Why Business Recycles
The first reason to recycle is that it pays. By reducing your company's waste, you can usually save money by either reducing the size of your refuse container or the frequency it is collected. Businesses can also sell many waste materials at the Glendale Recycling Center or consider the offers from other businesses on the State or Los Angeles County Materials Exchanges. Some businesses also have the option of being paid by recyclers to collect their large volume of recyclables
Of course, it's also the right thing to do. Recycling conserves natural resources and valuable landfill space and reduces air and water pollution. To help you meet all these goals, the City of Glendale has devised a FREE, user-friendly business recycling program.
Here's how it works:
- For businesses that can fill a 2 or 3 cubic yard white recycling bin weekly, the City's Integrated Waste Management Section will provide a recycling bin for the commingled weekly collection of all clean paper grades and clean beverage containers, as listed (below). These recyclables are mixed together in one lockable bin and will be collected weekly. Bins are particularly helpful for businesses with large volumes of cardboard which is difficult to fit into automated containers.
In a mini-mall, one locked bin can serve a number of businesses. A full bin can then be collected weekly. A key and instructions will be provided for participating businesses.
- For businesses with a small quantity of recyclables, the City will provide one or two 100 or 64-gallon automated gray recycling containers for weekly curbside collection of all clean paper grades and clean beverage containers. Automated containers must be placed out at a curb or alley on collection day. The collection day will be the same as that for other automated collection customers in your area.
- Any business can also request one or more green automated recycling containers for the weekly curbside collection of your yard trimmings (grass, leaves, plant waste, tree trimmings less than 6" in diameter, no palm fronds).
- Businesses can receive payment for certain separated recyclables if taken to the Glendale Recycling Center. Call (818) 552-2870 for prices paid.
- Employee recycling flyers are available on what can be placed in either type of recycling container. The flyers are available in English, Spanish, and Armenian.
Container Storage Areas - For recycling or yard trimming service, you will need a place to store either a 100-gallon gray (recycling) or green (yard trimming) container or a 2 or 3-cubic yard white recycling bin.
Recycling Baskets - About 70 percent of business waste is paper. The most effective business recycling programs use separate, but different colored, waste baskets for the recyclable paper. High-volume containers are helpful near copiers, printers, and mail rooms. Separate containers for cans and bottles are helpful in eating areas.
Materials Exchanges - "One business' trash is another business' treasure." So when you need to discard less common items, try listing your waste in either the State (CalMAX) or Los Angeles County (lacomax) Material Exchange. Both sites list materials that are available or wanted. You can reach CalMAX at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/CalMAX and lacomax at www.lacomax.com.
Waste Prevention - The best way to manage your waste, and save money, is to produce less waste in the first place. First, get to know your waste by checking out what is thrown away.
This is a good task for the person assigned to coordinate your recycling effort. Then consider some of these common sense suggestions: (1) use double-sided copying whenever possible, (2) order supplies in bulk to reduce excess packaging, (3) ask suppliers to minimize their packaging on orders, perhaps by using returnable containers, and (4) use products that are reusable, durable, repairable, and/or recyclable. The City would be happy to help you put together a plan to both recycle and reduce your waste.
Buy Recycled - You can close the recycling loop, and maintain the market for the materials you recycle, by buying some of the hundreds of new, quality products made from recycled materials. A data base of recycled-content products is on the Web site of the California Integrated Waste Management Board at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/RCP/.
What to Recycle in the Gray Container or White Bin:
- All Clean Paper
newspaper and inserts, junk mail, white and colored office paper, wrapping, art and craft paper, telephone books, magazines, paper bags, catalogs, envelopes (including those with windows) , shredded paper (in a closed paper bag or box), note cards, Post-it notes
- All Cardboard Boxes and Chipboard
cereal boxes (liners removed), dry food, frozen food, shoe and detergent boxes, paper and toilet rolls, and corrugated boxes (flattened)
- All Aluminum, Tin, Metal and Bi-Metal Cans
rinsed if possible, soda, juice, soup, vegetable, and pet food cans; pie tins; wire hangers
- All Glass Bottles and Jars
rinsed if possible, soda, wine, and beer bottles, food jars
- Clean Plastic Bottles and Containers (#1, #2, #4 #5, #7 and all beverage containers)
soda, juice, detergent, bleach, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, dishwashing containers, milk jugs, tubs for margarine and yogurt, plastic planters
- Clean Plastic Bags and Film Bags (bundled in a tied bag)
grocery and store bags, dry cleaner bags
Preparation:
- Materials should not protrude outside the top of the container.
DO NOT RECYCLE THESE ITEMS
- Contaminated Paper
juice boxes, coated milk cartons, all soiled papers or bags with oil and food waste, paper cups, paper towels, wax paper, unclean food boxes
- Broken glass
window glass, mirrors, auto glass, light bulbs, fluorescent lights and ceramics, drinking glasses, mugs
- Other plastic
Styrofoam (#6), PVC (#3), plastic trays from frozen dinners, plastic six-pack rings, garden hoses, plastic wrap, packaging materials, old trash containers. Clean Styrofoam can be dropped off at the Glendale Recycling Center.
- Miscellaneous Materials
cloth, appliances, tires, carpet and padding, computer parts, diapers, dryer lint, food waste, packaging materials, lawn furniture, pens and pencils, phones, clocks, scrap metal, water pipes, wood/lumber, construction materials, yard trimmings
- Hazardous Materials
batteries, syringes, electronic items, all partially filled aerosol cans and containers for cleaning fluids, automotive fluids, pesticides, paint, garden chemicals, and pool cleaners
Go to Electronics Recycling for information on recycling batteries, fluorescent lights, and other electronic waste.
WEB Sites - Many questions that you may have about waste reduction in your business can be answered by visiting the comprehensive Web sites established by the State and Los Angeles County. The extensive State site is at www.ciwmb.ca.gov. The County site is at www.businessrecycling.com.
Business Recycling Awards - Once a year the City of Glendale and the California Integrated Waste Management Board present awards to businesses that have achieved outstanding success in the fields of waste reduction and recycling. Over 1,200 California businesses have received the State WRAP (Waste Reduction Awards Program) awards. Details and application forms for the WRAP program are available at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/. A shorter, one-page form for recognition by the City of Glendale is available by calling (818) 548-3916.
To request recycling service or for any recycling questions or comments, please call the Integrated Waste Management Section at (818) 548-3916. For information on the prices paid and hours of the Glendale Recycling Center, call (818) 552-2870.
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