Waste Management
Better recycling program, no more garbage bags. Concerned about climate change and their individual footprints on the environment, most Canadian households are actively choosing to separate recyclables and organic waste from their garbage. Cities provide residences with bins to separate their paper, plastic and metal recyclables. Some are now providing compost bins for organics.
But while recycling and reducing the amount of garbage going to landfills is habit for many people in their homes, once they arrive at work it's a different scenario. They don't have the option of separating their garbage and often all of it – compostables and recyclables included – go in one bin.
People know it is their responsibility to recycle and reduce garbage and want the opportunity in their workplaces.
The Econo+Green Plan makes it easy.
Separate waste at the source
By providing separate containers for recyclables, compostables and for general garbage employees in commercial buildings will separate waste as they would at home. The garbage bound for the landfill can be further diminished in size by compacting. Dumping charges will be reduced and the impact on a struggling earth diminished.
An estimated 90% of greenhouse gas emissions from landfills are from decomposing organic material, much of that from food scraps.
A 2009-2010 study of solid waste disposal in Greater Victoria's Capital Regional District found the single greatest waste component was organic and compostable waste which made up one-third of landfill garbage. When that food waste is diverted to composting less methane is emitted into the environment and compost plants provide valuable nutrients for soil and food production. It is nature's cycle as it was meant to be and everyone wins.
Paper products, largely paper towels from commercial buildings and institutions, are the second greatest burden on landfills. In Victoria's Capital District more than 21% of garbage at the landfill is paper, much of that paper towels.
Providing building employees with the opportunity to separate garbage, already habit in many of their homes, will have an enormous impact on the longevity of landfills and on green house gas emissions.
Eliminate plastic bags
Garbage bags are choking landfills and littering the environment. They take decades to decompose and once at the landfill seal matter inside that rots into toxic methane. They are unnecessary and harmful to the environment. Even Mexico City has banned plastic bags.
While reducing the amount of garbage in your workplace and making recycling easy and automatic, the Econo+Green Plan will eliminate plastic bags. Garbage areas will be fresher and cleaner and far less garbage will leave your site.
Compact trash
By further providing onsite garbage compactors waste can be compacted to a fraction of its former volume. Garbage bags can be all but eliminated and, with no more overflowing trash, waste container areas stay clean and safe. Building owners and managers will see an immediate and dramatic drop in dumpster loads and dumping fees, vermin and pests and an increase in cleanliness.
Out takes
Half the garbage in TO
The City of Toronto has a goal of 70% solid waste diversion from the landfill. Its Yellow Bag program aims to reduce garbage and increase recycling and organic collection in city workplaces. Combined with residential and industrial recycling programs daily trips to the landfill were cut in half from 142 truck loads per day in 2003 to 74 in 2007.
More reasons to recycle
- 75% less energy and 50% less water is used to make paper from recycled paper versus raw wood fibre.
- Recycling one tonne of old newspapers saves 19 trees
- A 33% energy reduction is seen when new products are made from recyclable plastics.
- Recycling just one pop can saves enough energy to power a television for three hours.
A Garbage Story
On a midweek day of an ordinary week the janitorial staff at a Western Canada law office took a look at the garbage. From one garbage bag they found that only 20 per cent was real garbage. The rest was entirely recyclable and compostable
© City of Toronto 1998-2010 © City of Toronto 1998-2010
Each of us produced an average of 837 kilograms of non-hazardous solid waste in 2006. – Stats Canada