Business Benefits from Recycling
Using Recycled Materials and Preventing Waste Conserves Resources
Nov 27, 2007
Companies that use waste prevention and recycling programs benefit in several ways. Their customer and employee relations improve by involving environmentally conscious people. Companies also save money, reduce energy use and conserve natural resources by recycling.
Examples of waste reduction and recycling:
Restaurants Reduce Waste and Recycle
- Restaurants can use large dispensers for food rather than individual packages or containers. There are a lot more restaurants using dispensers for beverages and condiments now instead of small plastic or glass packages.
- Many restaurants also recycle their fat and oil to reuse for fuel.
- Recycle paper, plastic and cans.
- Leftover food can go to shelters or other organizations that need it so it will not go to waste. Food Not Bombs is one example of an organization that will come to pick up food and feed it to homeless people.
- Reuse packaging and containers such as boxes and crates and encourage their suppliers to do the same.
- Companies are better off using high quality durable equipment. It reduces waste and saves money because there are fewer repairs and replacements required. Lower quality and/or inexpensive equipment often ends up being more expensive and less efficient.
- Stores can donate items that people can use rather than dispose of them. Used furniture and computers can be go to people who need the items.
Companies that use recycled content now create several products. Examples of items made using recycled materials:
Paper: According to NRDC, if every household in the United States replaced one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423,900 trees. That’s a lot of trees. NRDC has a shoppers guide to home tissue products so that you can help save forests.
Tires: Floor mats, drainpipes, furniture and even buildings such as Earthships are made out of recycled tires.
Plastic bottles: Plastic can be recycled into clothing, carpeting, automobile parts, patio furniture and new plastic bottles and containers.
Clothing: Patagonia is a good example of a clothing company that recycles donated clothing. They also create fleece garments out of plastic bottles. For more information read about Patagonia’s Common Threads Garment Recycling Program.
Carpeting: Old carpets can be reused for carpet backing, shingles, lumber and stepping-stones. To learn more about how you can help through recycling your old carpets, see Carpet America Recovery Effort.
- We can contribute as individuals by either supporting companies that recycle by donating items to create new products or buying products made from recycled items.
For more information on waste prevention programs, see EPA's Waste Wise Reduction Resources.
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