How Much Money Does Recycling Save Efficiently & Smartly?
Over the course of a year, New York City produces 14 million tons of trash, about two-thirds of which is recyclable or compostable. Consumer waste, if disposed of properly, could be used to create compost and create renewable energy, and recycling programs can even reduce operating costs, thereby making them profitable for businesses as well as being environmentally responsible.
The Importance of Commercial Recycling
Companies can promote waste reduction in either of two ways. They can start by reducing consumption and then follow up with the recycling of used products.
The most direct way to cut commercial disposal costs is by reducing the amount of waste a business produces. Reuse products or eliminate unnecessary items from your waste stream. Whenever possible, repair or clean products, rather than buying new or even recycled ones.
4 Benefits of Reducing Commercial Waste
- Reduce supply costs.
- Conservation of natural resources and energy.
- Meet customer demands for “green products.”
- Reduce the risk of liability (civic and monetary) associated with waste disposal.
Recycling Commercial Waste
Many commercial products that cannot be eliminated or reused can be recycled. Companies that purchase recycled goods and transition to recyclable raw materials save natural resources and reduce environmental pollution. Your business can also cut disposal costs greatly by recycling.
5 Ways New York Companies Can Recycle Waste
- Buy recycled paper and encourage digital correspondence whenever possible.
- Set up a system for returning cardboard boxes and foam pellets to distributors for reuse.
- Recharge or recycle printer cartridges.
- Use automatic hand dryers in the restrooms.
- Compost food scraps, grass clippings, and leaves.
Commercial Composting in New York
A large amount of commercial waste consists of organic materials such as food scraps and landscape trimmings.
In New York, Royal Waste Services has dedicated compost trucks in Manhattan Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. First, the trucks collect organic waste from environmentally conscious businesses.
Organizations that Benefit from Organic Recycling
- Retail and Office Buildings
Then the waste is taken to an organic composting facility where contaminants are removed. After cleaning, the clean organic finish product is transported to McEnroe Organic Farm in Millerton NY, and turned into organic potting soil.
Can commercial recycling save your business money?
According to one NY Times article, the U.S. company General Mills cut more than 400 metric tons, of paper fiber and cut transport costs by the equivalent of 500 truckloads a year just by reducing consumption.
Texas Instruments recycles 81% of non-hazardous solid waste in its operation in the United States. This saves them a minimum of 10% every quarter or $16 million.
Middlebury College in Vermont saved $100,000 on landfill fees by composting 90% of food waste generated on campus. The 370 tons of food Middlebury composted translated into a savings of $270 per ton of waste.
So, the answer is, “Yes!”
Businesses can save significant amounts of money when they implement recycling and composting programs.