Solid Waste Source Reduction Tips

Use the following tips to help divert solid waste from landfill or incineration, and increase recycling rates—contributing to more environmentally friendly operations and several LEED-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. credits.

General

  • Use monitoring technology to limit pickups to times when the dumpsters are full. This results in cost savings, especially as recycling efforts become more effective and reduce trash volumes. For example see Waste Management’s compactor monitoring service. 
  • Attach signage to the outside of recycling, compost, and trash containers to help building occupants direct their waste to the appropriate receptacle.
  • Include desk-side recycling bins at office workstations.
  • Use products that are more durable, of higher quality, recyclable, or reusable to promote waste reduction.
  • Advertise surplus and reusable waste items through a materials exchange.
  • Implement an improved inventory system, such as those based on optical scanners, to provide more precise control over supplies and avoid ordering excess supplies that may never be used.
  • Designate a “free” shelf were building occupants can leave reusable materials to be claimed by others.

Computer Paper

  • Establish a facility-wide double-sided copying policy...

Your green building reference library

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