Recycling and Howard County Businesses Howard County Chamber of Commerce Recycling Cooperative 1

Why should my business recycle? 2

Measurable Reasons: Can potentially be cost-effective part of overall solid waste management program, by saving your company money on trash removal. Recycling helps conserve natural resources such as timber, water, mineral ores, petroleum. Prevents pollution caused by manufacturing from virgin resources. Supplies industries with raw materials. Helps create jobs. Reduces need for landfills & WTE facilities (Incinerators). 3

Reasons to Recycle It is very easy! Extra exposure for your business, and good PR potential for ‘doing the right thing’. Happy employees! Reduce the environmental impact of your business – recycling helps to conserve natural resources, reduce pollution of the air, water and soil, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 4

Typical Office Materials that can be recycled Cardboard Office paper (including shredded paper) Newspaper, magazines, phone books, junk mail Bottles and cans Food boxes & other materials from break rooms Bottles from cleaning products 5

Additional Recyclable Items Typically not-curbside collection items, but recycling opportunities exist Electronics (computers, printers, fax machines etc) Light bulbs, batteries Yard waste (landscaping debris) Uniforms & rags (textile recycling) Wooden shipping pallets Hazardous Wastes (cleaning chemicals, pesticides, used motor oil etc…) 6

Recycling Statistics: Paper The average office worker in the US uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. That’s 4 million tons of copy paper used annually. (Source: Earth911.com) Office workers in the US generate approximately 2 pounds of paper and paperboard products every day. (Source: Earth911.com) In 2006, only 66% of the office paper generated in the US was recycled. In 2006, the recycling rates for different types of recovered paper were as follows: Newspapers: 88 percent Corrugated boxes: 72 percent Office paper: 66 percent Magazines: 41 percent Telephone directories: 19 percent (Source: EPA) 7 7

Recycling Statistics cont’d Aluminum Aluminum cans recovered for recycling are back in the consumer stream in a short period of time. It takes about 6 weeks to manufacture, fill, sell, recycle, and then remanufacture a beverage can. (Source: EPA) The average aluminum can contains 40 percent post consumer recycled aluminum. (Source: EPA) 8

Recycling Statistics cont’d Plastics The amount of plastics in the solid waste stream has increased from less than 1% in 1960 to 12.1%in 2007. (Source: Earth911.com) In 2007, only 6.8% of the plastic generated was recycled. (Source: Earth911.com) Eight out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste. (Source: EPA) 9

Recycling Statistics cont’d Glass Americans generated 13.6 million tons of glass in the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream in 2007. About 24% of the glass was recovered for recycling. (Source: EPA) Glass containers are 100 percent recyclable, and recovered glass is used as the majority ingredient in new glass containers. A recycled glass container can go from a recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days. (Source: Earth911.com) 10

What about Howard County Businesses? In 2007, approximately 1,200 tons of recycling was collected by the 650 businesses in the current County program. In October 2008, the County had to stop adding new businesses to the existing collection program. Businesses in the program before that date are not currently paying for recycling collection. Howard County is not able to continue to offer the free recycling collection program as it currently is structured. 11

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Decisions and Directions Mix Refuse and Recycling in the Solid Waste Container Or Select a Recycling Vendor to separate recycled materials from refuse to reduce costs 13

Purchasing Options Negotiate with one or more vendor Join a procurement cooperative: Howard County Business Recycling Cooperative Sponsored by Howard County Chamber of Commerce 14

Advantages of Joining the Howard County Chamber Co-op Education and Support Share in the costs to prepare a competitive bid Technical support and expertise Eliminate the need for the individual to go through the process alone Be proactive by participating in a program to reduce environmental impacts Value added service Increased purchasing power by forming a buying group Receive a competitive more price than the individual can receive on their own 15

Cooperative Goal The Howard County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the creation of a Business Recycling Program. Program offers individual Howard County business owners the ability to recycle at a reduced cost Alternative to the Howard County Department of Public Works business recycling program which will be ending as of June 26, 2009 Current 96 gallon carts will be given to current user

Co-op Application Process Application based on a business location Business location Howard County Location: Address for pick-up Pick-up Frequency: Weekly Application per location Applicants must remain in the Co-op through the end of the Request for Proposal Process Applicants will be required to meet the credit criteria of the potential vendors Staff may visit your site to confirm location and container size requirements 17

Your Responsibilities Agree to make a decision on acceptance of the offer within 72 hours “Accept or Reject” the offer - it is your option Each Business Location Owner will contract directly with the new vendor for each pickup location/service Each Business Location Owner will pay for service monthly to the vendor Typical contracts will be 12 months and fees will be fixed by container size per weekly pick-up charge billed monthly If a you reject the offer you will remain with the current refuse service 18

Benefits Participation will reduce Solid Waste Refuse costs since it is more expensive to dispose of refuse wasters than recycled materials – Estimate 15% to 25% Businesses that recycle reduce overall refuse and recycled volumes thus reducing costs – Estimate 10% Recycling in Howard County is a single stream process it is easy Program is voluntary and not mandated Participating Businesses will receive a “Green – Logo” for participation to display to customers 19

Support Services Customer Service Center and designated vendor Account Executive call number 800 number to contract Chamber Consultant Team – CQI Associates Chamber Support and Direction to Services Field services from Chamber Consultants can be provided as required to assist with service questions Education support to assist businesses improve recycling program will be available from the County 20

Next Steps Join the Cooperative Fill Out the Application Form Contract Name Contact Phone Number Contract Email Address Return to the Chamber Refer to the Chamber Website for more information and application form: www.howardchamber.com Deadline: May 15, 2009: 4:00 pm 21

Current County Program Ends June 26, 2009 Containers will be collected starting June 29, 2009

Thanks for Supporting the Program Questions? Thanks for Supporting the Program For additional information, copy of this presentation, copy of the application, and instructions on how to participate in the program please refer to www.howardchamber.com 23