EnvironmentLA

1.   Look in your garbage dumpster annually to see if there are items that could instead be reused by someone else or recycled.

2. REDUCE waste in 7 ways:

• Buy products in returnable or reusable containers.
  
• Work with vendors to minimize packaging.
  
• Require chemical suppliers to take back empty buckets or drums.
  
• Eliminate inner-pack dividers in shipping containers for miscellaneous supplies.
  
• Require corrugated cardboard boxes instead of waxed cardboard for produce unless you are composting food waste off-site. Waxed cardboard can be composted with food waste.
  
• Buy ingredients (e.g., flour, salt) in bulk, packaged in unlined kraft paper bags, which can be recycled with food waste.
  
• Buy eggs shelled in bulk.
  
• Replace individual condiment packets with approved, refillable containers. Refill from bulk.
  
• Check food deliveries for spoiled or damaged products before accepting.
  
• Store and rotate supplies to minimize loss through spoilage and damage.
  
• Replace disposable beverage containers with washable, reusable ones (contact Environmental Health to ensure proper sanitizing).
  
• Replace disposable flatware and tableware with reusable items.
  
• Replace paper napkins and tablecloths with cloth ones. (Contact Environmental Health to ensure proper sanitizing).
  
• Replace single-use paper hats for kitchen staff with reusable ones.
  
• Use Environmental Health-approved straw dispensers instead of offering pre-wrapped ones (for self-service areas only).
  
• Eliminate paper coasters or switch to reusable ones.
  
• Donate excess food (bread/produce OK; not meat or cooked food) to food banks or shelters (covered under Good Samaritan law) OR have an “employee use” policy for leftovers.

• Discourage the printing of emails.
  
• Set copier/printer defaults to double-sided.
  
• Practice efficient printing and copying by using the size reduction feature—print two pages of a document or book onto one page.
  
• Use computer fax modems that allow faxing directly from computers without printing.
  
• Eliminate fax cover sheets by using "sticky" fax directory notes.
  
• Eliminate unnecessary forms, redesign forms to use less paper, or switch to electronic forms.
  
• Use a bulletin board or routing lists for memos and journals to reduce printed copies.
  
• Reduce all unwanted mailings:
  • Eliminate duplicates by returning labels requesting all but one be removed.
  • Reduce junk mail. Guidance and a PDF kit are at http://stopjunkmail.org  Reduce catalogs at www.catalogchoice.org  
  • Eliminate duplicates in your own mailing lists.
• For new software, order only the number of manuals needed. Do the same with phone books. Encourage employees to share.
  
• Design marketing materials that require no envelope – simply fold and mail.
  
• Buy products in returnable or reusable containers.
  
• Work with vendors to minimize packaging.
  
• Eliminate the use of non-recyclable packaging, such as Styrafoam.
  
• In the lunch/break room, replace disposables with permanent items (e.g., mugs, dishes, utensils, towels/rags, coffee filters, etc.) and use refillable containers for sugar, salt & pepper, etc. to avoid individual condiment packets.
  
• Serve dishes at office events in reusable serving dishes.
  
• Eliminate single-use plastic water bottles.
  
• Centralize purchasing to eliminate unnecessary purchases and ensure all waste reduction purchasing policies are followed.
  
• Use optical scanners, which give more details about inventory, for more precise ordering.
  
• Lease, rather than purchase, computers and printers.
  
• Leave mowed grass on lawn (“grasscycling”).
  
• Other:                     

   

3.   REUSE materials in 3 ways.


• Reuse old tablecloths, cloth napkins and washcloths as rags.
         
  
• Print on previously printed paper, or designate a tray on printers as a “draft” tray.
  
• Reuse office paper as scratch paper.   
  
• Require laundry service to use reusable bags to transport dirty and clean linen.
  
• Give or sell reusable cloth bags (this is required for stores over 10,000 sq.ft).
  
• Offer a small incentive to customers bringing their own shopping bags, coffee mugs, etc.
  
• Have your customers return packaging to you for reuse.
  
• Reuse paper or plastic packaging materials.
  
• Designate a reuse area for office supplies such as binders, folders and staplers.  
  
• Reuse garbage bag liners.
  
• Have your toner cartridges refilled for use.
  
• Donate furniture, supplies, scrap materials, etc., or use a waste exchange program where another business can take your unwanted items (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/CalMAX).
  
• Other:      

4.   RECYCLE all of the required materials and at least one additional material.


• REQUIRED: Cardboard
  
• REQUIRED: Newspapers, office/mixed paper, junk mail
  
• REQUIRED: Glass bottles and jars
  
• REQUIRED: Metal cans, containers, aluminum foil
  
• REQUIRED: Plastic bottles and containers
  
• Plastics
  
• Scrap metal
  
• Landscape trimmings (green waste)
  
• Pallets and other wood
  
• Other:      

4.   Buy the first required item and at least 3 more items with recycled content.
Purchasing products made from recycled materials conserves resources and is essential to support the recycling market.

• REQUIRED:  Copier/printer paper with at least 30% post-consumer waste
       
• Copier/printer paper with 100% post-consumer waste
  
• Written policy guiding purchase that emphasizes buying recycled-content and low- toxicity products
  
• Paper table covers.
  
• Placemats
  
• Napkins
  
• Menus
  
• Guest checks
         
• Take-out containers – paperboard and plastics (#1 and #2, not #6 and #7)
  
• Letterhead
  
• Business cards
  
• Paper towels
  
• Tissues
  
• Toilet paper
  
• Toilet seat covers
  
• Garbage bags
  
• Boxes or bags for retail use or shipping
  
• Recycled or remanufactured laser and copier toner cartridges
  
• Carpet, carpet undercushion or floor mats
  
• Remodeling/construction materials: cabinets, fixtures, ceramic and ceiling tiles, drywall, insulation, interior paneling, composite lumber/wood, roofing, concrete, etc.
  
• Sell products made with recycled content.
  
• Purchase or obtain previously used furniture, supplies or materials (CalMAX, freecycle.org, Craig’s List). List examples: