Are you confused about whether or not recycling is the ideal waste management solution for your business?
Not too long ago, waste recycling seemed like a far-fetched dream for small Businesses and medium Enterprises. Generally, the larger companies were keen on recycling their commercial waste and saving money on the hauling bills.
Fortunately, waste recycling is no longer exclusive only to the big players in the Business World. No matter how small the size of the organization is, it is now possible for any Businesses to recycle its waste products and enjoy the benefits that come with it.
In this article, we will explore how recycling waste improves the environment. We will also discuss the economic implications of embracing recycling as your waste management solution.
Here’s an outline of what’s coming next:
- What is recycling
- Why is recycling important to the planet and to your business
- Steps to implement recycling
- Environmental and economic benefits of recycling
What is Recycling?
Recycling is simply the process of transforming discarded waste materials into useful or usable products. It entails taking the core parts of an old product that would otherwise be thrown away as trash, and turning them into raw materials for making new products.
The essence of recycling products is to protect the environment, save energy, and conserve natural resources. It prevents wasting of useful materials and reduces the consumption of raw materials further safeguarding the planet’s resources for future generations.
Recycling is a key component of waste reduction and it comes third in the waste management hierarchy after “reducing” and “reusing”.
From saving more money to conserving energy, recycling comes with so many environmental and economic benefits – it is not surprising that many businesses are now jumping onto this bandwagon.
If you want to build a more sustainable business in 2021 and beyond, then you will have no choice but to start recycling your commercial waste right away! You can start by consulting with experienced waste control experts to learn how to go about it.
Why Is Recycling Important to the Planet and to Your Business?
Whether you are a business owner or a property manager, we are all ideally meant to act as protectors of the environment everywhere.
Our moral responsibility is not limited only to facilitate and grow our Businesses but also to preserving and protecting the environment for future generations. Keeping up with this idea, one of the most efficient ways to preserve our Planet is through Recycling.
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan
There are more aspects about Recycling than just protecting the environment. Recycling also serves to eventually protect our health better, preserves our depletable resources, and is beneficial to the economy. Recycling your commercial waste materials can also offer financial benefits to your Business.
People love to buy products from companies that are conscious of the environment. A 2014 Nielsen Study finds that 52% of consumers across the World are more than willing to buy products from environmentally sustainable companies and 55% are even willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable products.
Furthermore, Recycling will serve to reduce your Business expenditures when you won’t have to buy fresh new raw materials, thanks to your recyclable materials. You can simply keep recycling the materials in your possession and use them to create newer and more environmentally sustainable products.
So, if you want to experience an increase in sales and build your business brand to greater heights, consider joining the recycling crusade.
Steps to Implement Recycling
The recycling process includes three main steps or phases.
Step 1: Collection and Processing
The first step is the collection phase, which involves picking and sorting all the materials you intend to recycle. In any case, not all waste materials are recyclable. The most common recyclable waste products include:
- Paper
- Plastic
- Tires
- Used engine oil
- Glass
After collecting the items from the waste materials that can be recycled, these will then need to be sorted, cleaned, and processed into recyclable materials or recyclables. Recyclables are thus similar to raw materials, these need to be collected and processed in a suitable manner in recovery facilities.
Step 2: Manufacturing
The second step in the recycling process is the manufacturing phase. If you haven’t noticed already, most products manufactured nowadays use recycled materials. Some common items manufactured using recycled materials include:
- Printing papers
- Paper towels
- Glass containers
- Carpeting
- Motor oil
- Egg cartons
Step 3: Purchasing Recycled Products
Closing the loop of nearing exhaustion of Global resources entails everyone buying recycled products as much as possible. If you don’t have the opportunity to use recycled materials from your own waste stream, then you should attempt to buy recyclable materials wherever possible from your suppliers.
Purchasing recycled products not only reduces your waste management needs but also creates a market for recycled products.
Environmental and Economic Benefits of Recycling
Recycling waste materials offers numerous benefits to our health, wealth, and to the environment. Embracing recycling as part of your Business culture will go a long way to improve the overall performance of your Business and raise the reputation of your Brand.
Here are some of the top economic and environmental benefits of recycling:
1. Aids in the Conservation of Natural Resources
Did you know recycling aids in the conservation of natural resources?
A report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that recycling one ton of office paper can save up to 17 mature trees. Better, recycling the same amount of paper can save up to 17,000 gallons of water.
Whether it is on a local or national scale, recycling helps conserve natural resources. We no longer have to rely on cutting trees and extracting minerals to produce virgin raw materials. Recycling allows you to reuse what you already have thus reducing the burden on natural resources.
2. Increases Economic Security Thus Creating Conducive Business Environment
Recycling not only serves to increase the economic security of the country but also creates a stable and conducive environment for doing business. This is because businesses are able to access a domestic source of raw materials instead of relying on imported supplies.
Instead of disposing of your commercial waste materials, you should strongly consider recycling to enjoy the financial gains that come with this waste management approach.
3. Prevents Pollution at the Workplace Subsequently Improving Productivity
According to research, pollution coupled with poor air quality generally will affect the productivity of the workforce. Labor is an essential part of any Business, but to make the most out of your workforce, you must ensure that the environment in which they work is as healthy as possible.
