Corporate Recycling Programs tions: This results in significant collective time savings. Mark Scott, senior chief operating engi-neer for CB Richard Ellis in Suwanee, Georgia, recalls his company’s situ-ation before they put a corpo-rate recycling program into place: “It was very frustrating,” he said. “We had to spend a lot of time tracking down local vendors, and they were difficult to manage because they all had different ways of doing business.” A second reason why corporate recycling programs are beneficial is that they ensure universal participa-tion and compliance. If facilities are allowed to “go it alone” and remain responsible for their own recy-cling, there is a good chance that some facilities won’t see the overall value in tak-ing the time or money to setup their own program. Non-participation by even a small num-ber of facilities can not only inhibit the over-all green goals of the organization, but just one waste violation detected by a state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) office can also result in large fines. While tens of thousands of dollars in fines are never good, the negative press from just one violation can significantly tar-nish the green reputation of a company and reduce consumer confidence in the envi-ronmental concerns of the organization. Corporate recycling programs can also provide a way for entire companies to track their overall green progress. When multiple facilities are all part of one program, there is one central reporting standard, allowing recycling progress to be quantified and compared. Without a company-wide recycling pro-gram that has standardized reporting for all its facilities, there is no simple way to col-lect and analyze data from facilities that are recycling or even a way to make sure that a facility is recycling at all. Inability to quantify recycling progress turns into a missed opportunity for market-ing green efforts to customers; for example, being able to back up your commitment to sustainable practices with hard data on pounds of batteries recycled is much more of a green selling point than simply saying, “We’re a green company.” While each program differs, most involve a simple signup process through a cus-tomized website or web portal. Once the program starts, each facility is given directions on how to access the site or portal and log in to start their program. Often, logging in to the program involves little more than entering basic contact and billing information in order to setup an account. Once a facility’s account is in place, they can start ordering recycling products and services themselves. There’s no complicated paperwork or forms to fill out, and some companies even have a dedicated number that facilities can call for assistance with any aspect of set-ting up an account or ordering recycling solutions. Once logged in, a facility can order the specific recycling solutions that it needs, at the exact time it requires them, and with preferential pricing as a part of the corpo-rate program. This eliminates wasteful spending on incorrect types or sizes of recycling con-tainers and guarantees that a facility will have the right type of container when it needs it. The ease of setting up a program guar-antees a high participation rate, which ulti-mately means that a company using the program is all the more compliant with uni-versal waste regulations. Companies that put a corporate program in place mitigate the risk of universal waste-related violations and fines. Regulations can change, but leading companies ensure that their recycling solu-tions meet the requirements for each state where facilities are located. Paul Hildreth, project director at Marriott International Inc., discusses his experience with corporate programs: “We believe that [a corporate program] offers our hotels an easier and more eco-friendly option to dis-pose of fluorescent bulbs. It’s a great solu-tion for hotels in states where regulations are continuously evolving to meet environ-mental demands.” Companies that aren’t able to measure exactly how their universal waste recycling programs are progressing face two prob-lems: They can’t track amounts of waste recycled and they can’t easily publicize A Fresh Approach To Universal Waste One problem that facilities have with recycling is figur-ing out the best way to properly dispose of their uni-versal waste. Universal waste includes fluorescent bulbs, batteries and mercury-containing equipment such as ther-mostats, ballasts and other types of electronic waste. It is often required to be recycled by state environmental agencies, and just one viola-tion of state universal waste disposal rules can cost tens of thousands of dollars in fines. When recycling companies setup a cor-porate program, they usually are able to provide recycling solutions at a discounted rate. In many cases, corporate facilities are able to save up to 35 percent off manufac-turer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) because of the bulk ordering of recycling products. Multiply this across hundreds of facilities nationwide and a company can experience thousands in savings per year. Corporate recycling programs also result in significant timesaving for each facility. The timesaving occurs because facilities don’t have to go around looking for good deals on recycling solutions. Scott has seen these benefits at his facil-ities: “The initial setup of the program and our current recycling process is stream-lined and very user friendly, especially compared to what we were doing before.” Now, Scott and his staff across the multi-ple locations that he manages can simply log in to their corporate recycling web por-tal — a feature some leading recycling companies can offer clients — and select the products and services they need. Corporate programs make it easy for each individual facility to start recycling their waste. 26 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • February 2011
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