State law also bans the following materials from landfills: yard waste, whole tires, used oil, lead-acid batteries, and white goods such as stoves. Several counties have established bans or penalties for disposing additional materials in landfills, such as cardboard and other recyclable materials.

• Save money on supplies.

• Conserve natural resources and energy.

• Reduce current garbage disposal costs and provide a hedge against rising future disposal costs.

• Give customers what they want: "green" products and "environmentally-friendly" businesses.

• Avoid adding to the environmental burden caused by the production and disposal of unnecessary materials.

  Boost employee morale by giving staff an opportunity to work together on an environmental project.

• Reduce future liability associated with disposal of solid wastes.

Reuse
A cost-efficient method of waste reduction is to reuse products in their present form. It's usually cheaper to clean or repair products than to buy them after they've been recycled.

Recycling
Many of the products that can't be eliminated or reused can be recycled. Energy and naturalresources are saved and air and water pollution are reduced when products are constructed from recycled, rather than from virgin, materials. Your business will save substantial disposal costs by recycling as well.

• Make double-sided copies

• Buy recycled paper

• Keep mailing lists current

• Reuse manila envelopes

• Make scratch pads from used paper

• Circulate memos, documents, periodicals and reports rather than making or buying individual copies for all office personnel

• Use outdated letterhead for in-house memos

• Proof documents on the computer screen before printing

• Save documents on floppy disks instead of making hard copies

• Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive by writing Direct Marketing Assoc., Mail Preference Service, POB 3861, NY, NY 101633861 and asking that your business be eliminated from mailing lists

• Use centralized files for hard copies

• Order merchandise with minimal packaging design, in concentrated form, and in bulk

• Ask suppliers not to overpackage orders

• Request that deliveries be shipped in returnable containers

• Reuse foam "peanuts" and cardboard boxes or find someone who will

• Set up a system for returning cardboard boxes and foam "peanuts" to distributors for reuse

• Return, reuse and repair wooden pallets

• Replace cardboard boxes with durable boxes for shipping to branch offices, stores, and warehouses

• Use remanufactured office equipment

• Invest in equipment that facilitates waste reduction, such as:
  • - high quality, durable,repairable equipment
  • - copiers that make two-sided copies
  • - dishwashing equipment and durable dinnerware

• Use rechargeable batteries

• Recharge fax and printer cartridges

• Install reusable furnace and air conditioner filters

• Choose a landscape design that needs low maintenance and little water

• Compost grass clippings and leaves into a valuable soil amendment, or make sure your landscape contractor composts

• Purchase compost for use as a topsoil amendment or request that your landscape contractor does

• Using a worm bin, convert non-fatty food wastes into high quality potting soil (vermicompost)

• Teach your customers about the importance of reducing waste. Effective tools for getting across the message include: promotional campaigns, brochures and newsletters (remember to use recycled paper), banners, newspaper advertisements, product displays, store signs and labels

• Encourage reuse of shopping bags by asking customers if they have their own bag, complimenting customers who reuse bags, providing a financial incentive for reuse, implementing a promotional campaign

• Offer customers waste reducing choices alongside their waste-producing counterparts. Examples include:
  • - bulk items
  • - durable cloth products, such as diapers, coffee filters, towels, and napkins
  • - solar-powered items, such as watches, calculators, and flashlights
  • - rechargeable batteries
  • - products packaged in recycled and recyclable materials
  • - razors with replaceable blades
  • - durable picnic dinnerware
  • - high quality merchandise
  • - repairable merchandise

• Encourage your customers to purchase products packaged in recycled and recyclable materials

• Reward your customers with a rebate when they return grocery bags, containers for bulk items, coffee mugs or soda cups for refilling

• Instead of paper, use cloth towels, tablecloths, and napkins

• An investment in a dishwasher often proves very cost-effective. Avoid serving food on disposable dishes; use durable dishes, flatware, cups, and glasses

• Use cloth roll towels in the restrooms

• Encourage employees to use durable cups and dinnerware

• Research waste stream and financial considerations

• Present proposal to management; gain their support

• Research employee interest and gain their support

• Select a waste reduction/re-cycling coordinator

• Set goals

• Determine waste reduction measures, your procurement policy, and what you will recycle

• Locate materials markets or select a recycling service

• Determine sources of recycled products

• Design a collection and storage system

• Educate your staff

• Promote and implement the program

• Establish monitoring and evaluation procedure

Look for the following items made with recycled materials the next time your company purchases supplies:

• Office, copier and computer paper

• Stationery and envelopes

• Tissue, hand towels, toilet paper

• Recharged laser printer cartridges

• Cardboard and paperboard containers

• Packaging

• Lubricating and motor oil

• Plastic carpeting, lumber, screens and downspouts

• Retreaded tires

• Used/refurbished office furniture or machinery

• Construction materials

• Asphalt

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department
North Carolina State University
Box 7625
Raleigh, NC  27695-7625
Rhonda Sherman  (919) 515-6770

Office of Waste Reduction
NC Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources
P.O. Box 27687
Raleigh, NC  27611-7687
(919) 571-4100

North Carolina Recycling Association
7330 Chapel Hill Rd., Suite 207
Raleigh, NC  27607
(919) 851-8444
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
345 Courtland Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA  30365
Robin Mitchell  (404) 347-2091

Your local recycling coordinator
Many communities have recycling coordinators who can help you set
up a waste reduction program

WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE THERE?

Directory of Industrial and Commercial Recyclers Serving
North Carolina Businesses and Communities.
Office of Waste Reduction. NC-DEHNR,P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, NC
27611.

Directory of North Carolina State and Local Contacts for
Recycling Information and Assistance. Office of Waste
Reduction. NC-DEHNR, P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, NC  27611.

Buy Recycled Products: How Your Office Can Help Complete the
Recycling Loop, and Office Paper Recycling Guide: How Your Office
Can Participate in the Recycling Process. National Office
Paper Recycling Project.  U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1620 Eye
Street, NW, Fourth Floor, Washington, DC  20006  (202) 293-7330

Pollution Prevention Program
Office of Waste Reduction
Conduct on-site waste audits and waste reduction assessments at
industries (919) 571-4100

Official Recycled Products Guide. Recoup Publishing Ltd.
P.O. Box 577, Ogdensburg, NY 13669  (800) 267-0707
 
Business Recycling Manual. Inform, Inc. 381 Park Avenue
South, Suite 1201, New York, NY 10016 (212) 689-4040

50 Simple Things Your Business Can Do to Save the Earth. 
The Earthworks Group.  Earth Works Press, Berkeley, CA