There are so many reasons why small businesses should implement recycling initiatives. From cutting costs to improving your brand image, prioritizing sustainability goes a long way for companies everywhere. If you’re ready to reduce your environmental impact but don’t know where to start, check out the top materials your business should be recycling.
Paper
All businesses use paper products, regardless of their size. Whether you’re retaining important documents or creating memos for employees, recycling your paper waste is a must. Paper products contribute to deforestation, which has serious consequences for our environment. You can reduce your impact by placing recycling bins around the workplace and investing in digital alternatives.
Plastic
Another material your business should be recycling is plastic. Plastic recycling is a little more tricky since the process differs depending on the product. Encourage your employees to use reusable bottles and utensils instead of plastic ones. It’s also helpful to choose a waste service that knows the ins and outs of plastic recycling so that they can do all of the hard work for you.
Glass
If your business specializes in handmade items, you likely generate a lot of glass waste. While glass recycling isn’t as straightforward as paper, it’s easy to repurpose as long as it goes through the proper channels. Sort your glass by color and keep it in a safe place until it’s time for disposal. Glass is 100 percent recyclable, so your sustainable efforts won’t be in vain.
Cardboard
From packaging to shipping, most e-commerce and retail businesses use cardboard. Even storage facilities use the material by way of corrugated cardboard pallets. You can help the recycling process by participating in buy-back programs that create new materials out of recycled cardboard. However, it’s worth noting that anything with a food or beverage stain is ineligible due to “contamination,” so be diligent when handling your supplies.
Lumber
Wood might be one of the easiest materials to recycle, since there are so many things you can do with it. Unused lumber goes to landfills, where they take years to decompose and occupy valuable space. Instead of tossing your wood, find a way to create something new and put it back into your business. If you can’t repurpose it, consider selling your lumber to reclaimed wood suppliers or other construction companies.
Recycling efforts put money back in your pocket, so increase your profits and make a difference at the same time. If you use any of these materials in your operations, consider developing a recycling plan to reduce your carbon footprint and improve your practices.
