Every recycling program is different depending on where you are located, what waste you produce, what you can collect and a number of other factors. Make sure you thoroughly investigate what your recycling needs are before investing in the right bins.
By John Greenway
When implementing a recycling program, whether in a school, apartment complex, hospital, event center or anywhere that recycling is needed, selecting the right bins for your program can increase recycling rates and improve collection. Following are some best practices for choosing the right bins for your recycling program.
Analyze Your Needs Prior to Making a Selection
The last thing you need is to purchase a bunch of bins without thoroughly investigating what your recycling needs are. Consider all the areas where people might need to recycle something. There are countless locations where bins can be placed, but high-traffic areas (e.g., a cafeteria) or areas where people spend large amounts of time (e.g., at their desk) are the types of locations that you should focus your attention on when deciding where you’ll need collection stations.
Not all the areas where you need recycling stations will require the same type or amount of containers. For example, your accounting office may only need a large bin for paper recycling and a small bin for personal drink containers, but your cafeteria would need to have large bins for plastic, paper and even organics. Prior to purchasing bins, it is a good idea to gather a comprehensive list of where you will need bins, how much they will need to hold and what they will collect. You don’t have to come up with all of this information on your own. Select a recycling bin supplier that is willing to work with you to help you determine your needs. They are the recycling experts, and they can help to advise you the direction in which you should take your program.
It is also important to consider the rules, regulations and capabilities of your local recycling facilities and haulers. Some cities and towns have single-stream capabilities (where all recyclables can be placed in one bin), others require every material to be separated (by plastics, glass, paper, etc.), and more, still, are somewhere in between. Before purchasing your bins, it is important to know how collection will take place in your municipality.
Choose Bins that Make Sense
After you’ve assessed and analyzed your recycling needs, it is time to select the bins that will address those needs. Take into account the number of people that will be using the bins to divert their recyclables; make sure to choose bins that have a large enough capacity to accommodate them. Also, consider whether your bins will be indoors or outdoors, as this will affect the materials the bins should be made out of for durability’s sake. The number of streams determined will affect which bins you should choose and how many you’ll need at each recycling station. You may only need one centralized location for recycling that can accommodate all of your streams (e.g., if you’re in a smaller office), or you may need bins for every individual work station as well as a centralized location (e.g., if you’re outfitting a warehouse or production plant). Consult with your supplier and ask them to provide you with a few options that will suit your needs.
Select Openings
Different openings help to identify what can be put into that bin. For example, a thinner, rectangular slot often means that paper should be thrown into that bin. A circular opening might signify soda cans or water bottles should be dropped here. Large, rectangular openings tend to register as waste for many people. Being able to choose which openings your bins have is very important. Choosing recognizable pairings of openings/streams is an efficient option and one that makes recycling decisions easier for users. If choosing opening/stream combinations that aren’t as popular, be prepared to educate users through signage and labeling.
Clearly Label Your Bins for Improved Diversion
Make sure that whatever bins you choose, the option to add signage, labels or hot-stamping with clear instructions is available. While openings indicate to users generally what can be thrown in the bins, if you have specific items you want or do not want thrown in those bins, it is essential that you label them. For example, if your municipality needed aluminum to be separated from other metals, you would want to identify to users that aluminum drink cans not be tossed along with other types of drink containers. You may even want to stamp or label “Aluminum Only” on your bins to make it clear and simple for everyone.
Brighten Up with Color
You don’t have to stick with the standard when it comes to the color of your bins. For any recycling program to be effective, users need to be engaged and aware of where they can recycle their items. Choose a supplier that has different options for bin colors that will stand out to let people know that their recyclables can go here. You may want to match the colors of your bins to the colors of your brand, school colors or you may want your bins to blend in to the design of your office. Choose a supplier that meets your needs and can give you exactly what you want in a bin. Recycling should be incorporated into the culture of your business, and customizing the look of your bins to the look of your brand can help to make recycling second nature.
Consider Specially Designed Bins for Unusual Items
If you have certain items that you want to recycle but they don’t fit into traditional categories of recyclable materials, it might be worth it to collect these items separately in specialized containers. For example, if you go through a lot of batteries at your work, it is a good idea to have a specific place where those batteries can be collected. Similarly, if you go through a lot of coffee cups, you might want a station specifically designed for people to properly separate their disposable cups from the rest of the recyclables. This way, cross-contamination is avoided and greater diversion rates can be achieved.
Customizations
Ultimately, choosing a supplier that will work with you on customizations, designed specifically to meet your needs is your best opportunity for success. You can get everything you need and nothing that you don’t, and you don’t have to worry about whether or not they make sense for your program. Every recycling program is different depending on where you are located, what waste you produce, what you can collect and a number of other factors. Your best chance for success is to work with a supplier that wants to work with you.
Choose Bins that are Inherently “Green”
When selecting bins for your recycling program, look for bins that are made from recycled content, are made in North America and are recyclable themselves. This way you can be sure that the program you’re implementing has a smaller carbon footprint from the get-go, allowing you to have peace-of-mind that your program is doing exactly what it is designed to do—help the environment. | WA
John Greenway has been with Busch Systems (Barrie, ON) since early 2011, first starting as Account Manager for the Northwest U.S.A and then later Canada. His current role, as a Sustainability Specialist, is to assist clients and customers with their various and unique recycling and waste initiatives. Having been in the industry for five years now, he has assisted with the deployment of various sustainability initiatives and zero waste programs throughout North America. Drawing from his past experiences with both the public and ICI sector, he has become a product expert and industry leader on how to best plan and implement these sometimes challenging programs, and ensure both the program’s immediate and future success. He can be reached via e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.buschsystems.com.
References
www.buschsystems.com/recycling-bin-news/2013/12/the-future-of-recycling-bins/
https://www3.epa.gov/region9/waste/solid/reduce.html
http://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/queen-of-green/faqs/recycling/how-to-recycle-batteries/