waste your business produces, it is possible to analyze possible actions for cost effectiveness.

The Environmental Protection Agency has establish a three tiered hierarchy of preferred solid waste reduction actions: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. These are sometimes called the 3R's of waste management.

The preferred method of waste management, and usually the most cost effective, is to reduce the waste you create."Reduction" means cot creating waste in the first place. Methods for waste reduction range from retooling production techniques to minimize scrap to copying a letter on both sides of a sheet of paper rather than using two sheets. Examples include:

• Ordering raw materials in a form closer to the finished product
  
• Using electronic mail rather than generating numerous hard copies
  
• Rejecting the impulse to over-order supplies
  
• Pruning mailing lists - both incoming and outgoing
  
• Routing memos to staff rather than individual memos
  
• Utilizing ceramic coffee mugs rather than throwaways
  
• Sharing journals or magazines rather than ordering multiple copies
  

Obviously, the types of reduction activities possible will vary greatly based on the individual business.

Reusing items is another method of waste reduction that will vary depending on the type of business. Reuse or repair of an item may simply delay its going to a landfill, but each time it is reused it means that a new item is not manufactured. Reuse is a tool for minimalizing the waste that is generated. Examples of business reuse include:

• Many shipping containers and pallets are now designed o be used more than once
  
• Outdated memos can be used as scratch pads
  
• Foam mailing "peanuts" can be used over and over
  
• Inter-office envelopes can be used 20 or more times
  
• Many file folders and other office items can simply have a new tab affixed and be reused.
  

Many of these activities may seem insignificant, but the cumulative totals which can be achieved are potentially enormous.

Recycling is the third "R" in the EPA's hierarchy and the one which usually receives the most attention. Manufacturing firms have been recycling many scrap materials for years to generate income or to reduce costs. With the current low cash value of many materials, businesses need to reexamine the idea of recycling as an income generator. In some cases, businesses will actually pay to have their scrap material recycled. Before this is dismissed as just another expense, businesses need to realize that the cost of recycling may be much less than the cost to dispose the material. When this is the case, the benefit to the company is the avoided costs of disposal rather than income from the sale of materials.

In many office settings, the primary component of solid waste are paper and cardboard. In fact, the average office worker discards nearly two pounds of paper per day. In banking and insurance businesses, this amount is even higher. Recycling programs for office paper are simple to establish and can generate good results. (See Extension Fact Sheet #CDFS-115 for details). If the amount of recyclables produced does not justify a collection, consider allowing employees to bring appropriate material from home to increase the totals. If the totals are still small, consider donating them to a charitable organization. Once again, the amount and type of material a business can recycle will depend on the type of business and the availability of local recycling markets.

The process of recycling is more than just collecting materials which can be recycled. It includes reprocessing the materials which can be recycled. It includes reprocessing the material in to a new product and the purchase and use of that product. It is in the third leg or recycling - the purchase of recycled materials that business can play another significant role.

In the past few years, thousands of everyday products have been redesigned to include at least some recycled materials. In earlier years, these products were usually more expensive, but the increased demand has reduced price differences drastically. By

charging purchasing priorities to select recycled products whenever they are cost competitive and meet the necessary quality standards, businesses can help increase the market for recyclable materials. Examples of readily available products made at least in part from recycled materials include:

• Paper of all kinds -copier, typing, computer, etc.
  
• Lubricants and motor oil
  
• Plastic containers of all types
  
• File folders, pens, pencils, toner cartridges
  
• Pallets and construction materials
  
• Cleaning supplies
  
• Packaging of many types
  

For the names and addresses of many vendors supplying recycled products, contact the Buy Recycled Program of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (614) 265-6333).

Small Businesses can play a dramatic role in the quest to solve our solid waste problems. the action each business takes will need to be tailored to that business' particular operation. While the individual results of each action may seem small, the results achieved by thousands of small businesses across Ohio can have a major impact in reaching community solid waste goals.

For Further Information:

Office Pollution Prevention, The Ohio EPA

Waste Reduction Guide For Ohio's Business and Industry, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling, 1991.

Rural Business Recycling Guidebook, Midwest Assistance Program, Inc., 1993.

Developing a National Strategy... Put Office Waste Paper In Its Place, National Office Paper Recycling Project of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1992

Guide to Commercial and Industrial Recycling, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority.

Paper cycle, Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling, 1989.

Office Guide to Recycling and Buying Recycled Products, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling, 1989.

Waste In The Work Place, Keep America Beautiful.

Small and Medium Business Recycling Guide, Franklin Co. Regional Solid Waste Authority, 1992.