facility focus The Evolution Of Recycling Improved products, processes, programs and communications. By: Jarret Chirafisi S Sustainability and green initiatives are more prevalent than ever before. An increasing number of businesses, buildings, property managers and agencies as well as local, state and national govern-ments have all implemented guidelines and programs surrounding these initiatives. Perhaps the most well-known and easi-est to execute has been recycling. by the needs and wants of consumers are solutions that accommodate the person depositing the waste into the receptacle, the professional who empties the recepta-cle and manages the waste stream, the waste hauler and the materials recovery facility. And, because one influences the other, what the haulers and materials recovery facility collect and reprocess is just as Look Back, Then Forward We have been recycling in this country in some way, shape or form for more than 60 years. But itʼs only within the past 15 years that weʼve seen recycling grow — and it is steadily increasing. The municipal solid waste recycling rate tripled from 10.1 percent to 33.4 percent in 2007 (the current national rate goal is 35 percent). The increase in recycling can be attrib-uted to two primary factors: An increased awareness of the environmental impact of waste disposal, especially as our waste generation per capita and total populations have grown and the continuing develop-ment of the business case for recycling. The result is an elevated demand for recycling products and programs that are not only easy to use and aid in maximizing recycling rates, but also add value to build-ing owners and managers pursuing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Procurement Guidelines compliance and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Winning Plan For All Recycling products and programs driven Strategically placed recycling bins can encourage increased participation. 42 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • November 2009 Photo courtesy of Rubbermaid Commercial Products
CMM – Archives Nov 2009: 42
