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Businesses play an important role in the success of any community's recycling programs and initiatives. Every type of business, from offices to restaurants to carwashes and sport complexes, create materials that can be recycled. The following information will help your business implement a successful recycling program. Getting Started
Types of Waste: Identify the types of recyclable items your business produces - is it mostly cardboard? Paper? Bottles? Cans? How much trash does your workplace dispose of each week & how much of that is recyclable? Consider factors such as container size & collection frequency that will best meet your needs. Don't forget that there are many items that can be recycled, but may not be collected curbside.
Location, Location, Location: Select the location for your outdoor recycling pickup container. Make sure it is clearly marked for recyclable materials only; you want to make sure that trash is kept in a separate container.
Inform: Educate employees, patrons and contractors about your recycling program; make sure recycling containers are properly and boldly labeled. Don't forget - anyone that will be handling the recyclable materials, including the cleaning staff, should be educated about your new program. Educated employees are the key to program success!
Maintain: Monitor your program for participation and quality, create contests or incentives to recycle and publicize successes to maintain enthusiasm for the program. Remember: more recycling means less trash and lower trash disposal costs for your business. Collection Options The Howard County Chamber of Commerce has formed a recycling collection co-op. For information, visit www.howardchamber.org and look for the Recycling Co-op link. This affordable option does not require Chamber of Commerce membership and is available to any business located in Howard County. Businesses may find it cost effective and efficient to contract with a waste disposal company that handles trash and recycling. In many cases, recycling can be a way to save money on trash disposal costs. Information about additional trash and recycling collection companies can be found online and in the yellow pages. Howard County does not endorse specific vendors.
What Do I Do With...? Note: Items listed below can often be collected for recycling through a contract with a specialty recycling company.
Rechargeable Batteries - Call2Recycle offers a free mail-in program for collecting rechargeable batteries. Sign-up to receive prepaid mailing boxes and bags for batteries. Styrofoam - RecycleTech mail-in program accepts styrofoam that is white and crumbly in nature. For more information, visit www.recycletechno.com.
Dart has a new collection program to recycle these cups. Just purchase a box, fill it with cups and mail it away to be recycled. Visit Dartcontainer.com for more information.
X-Rays - Click on the following links for opportunities to recycle old x-rays; Shaw Recovery Services, Omni Imaging and Accurate Recovery Systems. Easy Tips For Any Business
Practice Waste Prevention Close The Loop!
Additional Opportunities
Collect new or gently worn shoes and increase foot traffic to your business. Soles4Souls will add your location information to their zip code locator, so people will be able to find a location quickly and easily. For more information, visit Soles4Souls.org EPA Resources
Resource Conservation Challenge: The Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) is a national partnership working to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently. RCC is made up of governments, industry organizations, businesses and corporations of all sizes, as well as individual citizens. For more information, click here to visit EPA’s RCC website. Maryland Green Registry Help build a smarter, greener, more sustainable Maryland by putting these practices to work right in your organization. The Maryland Green Registry is a voluntary, self-certification program offering tips and resources to help organizations set and meet their own goals on the path to sustainability. Visit www.mde.gov for more information. Help Contact the recycling division at (410) 313-6444 or help@howardcountyrecycles.org with any questions or requests for assistance with your recycling program. Note: Howard County does not endorse vendors. | |||||||
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Containers: Select new containers (or retrofit existing containers) to separate trash and recycling items for indoor collection. Many different shapes and styles are available through various retail and online sources. For the greatest success, place a recycling bin next to each trash can, making sure to clearly label each container. Common collection points include kitchens, copy rooms and conference rooms.
Electronics - Consider retail take-back programs offered by Best Buy and Office Depot and charitable programs such as the Lazarous Foundation for reuse and recycling. 
Styrofoam Cups
Styrofoam Packing Peanuts - Many programs do not accept Styrofoam for recycling. To keep those packing peanuts out of the landfill, return them to a FedEx or UPS store or save them for your business to reuse.
Toner Cartridges - Toner cartridges purchased from Office Depot include a prepaid mailing label in each box. Simply open the new box, put the old cartridge in the new box, seal shut, affix the prepaid shipping label and send box with outgoing packages. Or, 
One vital, yet often overlooked, aspect of recycling is to purchase items containing recycled content - all of those recyclables you put in the recycling container need a market. Encourage your purchasing department to buy supplies that are made from recycled materials. Prices for items made from recycled material are usually very close, if not cheaper, than items made from virgin materials.