Starting A Recycling Program

A reader writes: I have a property manager who requires us to hit recycling goals for all waste generated by the building. They do not have any program of their own and we did not price in the labor, recycle cans or other services to fulfill their expectations.

Recycling can be a great step in the right direction for sustainability if (and only if) everyone is on board. I am not sure what your customer is thinking since he/she is the key to recycling and sustainability in their property. Your crew is vital to fulfilling the program they initiate and of course, the tenants and visitors will follow suit if given the correct guidance. It is possible that you can take leadership in this area so long as the property manager recognizes and accepts their role in initiating and sustaining the effort.

Most recycling programs begin with at least a few key stakeholders forming a committee to work out the steps. This committee should be made up of at least one or more major tenants, the property manager and of course, someone from your staff. Many well intended committees have created a complex, overloaded program that was doomed to fail. I highly recommend you keep it simple with an implementation that evolves over time. Following are some points to consider for a one year implementation:

1. Create a vision/mission statement addressing the need to recycle with a commitment to protecting the environment and reducing total landfill usage.

2. Determine what is to be recycled such as plain paper, card board and certain plastics as well as aluminum cans to begin with.

3. Schedule a meeting with all key tenants to roll out the program.

4. Follow up periodically with visual progress reports to show the impact of the program and its importance.

Well thought out and executed recycling can extend the life of our landfills and benefit the environment. Your comments and questions are important. I hope to hear from you soon. Until then, keep it clean…

Mickey Crowe has been involved in the industry for over 35 years. He is a trainer, speaker and consultant. You can reach Mickey at 678-314-2171 or CTCG50@comcast.net.