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Setting Up a 5Rs Program in Your Workplace
Ontarians produce nearly one tonne of solid waste each every year. Despite a large increase in recycling, nearly 20,000 tonnes more solid waste were buried in landfill in
Why adopt a goal of Zero Waste?
· If present practices continue, developing a new containment site at the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Facility will need to be developed within twenty years at a cost of more than 25 million dollar
· To ensure compliance with
· To reduce costs; recycling pick-ups are cheaper than garbage pick-ups
· To divert hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium and mercury from landfill to prevent leaching into soils and contaminating ground water source
· To reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions; methane from landfill gas has 23 times the global warming potential as carbon dioxide
· To reduce waste of materials and resources by purchasing durable, locally products that are easily reused, repaired and recycled
· To support local jobs and economic self-sufficiency
· To lessen our reliance on non-renewable resources
· To help ensure that the needs of all the people on the planet and future generations are met
· To demonstrate environmental leadership to staff, customers, the community and beyond
Getting Started……….
Step 1: Create a Green Team. Commit to the 5 Rs: Rethink (buy local, say no to disposables, use bio-degradable, non-toxic cleaners and personal care products) Refuse (plastic bags, excessive packaging) Reduce (consume less, donate and purchase used clothing and goods) Reuse (buy products that are durable and easily repaired) Recycle. (buy items easily recycled)
Step 2: Conduct a waste audit to determine what kind of solid and hazardous waste is produced and how much is generated each week or month etc. Eliminate as much waste as possible. Information on conducting waste audits is available on the ZWATeam’s Website.
Step 3: Develop and implement Green Purchasing policies to reduce packaging
and increase the use of more durable, eco-friendly materials. Buy local goods and services and support local food production. Support social justice and the purchase of Fair Trade certified products.
Step 4: Decide what kind of containers you want to use, where they will be, as well as who will collect the recyclables and take them to the storage area. The storage area must conform to fire regulations. If a private firm is responsible for collecting waste within the building, the tender must specify they are to separate recyclables into appropriate containers and take to the recycling storage area. Recycling pick-up for the facility will have to be arranged. To avoid fruit fly infestations, recyclables will need to be regularly removed to an outside storage area.
Step 5: Start an education program so that everyone understands the purpose of the program and how it will work. Ask for ongoing input and suggestions in order to expand and improve the program and identify champions to promote it. Make is easy to participate and provide incentives to increase results. Try new ideas like vermi -composting leftovers in your lunchroom.
Step 6: Pick a kick-off date for the 5Rs Program and plan a celebration. Invite special guests, publicize the event and let ZWAT know so we can attend and promote your initiative on our website www.zwat.org. Track your progress and share the results in e-newsletters, on bulletin boards etc.
The ZWATeam provides free presentations and assistance in setting up waste reduction/diversion programs for members of the IC&I sectors and organizations. For info about the ZWATeam and becoming a member, go to our Website www.zwat.org. For more information contact Janice at zwatcentral@yahoo.com.
Setting Up a Waste Reduction/Diversion Program in Your Workplace