SETTING UP A RECYCLING SCHEME FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Identifying contractors

Once you have analysed and reviewed the waste you produce you will be able to identify the types of materials that are already recycled and the ones that are not. Availability of recycling services varies depending on the type and quantity of waste material. For example, there are many providers for paper or computer equipment but fewer for plastic waste.

Depending on the value of your waste materials you may need to pay for recycling services. You should have gathered information about the current cost of waste disposal in your waste review and this will assist in identifying competitive recycling service providers.

Based on the results of the waste review you will need to decide which types of materials you would like to recycle. The table below gives an indication about the availability of services for the most common materials based on experience in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. This can vary if your business is located in other parts of the UK.

Waste Type	Availability of recycling services
Electronic equipment	Good
Glass	Medium to Poor
Metals	Good
Office furniture	Good to medium depending on condition.
Paper & cardboard	Good
Plastics	Medium to Poor (large quantities required)
Printer cartridges	Very Good
Tyres	Good to Medium
Wood	Medium

Check with your existing waste contractor first if additional materials can be recycled. If you require a new supplier, there are many recycling companies that specialise in a particular type of material and others that can handle a range of materials in one contract. The following websites can assist you in finding a recycling contractor:

Recycle Resources CEAC Supplier Directory RECYCLE WOOD

There are other on-line directories, some of them covering a local or regional area. Some local authorities have developed business recycling directories that are available on their websites. If you have a specific requirement you may be successful in finding a specialist recycler by searching the internet directly as many companies now have an online presence.

Setting up a recycling scheme

The essence of a successful recycling scheme is simple - to collect together a sufficient quantity of a particular type of waste material, and find someone to take it away for recycling. However, in practice there are often problems to be overcome, and advance planning is essential to ensure a scheme's success. In a larger business, setting up a pilot scheme, on a modest scale, is a valuable first step which should enable problems to be eliminated at an early stage. A successful recycling scheme will need to involve all the staff of the business and relies on:

• Coordination - a scheme will need one person or a team (the Green Team/Ecoteam etc), depending on company size, to set it up, devise communication systems, provide feedback, and measure its effectiveness.
• Communication is required in a number of areas: between staff and management, between the company and recyclers, between office staff and cleaning staff, and between the coordinator or coordinating team and other staff. Once established, the scheme will need to be built into induction programmes for new staff
• Cooperation - everyone needs to do his or her bit effectively for it to work, particularly in the sorting out of waste.

Many recycling companies will provide waste containers to help you in setting up your recycling scheme and ensure that the material is segregated correctly. Typically recycling companies will offer varying types of receptacle to contain the waste. Wheelie bins of 1100 litre capacity or larger are usually hired for a small weekly fee. Smaller bins and desk tidies or boxes can be bought for small amounts to encourage collection of material at relevant locations within the business.

For a recycling system to succeed it is important that it is simple, labelled clearly and that all members of staff, both employees and cleaners, are aware of the new procedures. Successfully implemented recycling schemes indicate that the best results come from a high profile, uniform scheme that looks attractive as well as being a convenient and quick way to dispose of waste.

Action Points Put someone in charge of your scheme, and involve departmental managers and representatives to work with them. Make recycling easy: set up collection points in places that are convenient - people are less likely to recycle if they have to go out of their way to do it. If you collect office paper make use of desk tidies. When these are full transfer them to a central collection point. Keep the collection areas tidy and make sure that the bins are emptied regularly. Have clear, uniform labelling for all the recycling bins to make them easy to identify and use. Include a list of what should not be placed in the bins. Make sure that there are ample waste bins for other rubbish. Include everyone and motivate everyone to take part. Explain the importance of recycling, what happens during recovery and recycling, and how the success of the scheme depends on participation from everyone. Keep people informed of how they are doing, set recovery targets and provide incentives. Calculate your recycling rate and other waste figures periodically using the Recycling Rate Calculator (every 6 or 12 months), compare the results with your baseline figures and report progress to your colleagues.

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