San Ramon
Recycling & Waste Reduction Guidelines for Specific Industry Types
OFFICES – INCREASE RECYCLING AND REDUCE WASTE!
ADOPT GREEN PURCHASING PRACTICES:
- Buy from local vendors.
- Start an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program. (see “Buy Recycled” below)
- Choose products with minimal packaging, have the highest recycled content and are recyclable.
- Choose supplies that reduce plastic and are easy to reuse or recycle, such as:
– binder/paper clips
– paper folders, binders and boxes
– crumpled/shredded paper for shipping
REDUCE PAPER USE:
- Email documents instead of printing them.
- Use presentations rather than handouts at meetings.
- Print on both sides of the paper whenever possible.
- Take paperless notes on a laptop or tablet.
- Store files digitally.
DID YOU KNOW?
Recycling one ton of paper SAVES:*
- enough energy to power an average U.S. home for six months
- 7,000 gallons of water
- 17 trees
- 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space
*SOURCE: www.EPA.gov
REDUCE FOOD PACKAGING WASTE:
- Encourage reusable mugs for coffee and reusable containers, plates, cups and utensils for lunch/snacks.
- Avoid offering single-serve/single-use utensils, cups and food items in kitchenettes and break rooms.
Postconsumer recycled-content products (RCP) reduce pollution,
save landfill space, create California jobs, and support small businesses.
Buying recycled also:
- Closes the recycling loop and conserves resources.
- Reduces raw material extraction and preserves wildlife habitat.
- Reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Helps create market demand and competition.
ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING (EPP) CalRecycle’s EPP site provides a collection of available tools and other resources to help individuals and organizations initiate or improve their EPP program.
WHERE TO BUY POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED-CONTENT PRODUCTS:
- The Recycled-Content Product Manufacturers (RCPM) directory includes innovative recycled-content product manufacturers.
- RecycleStore is a CalRecycle resource you can use to search for manufacturers of recycled products located in designated California Recycling Market Development Zones throughout the state.
KEEP THE RECYCLING STREAM CLEAN!
Garbage and Organics DO NOT belong in the blue recyclables bin/cart. Make sure recyclable plastic, metal and glass food containers are empty and clean before placing them in the blue recyclables bin/cart.
Non-recyclable materials cause contamination, can damage sorting machinery, and result in recyclables in the landfill.
Click here for a complete list of what belongs in the blue recyclables cart and/or bin.