Five Things You Might Not Know About Business Recycling
While it might not sound like the most glamourous of subjects, business recycling is itself becoming big business.
Here are a few things you might not know about it. From how much your waste might be worth to what your legal responsibilities are.
The true value of your recyclables
Gone are the days when the materials being thrown away are viewed simply as trash. Recyclable waste is now worth big bucks, and the trend for reusing, repurposing, and recycling is only going to keep growing.
According to Statista, in 2017, this market was valued at about 265 billion US dollars. By 2024, the market is expected to grow to about 377 billion US dollars.
In fact, recycling cardboard alone is becoming such a lucrative industry that the theft of used cardboard is becoming increasingly widespread. While figures are not available for how much is stolen globally, experts say it is very much a global problem.
Variety of business waste solutions
While some companies are leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, others have a little further to go, but it doesn’t have to be another headache to get your recycling bundled up and out the door.
First of all, the bundling can be done for you with the use of a baler. This clever piece of machinery can be used for, among other things, cardboard, textiles, metals and plastics. Visit balingwiredirect.com for lots of information about balers and their accessories.
The type of waste collection service you need will depend on the size and type of your business, but it is worth doing some research into which companies will offer you the best service and even whether any of your recycling is saleable.
How products are recycled
Something you may never have considered is what happens to all of these recyclable materials once they leave the premises.
The first step after collecting the recyclables is to sort. This begins with removing anything that shouldn’t be in there before separating out into different categories, for example, different colored glass or different types of paper and card.
When it comes to recycling, less is sometimes more. For instance, you should ensure materials are clean and not contaminated with food or other substances and put anything that is straight into the garbage. Contaminated materials are not marketable and actually lead to more ending up in landfill.
Once sorted, the materials can be broken down, this could be through a process of pulping, melting or shredding, depending on what it is. At this stage, different materials may then be added before it is reformed and reincarnated into usable products.
What is it made into
It’s exciting to think about what your trash might become in a future life, and there’s a huge array of possibilities, from everyday items to more surprising products.
It takes 95 percent less energy to make a can from recycled material than from newly sourced materials, making it a hugely more efficient process. Other than cans, you might see your metal coming back as bike or car parts or maybe even a household appliance.
Plastic bottles and containers frequently just become new bottles and containers but you may see them reformed into park benches, playground equipment or even a t-shirt.
Cardboard and paper may live again as building insulation or kitty litter. It’s also common to find newspapers and toilet paper being made from recycled paper too.
What is the law?
Recycling in the US is not mandated by any federal laws. Instead, state and local governments introduce their own recycling requirements.
Generally, there are either landfill bans or recycling targets. States with landfill bans of recyclables include Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and North Carolina. States who have introduced recycling goals include California and Illinois.
California, Hawaii, Oregon, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Iowa, Michigan, and New York have all passed laws that establish deposits or refund values on beverage containers in order to promote recycling.
Cities, such as Seattle, and states like Connecticut, have created mandatory recycling laws that may fine citizens who throw away a certain percentage of recyclable materials in their garbage waste.
So, in short, there is no short answer to that question. You will need to check what is expected of you in your area to make sure you are disposing of your trash legally.
