Waste Reduction

• Buy supplies, chemicals, fluids, raw materials in appropriate sizes. Buying in bulk may work if you know you will use the material before it expires. Otherwise, buy smaller sizes even if they cost more per unit. Disposal costs, especially if the material is hazardous, can wipe out any cost benefit from buying in bulk. 
• Use rechargeable batteries and LED or fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) whenever appropriate. The initial cost of these bulbs is easily made up in their long life and reduced energy use over the long run. Install low flow faucets and toilets to reduce your water bills. 
• Seek out lower toxicity or non-toxic chemical alternatives. Regulations and worker safety precautions for hazardous materials and hazardous wastes are much more costly than for non-hazardous chemicals and materials. 
• Continually review packaging requirements. Lightweighting and reusing shipping and packaging is one way to reduce costs and wastes. Bulk or blanket wraps shipping to reduce packaging. 
• Quality control not only improves products but replaces waste and costs. 
• Perform regular maintenance and repair on equipment when feasible rather than disposal or buying new. 

Reuse

• Reuse pallets - durable pallets may cost more initially but pay for themselves after a couple of uses. Repairing pallets will provide even greater savings. Work with suppliers to establish takeback or standardized shipping pallets. 
• Reuse packaging material like polystyrene packing, cardboard boxes, or shredded paper. In some large plants, a good waste audit may uncover a purchase of materials in one area that is a waste in another. 
• Consider repair and buying used equipment rather than disposal or buying new when feasible. Selling used equipment may be an option also. Contact your industry association for assistance in locating a company that may be interested in your surplus. 
• Donate used equipment to nonprofits if it still has some value. 
• Establish a surplus program in your facility to make sure usable equipment, furniture, and supplies are not needed in other areas before moving it off-site. 

Recycling

• Make sure you have done a waste assessment to identify any materials you dispose in quantities. Basic recyclables such as metals and corrugated containers have had established markets for decades. Other markets exist for oils, textiles, pallets, electronics, and other wastes. Contact your industry association or the MRC to find out about available markets for your facility's waste. 
• Buy Recycled
  • Many steel products are made from recycled metal. 
  • Buy durable and remanufactured pallets instead of those made of virgin wood. 
  • Look for recycled content packaging boxes, peanuts, and other packing materials. 
  • Purchase recycled content office white paper. 
  • Request re-refined lubricating oils, recycled engine coolant/antifreeze (very clean - few chlorides). 
  • Ask for signs made from recycled aluminum and recycled plastic. 
  • Fatigue mats can be found made from recycled tires, plastics, and other materials. 
  • Paper towels, toilet tissue, facial tissue, and other common products are often made from recycled fiber. Don't forget to ask! 

Other resources

• See Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Pollution Prevention Tips and Techniques.

Waste Reduction

• Buy supplies in appropriate sizes. Buying in bulk may work if you know you will use the material before it expires. otherwise, buy smaller sizes even if they cost more per unit. Disposal costs, especially if the material is hazardous, can wipe out any cost benefit from buying in bulk. 
• Use LED and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) whenever appropriate. The initial cost of these bulbs is easily made up in their long life and reduced energy use over the long run. Install low flow faucets and toilets to reduce your water bills. 
• Perform regular maintenance and repair on equipment in order to extend its service life. 
• Donate excess food or supplies to charities or shelters instead of throwing it away. 
• Do not purchase supplies or utensils that cannot be reused or recycled. 
• Buy food locally to avoid long transportation and to support local economy. 

Reuse

• Buy washable plates, silverware, cups, and trays instead of disposable ones. 
• Use washable napkins and tablecloths instead of paper napkins or table coverings. 
• Buy furniture and decorations from second-hand stores to create nostalgic feel. 
• Donate used furniture and equipment to second-hand stores. 
• Renovate an older building instead of building a new one. 

Recycling

• Recycle basic commodities such as corrugated cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, and glass. 
• Compost food scraps either on-site or off-site. 
• Recycle old linens. 
• Collect and recycle beverage containers. 
• Recycle metal, plastic, and glass food containers. 
• Recycle fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and other potentially hazardous waste. 

Buy Recycled

• Buy recycled content items such as napkins, paper towels, and take out boxes. 
• Create menus on recycled materials, and then laminate for longer use. 
• Use recycled content trash bags. 
• Use foods grown in compost enriched soils. 

Waste Reduction

• Reduce incoming junk mail by writing to: Mail Preference Service, Direct Marketing Association, 6 East 43rd St. New York, NY 10017-4610. 
• Print and copy on both sides of the paper. 
• Use email and discourage printing to reduce paper consumption. 
• Use "dry-erase" boards to leave messages instead of slips of paper. 
• Purchase remanufactured or used equipment and furniture when possible. 
• Purchase fluids in bulk containers and dispensers. 
• Use LED or compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) whenever appropriate. The initial cost of these bulbs is easily made up in their long life and reduced energy use over the long run. 
• Install low flow faucets and toilets to reduce your water bills. 

Reuse

• Reuse shipping envelopes, file folders, cardboard boxes, and other supplies. 
• Encourage employees to reuse durable coffee mugs instead of disposable coffee cups. 
• Trade in empty toner cartridges and ink jet containers for refill or remanufacture. 
• When redecorating or reorganizing, shuffle furniture between departments instead of disposing of the furniture.
• Transform outdated letterhead into internally useful notepads. 

Recycling

• Recycle basic commodities such as corrugated cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, and glass. 
• Separate white office paper from other grades, in order to get a higher value material. 
• Be sensitive of security and shred documents that are highly confidential; recycle the shredded material. 
• Recycle outdated computer equipment and other electronics. 
• Donate office furniture to nonprofit organizations. 
• Recycle fluorescent light bulbs, batteries, and other potentially hazardous materials through a licensed handler. 

Buy Recycled

• Buy recycled content letterhead and copier paper. 
• Buy recycled content office supplies - pens, pencils, clipboards, files, printer ribbons, etc. 
• Use recycled toner and inkjet cartridges. 

Other Resources

• Michigan Department of Environmental Quality fact sheet, "Greening Your Office and Saving Money." 

Waste Reduction

• Avoid disposable displays and large, single-use signs that must be thrown away. 
• Use returnable packaging whenever possible. 
• Store and sell items in bulk (candies, grains, screws, etc.) and dispense into customer's reusable containers when possible. 
• Do not over-package items before sale. 
• Ask suppliers to use less packaging and not send along unwanted samples or catalogs. 
• Sell reusable shopping bags. 

Reuse

• Encourage shoppers to bring back used bags by giving small discounts to those who do. 
• Reuse displays and shelving whenever possible. 
• Decorate store with used items. 
• Purchase remanufactured or used equipment such as cash registers, adding machines, etc. 
• Wrap customer purchases in packing materials received from distributors. 

Recycling

• Recycle basic commodities such as corrugated cardboard, paper, plastic, metal, and glass. 
• Accept recyclable packaging back from customers. 
• Recycle fluorescent light bulbs through a licensed handler. 
• For grocery stores, compost spoiled produce. 
• Accept bottles and cans for their redeemable deposits. 

Buy Recycled

• Purchase recycled content bags (paper is easily recycled with other papers). 
• Print receipts on recycled paper. 
• Carry merchandise containing recycled content metals, paper, plastics, and textiles, such as clothing, kitchen supplies, gardening supplies, building materials, etc. 

Other Resources: 

• U.S. EPA Resources from America's Marketplace Recycles: A Guide to Waste Reduction at Shopping Centers.

View Materials Recovery Facilities in Michigan in a full screen map