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Resources |
Documentation |
12. Implement a composting
program.
Composting provides businesses with
a method to dispose of a large portion
of waste in a way that benefits the
environment. Organic material is
converted into a soil conditioner that
has valuable nutrients.
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All businesses are eligible to receive food
waste composting service through the City’s
exclusive hauler, Collective Resource.
Work with Collective Resource to choose a pick
up plan that works for your business and be
sure to educate staff, put up signage, and
identify any waste that can be composted.
Collection Resource
IFSC Restaurant Compost Toolkit
What is Compost?
Backyard Composting
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Collective resource invoice and description of composting program
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13. Retailers—Eliminate the use of
plastic bags.
Plastic bags cost retailers more than
$4 billion dollars and are used on
average for 12 minutes. They are hard
to recycle, become litter, and break
down into toxic smaller pieces.
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Be sure to ask customers first if they want
their purchase bagged and if so, provide a
paper bag made of post-consumer waste or a
BPI-certified compostable bag.
Information on Plastic Bag Bans
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Pictures of paper bags being used
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14. Calculate the amount of paper your business uses and implement at least one strategy to reduce paper usage and cost.
Reducing paper usage can reduce unnecessary paper waste, save storage space, and money. Producing paper is economically and environmentally costly.
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Here are suggested ways to reduce paper use:
- Make double-sided printing default
- Collect a pile of scrap paper for people to use it for notes
- Eliminate printing of emails and other resources unless absolutely necessary
- Circulate documents and memos electronically instead of using hard copies
- Put up signs at printers to remind employees to only print what is necessary
EPA’s Paper and Paper Products Procurement
Guidelines
WWF’s 6 Steps to Responsible Paper Purchasing
Paper Calculator
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A copy of any recycled
content purchasing
policies, receipts and/or
photographs of recycled
paper products
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15. Purchase 3 paper products with at least 30% post-consumer recycled material (e.g. printing paper, paper towels, bags, napkins, etc.).
Producing paper is economically and environmentally costly. Buying napkins, toilet paper, office paper, and other paper products made of recycled content can reduce the use of raw materials.
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Meet with your procurement department and draft a new policy for purchasing paper products. Identify all the paper products you buy. Ask suppliers to help you find eco-friendly paper products.
Paper Calculator
WWF Save Paper
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A copy of any paperless
office policies or
screenshots of your
default printer settings
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16. Work with vendors to minimize
and/or take back product packaging
where possible.
Finding products with less and without
unnecessary packing will reduce the
amount of waste you have to pay to
dispose of. Some vendors are even
willing to take back product packaging.
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Ask your supplier if they have a takeback policy or alternate packaging. For example, some suppliers can bring milk in reusable glass containers and take them back for reuse. Also consider reusing the packaging in your own operations.
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A copy of the policy or a picture with a description of the waste reduction, reuse, or take-back program
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17. Eliminate individual, single-use
water bottles of water for employees
and guests.
Water bottles are costly and majority
end up in the landfill.
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Implement a policy to not purchase bottled
waters for employees, meetings, and/or
events. Consider installing water fountains or
water coolers. If you have meetings, buy water
pitchers and reusable glasses.
Ban The Bottle
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A picture of water fountain or a copy of a newsletter, email, or some type of business-wide communication that states a policy that prohibits the use of single use plastic water bottles
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