Recycling Bins : A Buying Guide For Companies
http://www.culturesociety.net/articles/9026/1/Recycling-Bins--A-Buying-Guide-For-Companies/Page1.html
Mark Thomas Walters
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Published on 02/11/2010
There are numerous factors that need to be considered when setting up a new recycling scheme in your company For example, what waste streams will be recycled, what quantity of waste will be produced, what type of containers will be required, and do these need to adhere to a particular color scheme
There are numerous factors that need to be considered when setting up a new recycling scheme in your company. For example, what waste streams will be recycled, what quantity of waste will be produced, what type of containers will be required, and do these need to adhere to a particular color scheme? With all these different factors to think about, it is easy to forget to take into consideration the environmental impact of the recycling containers themselves.
A large proportion of recycling and waste bins are manufactured from plastic, and a around 8% of global oil production is presently used in the manufacturing of plastics. Extracting this resource requires vast quantities of energy, and the process of plastic production uses harmful chemicals, whilst emitting pollutants and greenhouse gases. Therefore, despite being created for an environmentally beneficial use, the manufacturing process of recycling bins has detrimental effects.
Fortunately, there are things that you can do to minimize the negative effects that result from recycling bins...
- Buy quality products. Look for containers that are well constructed and durable. Recycling containers for commercial use will need to withstand far more wear and tear than those used within homes. Opt for well made products which are less likely to need replacing and will last for years to come. Many recycling schemes will become self funding in just a few years from the cost savings of diverting waste from landfill.
- Source from nearby locations. Source products that are manufactured in, and distributed from, the same country as your own. Minimizing the distance needed to ship the goods reduces the overall carbon footprint of them.
- Look for products manufactured from recycled plastic. Many containers are now manufactured with a percentage of post-consumer recycled plastic. This will reduce the need for extraction of virgin materials and also reduces energy consumption and emissions during the production process. As an example, producing recycled plastic carrier bags uses around 60% less energy, and 90% less water, compared to virgin production.
- Repair existing recycling containers. Quite often, containers are shown away because they have a crack in them, or even just because they become very dirty. They are really very poor excuses for throwing anything away, never mind something that was originally bought to help the environment. Therefore, before buying new recycling containers, ensure any that they are meant to be replacing are absolutely past a state of repair.
- Buy second-hand recycling containers. The optimal way to reduce environmental impacts in waste management is through re-using existing products. If you can source good quality second-hand or unwanted recycling containers then this will prevent the bins from simply being discarded. It is surprising how many large corporations end up with an excess of containers from an altered pilot recycling project.
So, the next time that your company needs new or additional recycling containers, try to spend some time working out, using the above guidelines, how to minimize the detrimental effect that they will have on the environment. It makes sense to really as, after all, if you are set on becoming an environmentally friendly company then you may as well make sure that you do it thoroughly.
A large proportion of recycling and waste bins are manufactured from plastic, and a around 8% of global oil production is presently used in the manufacturing of plastics. Extracting this resource requires vast quantities of energy, and the process of plastic production uses harmful chemicals, whilst emitting pollutants and greenhouse gases. Therefore, despite being created for an environmentally beneficial use, the manufacturing process of recycling bins has detrimental effects.
Fortunately, there are things that you can do to minimize the negative effects that result from recycling bins...
- Buy quality products. Look for containers that are well constructed and durable. Recycling containers for commercial use will need to withstand far more wear and tear than those used within homes. Opt for well made products which are less likely to need replacing and will last for years to come. Many recycling schemes will become self funding in just a few years from the cost savings of diverting waste from landfill.
- Source from nearby locations. Source products that are manufactured in, and distributed from, the same country as your own. Minimizing the distance needed to ship the goods reduces the overall carbon footprint of them.
- Look for products manufactured from recycled plastic. Many containers are now manufactured with a percentage of post-consumer recycled plastic. This will reduce the need for extraction of virgin materials and also reduces energy consumption and emissions during the production process. As an example, producing recycled plastic carrier bags uses around 60% less energy, and 90% less water, compared to virgin production.
- Repair existing recycling containers. Quite often, containers are shown away because they have a crack in them, or even just because they become very dirty. They are really very poor excuses for throwing anything away, never mind something that was originally bought to help the environment. Therefore, before buying new recycling containers, ensure any that they are meant to be replacing are absolutely past a state of repair.
- Buy second-hand recycling containers. The optimal way to reduce environmental impacts in waste management is through re-using existing products. If you can source good quality second-hand or unwanted recycling containers then this will prevent the bins from simply being discarded. It is surprising how many large corporations end up with an excess of containers from an altered pilot recycling project.
So, the next time that your company needs new or additional recycling containers, try to spend some time working out, using the above guidelines, how to minimize the detrimental effect that they will have on the environment. It makes sense to really as, after all, if you are set on becoming an environmentally friendly company then you may as well make sure that you do it thoroughly.