recycle symbol

You will find that most people WANT to recycle and will chip in, but need a PROGRAM to get actually do it. A few basic planning steps will make your program easy to start.

Steps

1. Ask all the staff which rooms they produce UN-RECYCLABLE TRASH, PAPER and CARDBOARD WASTE, FOOD WASTE, and OTHER RECYCLABLES (glass, cans, plastic).
2. In common areas like hallways, kitchens, meeting rooms you will want a bin for EACH TYPE to ensure people will deposit materials in the right place.
3. Contact your local municipal waste collection service (easy to find online, Google your city name and recycling or garbage pick up) to find out what your community can and will recycle. They may even offer you free bins and educational posters!
4. Count how many trash, paper/cardboard, compost, and other recycling bins you will need. Each kind should visually look different.
5. Plan a meeting for everyone in your building to teach them what goes in which bin. Make sure you include your custodial/janitorial staff since they will be consolidating and collecting the contents. People will lose faith in the program if they don't believe the bins are being sorted correctly or sent to actual recycling!
6. Purchase the bins and place them where your staff decided they were needed.

Tips

• Completely collect your information, posters, and bins before you launch your program. It will lead to greater success to start all at once instead of in stages.
• You can do a pre-program assessment of garbage output so you can measure its reduction a month or so after you have launched. But don't let this step slow you down from actually getting started. It can be intimidating and feel complicated. Just go for it will getting staff feedback, contacting the city, purchasing bins, and setting up your educational meeting! Good luck!