The Ultimate Recycling Guide for Offices and Small Businesses in Toronto
Recycling means a healthier, more sustainable environment for all of us to enjoy. Why do it? A business will help in saving energy, Canada’s natural resources, and high-value Ontario landfill space. Consumers, employees, and business partners are drawn to eco-friendly businesses committed to recycling because it shows you care and you’re doing your part. Here are some guidelines on how to start your office recycling program.
Build the infrastructure
To get started recycling, give everyone the opportunity. Set up bins that separate recycling, waste, and compostable organic materials. Educate employees on what to put where. Be creative in coming up with your own waste reduction and recycling system. Also, you should consider hiring a waste and recycling company to assist in collecting your bins, getting the different types of wastes to where they need to be.
Containers
Containers along the lines of milk jugs or juice containers, jars, aluminum foil, tin cans, plastic cleaning containers, paper coffee cups, and plastic food containers are all recyclables. Unfortunately, what isn’t is Styrofoam, and soft plastics such as grocery bags and plastic food wrappers.
Plastic bags
Plastic bags have been demonized in recent memory for being entirely non-recyclable. Some aren’t, it’s true. That said, some are. If the bag is clean and stretchy – such as a shrink wrap, any bubble wrap, or otherwise – it can probably be recycled. If it’s a crinkly plastic like a chip bag, unfortunately, that’s a non-recyclable.
Organic
In your compostable bins, an office can focus on food waste management and organic compostables. Food scraps from fruits or vegetables, bones from fish or other meats, food soiled papers, and yard waste can all technically go into an organics bin. What cannot is any elastics, plastics, pet waste, or Styrofoam.
Paper
What’s the #1 office waste product? The answer is paper. Although Toronto offices and small businesses have cut down on a lot of paper waste products in the past few decades, paper’s a necessity to this day. As we come across paper waste, it needs some place to go. Any paper that’s clean and dry – like newspapers, magazines, shredded office paper, or any cardboard boxes – can be recycled. Coffee cups, soft plastics, wet paper, or paper stained with food shouldn’t be included in your office paper recycling bin.
Styrofoam
As you’ve already seen on this list, Styrofoam doesn’t fit into any bin other than what’s landfill designated. Styrofoam comes in packaging, equipment boxes, electronics, and some food containers. It’s very problematic. Ideally, you want to keep as much Styrofoam as possible far away from your office. When it’s unavoidable, Styrofoam has got to go into your waste non-recyclables.
Anyone can recycle!
We know recycling can be confusing and complicated for some offices. Thankfully, so many already are actively involved in minimizing their waste. Even so, a little guidance can go a long way in correcting mistakes and keeping office recycling up.
When in doubt, a Toronto waste management or recycling company like Core Mini Bins can help in setting you up with the bins, dumpsters if need be, and waste disposal services you need. Remember, almost everything can be recycled! The caveat is that the recycling needs to be sorted into the correct bin. Don’t hesitate to contact a representative today for more info on creating the perfect waste and recycling plan for your office.
