Business Recycling Toolkit
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Go paperless!
- Emails and documents can all be saved electronically.
Make an E-filing system for fast and convenient retrieval.
- Need to edit a document? Use the revision feature in word
processing.
- Send information electronically. Scan documents
to email.
- Double up: Use both sides of the paper! Cost and paper
consumption will be cut in half. See the printer’s manual for
directions on changing the default setting.
- Take the printer for a test run: When you absolutely need
to print multiple copies, try printing just one copy first to
confirm the printing properties are set correctly.
- Just say “no” to unsolicited mail. Contact the company
sending “junk mail” and ask to be removed from the mailing
list.
- Reuse paper when possible. Begin collecting once used
paper (paper only used on one side) and reuse for note
taking and to-do lists.
True Refill Replace disposable water cooler and coffee cups with
reusable drinking glasses, refillable water bottles, and coffee
mugs.
Refill ink cartridges when empty instead of taking them to the
hazardous waste disposal location. If your ink cartridges are
not refillable, recycle them through an ink cartridge recycling
program. False Recycle! Close the Loop After reducing and reusing items to the best of your ability, the last option is to recycle!
Make recycling signage clear and consistent. If you would like assistance with recycling signage for your business, please contact Jeff Klugh, Alachua County’s Recycling Programs Coordinator at (352) 374-5213. False Donation vs Disposal If your office has unneeded items, consider donating them to a local thrift store. Any new or gently used office supplies can be donated to Tools for Schools, a free resource center for all Alachua County public school teachers.
Tools for Schools accepts items such as pens and pencils, notepads, paper, staplers, tape, scissors, desk organizers, unused dry erase boards, envelopes, outdated letterheads, magazines, and extra folders and binders.
You can contact Tools for Schools at 352-374-5213. Unwanted printers and fax machines can be posted online. If no longer working, please bring them to a hazardous waste drop off location. False What: In 2001, Alachua County instituted a mandatory commercial
recycling program for commercial properties by Alachua
County Code Section 75.302. This ordinance applies to
businesses located in the unincorporated areas of Alachua
County.
In 2011, a revised, more comprehensive ordinance was
passed by the commission with the intention of helping
Alachua County reach the mandated 75% recycling goal put
in place by the State Legislature. False Why: Recycling of additional materials from commercial properties
saves money otherwise spent on disposal costs and helps
protect the environment.
Removing these materials from your garbage will not only
bring your business into compliance with the ordinance, but
can help reduce waste collection costs by enabling you to use
a smaller container or have your waste collected less often.
Commercial waste represents a majority of the total waste
produced in Alachua County. Commercial recycling will make
the greatest impact on Alachua County’s overall recycling
rate. False Who: Owners of commercial properties in the unincorporated area of Alachua County are required by law to recycle.
Property owners are required to provide recycling facilities and the opportunity to recycle for tenants. False Recycling materials Businesses in Alachua County are required to recycle the
following materials, referred to as designated recyclable
material in the Mandatory Commercial Recycling Ordinance.
Recycling facilities should be set-up to accept the following
items if found in the property’s waste stream.
- Steel cans
- Aluminum cans with a volume up to 2.5 gallons
- Glass containers with a volume up to 2.5 gallons
- Plastic containers (PETE, HDPE, or PVC)
with a volume up to 2.5 gallons
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Office paper
- Corrugated cardboard
False Why Recycle?
- Recycling steel requires 75% less energy than new steel.
- Recycling aluminum cans requires only 5% of the energy to
produce the same amount of aluminum from scratch.
- Recycling a single glass bottle saves enough energy to
power a 100W light bulb for four hours.
- Roughly 39% of the U.S. waste stream is paper.
- Every ton of paper recycled saves 7,000 gallon of water
and prevents 17 trees from having to be cut down.
False Need Help? If you would like assistance in designing a recycling
program for your business, the Alachua County Office
of Waste Alternatives offers free waste surveys where
a member of our staff will visit your business and
view the various waste producing activities and work
with you to design the most efficient, economical and
sustainable program for you. False
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