Recycling prevents pollution by reducing the need to process raw materials. It also reduces carbon emissions and as a result, improves air quality. This goes a long way to improve productivity.
4. Saves Energy and Helps Your Business Become More Environmentally Sustainable
Producing goods using recycled materials saves energy compared to manufacturing products using virgin raw materials. The same report by the EPA shows that recycling steel saves up to 74% of the energy used to produce steel from virgin ore while recycling paper can save up to 60% of the energy used to produce paper from virgin pulp.
Many businesses out there are struggling to become environmentally sustainable by 2021 and beyond. Fortunately, this does not have to be you. By joining the recycling bandwagon, you can start your journey toward environmental sustainability.
5. Reduces Incineration and the Amount of Waste Sent to Landfills
Gone are the days when incineration was the main method of waste management. Burning your trash not only harms the environment but also leads to wastage of resources. Incineration also affects ecosystems and destroys natural habitats.
By adopting recycling as your main waste management solution, you will preserve the environment and reduce the amount of garbage contributing to fill up landfills.
6. Creates Job Opportunities and Generates More Revenue for Your Business
Did you know that recycling creates job opportunities?
According to the Institute of Local Self Reliance, recycling 10,000 tons of waste can create jobs for up to 36 people as compared to sending waste to landfills, which only creates 6 jobs.
If you look at the bigger picture, recycling opens up more opportunities in the manufacturing industry given that it is a labor-intensive process. You will have to hire people to collect, sort, and process the different recyclable items.
Recycling, as a waste management solution, can also create more revenue for your business. You can recycle some of your old, but reusable products and sell them for a profit which would otherwise end up being scraps.
7. Recycling Guarantees Cheaper and More Effective Use of Materials
You should have already noticed by now that using Recycled materials will save money. Recycled materials are very low in cost, and it is cheaper to manufacture products using recycled materials. Besides, it guarantees a more effective and efficient use of the raw materials if everyone believes that whichever product they are using at present can be recycled in the future.
What is even more intriguing, is that you can recycle almost everything, from glass to plastic to wood. This calls for more prudent use of materials to maintain the core supply stream of these recyclables.
8. Reduces Greenhouse Emissions and Lowers Your Carbon Footprint
With all the talk about climate change and global warming quickly gaining traction, recycling is increasingly becoming the focal point in all these discussions.
“When you put the whole picture together, recycling is the right thing to do.” – Pam Shoemaker
Recycling can greatly minimize carbon emissions or greenhouse gases since lesser waste ends up in landfills or incinerators. Moreover, lowering your carbon footprint is an important step toward building a more environmentally sustainable business.
9. Recycling Reduces the Need to Extract Raw Materials
Why should you go through all the trouble of mining and extracting raw materials when you can use what you already have?
Recycling means we need fewer resources from nature. You no longer have to cut down a tree or mine aluminum ore to manufacture the products you want. Conserving the planet’s resources makes the world a better place to live in and keep doing business.
10. Recycling Reduces Contamination of Water
Whoever said, “water is life” was probably a genius. Unfortunately, how we handle our waste product determines the quality of water we consume. If you dispose of waste in landfills and garbage sites, there is a high chance that it might find its way to our water wells and water supplies.
Recycling reduces the likelihood of contaminating our drinking water since in this process none or very little waste goes to landfills and garbage sites.
11. Recycling Accelerates Innovative Developments and Technological Advancements
Many businesses are feeling the pressure of going green and embracing more ec0-friendly Business practices. However, this has turned out to be a good development since it means businesses have to search for innovative ways to keep up with modern times and incorporate recycling patterns.
12. Keeps Waste Collection Down Thus Saving More Money
One of the probable reasons why you are searching for a waste management solution in the first place is because of the outrageous bills you have to pay every month to address this matter. Well, by recycling your waste, you no longer have to worry about garbage collection costs and other related charges.
13. Improves the Reputation of Your Business
Brand awareness is not just about digital marketing campaigns and advertising. You can promote your brand and improve your reputation by engaging in eco-friendly practices like recycling waste.
Besides, as mentioned earlier, consumers prefer buying products from sustainable brands that support eco-friendly activities.
14. Recycling Creates New Demand for Products
You might not know this, but recycling indirectly creates new demand for recycled products. By developing a routine or culture of recycling your waste, you will always want to buy recycled products.
Many businesses rely on recycled materials since they are cheaper and readily available domestically.
15. Guarantees an Environmentally Sustainable Future
Recycling waste is all about safeguarding the future for those who will come after us. It reduces all the waste accumulating in landfills, preserves the environment, and protects our health. By embracing this approach early, we shall be able to guarantee an environmentally sustainable future for generations to come.
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb
So, What Next?
Conservation of the environment should be a priority for every business that wants to become sustainable. After all, the repercussions of not protecting your environment can be detrimental to your Business performance and sustainability efforts.
Recycling is one of the most effective approaches towards saving the environment and building sustainability. Besides, it comes with numerous financial gains such as those already discussed in this article.
If you are stuck trying to recycle your waste materials, contact Waste Control Inc. We can help create the right strategies, processes, and mechanisms to set you off on your recycling journey.