Environment at Work Awards 2009Meridian Facility
Recycling Program
Annual Report
August 2009
By: Tracy Skidmore
Justin Fellom
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This report will break down the whole program that we have in place. Some
statistics will shock you, inspire you and some will just be amazed how effective
this program is and how important it is for our success at the Branch level but
also on a Corporate level.
The first year of or program began in August of 2008. There were a couple of
reasons to implement this highly effective program:
1. Cut Costs
2. Be a part of the solution, not the problem
3. Do the right thing
Justin and I had several meeting prior to implementation to discuss, "Where do
we start," "How is this going to be successful?" "How are we going to measure
its success," No one had any answers for us. So we wrote up a plan and
reworked it several times to tailor the program for this Branch. This is our
strategic plan:
Obtain management Support
• It is critical to get management support
• Appoint a recycling champion, who has passion and understanding of
the situation.
• Set goals provide direction.
Contact waste haulers in your community.
• Call around for cost quotes, different recycling service providers that
offer a variety of recycling services.
Determine what to recycle and how to separate
• Conduct awalk-through audit by checking waste containers and
assessing the material that your business procedures.
• Identify the number of employees that will need an extra container.
• Find out where the. large waste generators are
• Determine the volume
• Order recycling containers.
• Develop recycling zones for our yard and inside.
2 This document is Proprietary and Confidential to Pro-Build only
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Evaluate and track your programs success
• Monitor success.
• Re-emphasize importance.
• Share success w/employees.
• What benefits the company expects to receive from recycling.
• Spread the word, use local media and State/local government.
• How are the materials being diverted and collected?
• Any new responsibility employees need to undertake.
Since a journey of thousand miles starts with a single step, this guide, that Justin
and I wrote, was our first stepping stone, EMPLOYEE BUY IN!
How to Achieve Employee BUY iN!
(Providing employees with an adequate understanding of how this program
will work is crucial to its success. All employees should be encouraged to
attend. We had an all store meeting and made it mandatory for attendance.
The following was our guideline:
• Why the company is starting a recycling program.
• What benefits the company expects to receive from recycling.
• What materials are going to be recycled? (We recycle paper, plastic
wrap, banding (plastic and metal), cardboard, all metal, junk mail,
magazines, plans, newspaper and have a co-mingle program in place.
• How the materials are going to be diverted and collected.
• Any new responsibility employees need to undertake.
• Name the individual responsible for answering any recycling questions.
• List the location of bins.
• Responsibility of each employee and signage will set your program up
for success.
• Stress the seriousness of contamination and how it can make or break
your recycling program.
• Kick Off
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The components that make up our recycling program are:
These figures are for one year, and are in pounds.
Pounds of Materials Recycled
Co-mingle,
38,400
Wood, 51,000
Plastic, 9,500
Cardboard,
Gypsum, 21,000 10,800
Metal, 6,045
Doc Mngnt,
8,800
4 This document is Proprietary and Confidential to Pro-Build only
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This graph represents percentages
Percent of Materials Recycled
Co-mingle,
~_
~..
~~t:.
Wood, 36%
~ 4 ~_.
Plastic, 7%
Gypsum, 14% Cardboard,
7 /o
Metal, 4%
Doc Mngnt, 6%
5 This document is Proprietary and Confidential to Pro-Build only
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Recycled vs. non-recycled
These figures are in pounds and percentages
Recyled vs Non
Solid Waste,
3,600, 2%
6 This document is Proprietary and Confidential to Pro-Build only
Recycled,
145,545, 98%
The preceding graphs represent our comprehensive tracking program that we
authored and developed. This tracking program in one of a kind and it is being
seen in the waste. world-as a model of excellence.-AA-o~these~igyres are true,
accurate and dbcumente~' for accountability.
What does all phis garbage moan? SAVING5~SAVINGS SAVINGS!!!
~~ ~ ~`~ ~
Cost reduction:
Period ~ ~
8/07 thru 7/081-waste co
$17,916.05 -_____ I
8/08 thru 8/091-waste costs ~
$4,326.67 I
i
We have saved a total amount of $13,589.38 which is 76e/~ cost
reduction.
Rebates from recycler~: '~~ ~
Total amount of rebates ~vy'e have received from our recyclers. Thi$ includes
cardboard, plast'rcand~netal. --- -- ---------- --- -~
Period
8/1/08 thru 8/31/09
$233.05
_,
;,
7 This document is Proprietary and Confidential to Pro-Build only
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Summary:
The numbers speak for themselves. We are currently running at a 98% recycle
rate, which means we_have only disposed _of 2°l_o-_of_our_wastefor_Qne year. That
is an extraordinary accomplishment; our goal was 95% recycle rats and 5% solid
waste. Goal mgt and exceeded expectations.
145,545; pounds of materials were recycled (72.7 tons) ',i
3,600 Pounds were solid waste and disposed of at the landf~ll (that equals
less that ONE garbage truck in one YEAR, versus 104 trips made a year
previous.
Could you imagine what the numbers would be, if all ProBuild facil,ties adopted
this program? -- ------ --- - - --
Here are some!examples ~f how efFective Pro Build Meridian's recycling has
benefited the following arias just not in Meridian but over the wor;d...
~~
72.7 tons recycled x 10,41 KWH = 756,153 KWH saved
72.7 tons recycled x 3 barrels of oil = 218 barrels of oil saved
72.7 tons recycled x 3.3 ~ 240 cubic yards of landfill space saved
72.7 tons recycled x 17 tries = 1236 trees that didn't need to be c,'ut down
8 This document is Proprietary and Confidential to Pro-Build only