Business Waste Reduction

Sample Waste Prevention Action Plan

Offices can use this In-House Waste Prevention Action Plan developed by the California Integrated Waste Management Board as a sample for creating their own waste prevention action plans. A plan will establish waste reduction goals and implementation measures that will save money, promote efficiency, conserve resources, and reduce pollution.

California Integrated Waste Management Board In-House Waste Prevention Action Plan

I. Purpose
II. Introduction
     A. Background
     B. Definition of Waste Prevention
     C. Waste Generation at the Board
III. Goals and Implementation Steps

I.  Purpose

The purpose of the In-house Waste Prevention Action Plan is to create a model waste prevention program at the California Integrated Waste Management Board (Board) to provide leadership through example and save money through more efficient use of supplies and equipment.

II. Introduction

A. Background

B. Definition of Waste Prevention

"Any action undertaken by an individual or organization to eliminate or reduce the amount or toxicity of materials before they enter the municipal solid waste stream. This action is intended to conserve resources, promote efficiency, and reduce pollution."

C. Waste Generation at the Board

During one week in June 1992, the Board collected, sorted, and categorized materials from disposal and recycling streams. Staff conducting the waste audit determined that Board staff generate 1.15 pounds of waste per person per day. This study provided the committee with information about the type and quantity of waste generated.

Source: Draft Waste Audit Summary Report, prepared by Terry Brennan, CIWMB staff.

The committee used this information to help determine which waste categories to target. White ledger paper comprised 37 percent of waste generated and is the largest category. There is ample opportunity to reduce paper use and save money by using it less wastefully (e.g., print double-sided copies, find uses for scrap paper printed on one side only, print fewer copies). Other major categories were newspaper (22 percent), mixed paper (14 percent), and food waste (10 percent).

Of the materials being targeted in this plan, only landscape waste was not included in the waste generation study. This waste is handled by a landscape contractor hired by building management rather than the Board. The committee believes landscaping waste should be part of the plan because, if it were included in a waste generation study, it would likely be significant.

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III.  Goals and Implementation Steps

The following goals and implementation steps are intended to be phased in over time. This will allow the committee to (1) introduce new procedures one at a time so staff are not overloaded and (2) begin with practices that are likely to offer the greatest impact. Criteria for determining greatest impact include:

• Material's contribution to the waste stream:
• Ease of implementation:
• Ability to support other waste prevention efforts underway at the Board.

Because the plan is phased, only the first three goals and implementation steps have been detailed. The remaining goals and steps will be enumerated after the first steps have been evaluated so staff can incorporate experience gained.

Following adoption of the plan, the committee will develop timelines, assign responsibilities, and modify the implementation steps as necessary to develop a model program for other State agencies, local governments, and other office settings. The committee will closely monitor the implementation of all plan strategies and evaluate their effectiveness in changing employee behavior to conserve resources, promoting efficiency, reducing pollution, and reducing costs.

Goal 1. Request that the Board adopt the In-House Waste Prevention Resolution.

Goal 2. Implement a 10 percent reduction in white office paper use.

Step 1: Establish a baseline of white paper usage.

• A. Quantify and track paper use at specified locations.
• Estimate percentage of single versus double sided printing and copying.
• Establish a process for assessing progress.
• Quantify cost savings.

Step 2: Identify staff who will volunteer as "Waste Prevention Pros" to help educate and work with staff.

Step 3: Hold a contest among divisions to encourage paper reduction.

• Develop the contest.
• Kick off contest.
• Remeasure paper use at end of contest period.
• Award prizes.

Step 4: Provide ongoing encouragement for double-sided printing.

• Direct Waste Prevention Pros to work with staff on setting up and using double-sided printing feature.
• Provide e-mail instructions for double-sided printing.
• Post instructions for double-sided printing next to printers.
• Direct Waste Prevention Pros to follow up with staff within two weeks after sending out instructions. Assist as needed.
• Address concerns that arise with double-sided printing.

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Step 5: Provide ongoing encouragement for double-sided copying.

• Post reminders next to copy machines to remind people to copy double-sided.
• Direct Waste Prevention Pros to remind people to copy double-sided.
• Evaluate existing copiers for double-sided performance and make recommendations for improvement/replacement.

Step 6: Encourage single-sided paper reuse.

• Encourage staff to collect single-sided paper at their desks and use for drafts and scratch pads.
• Place collection boxes at copiers and printers for collection of single-sided sheets. Establish collection and reuse system for this paper.
• Investigate if mail room can make scratch pads and initiate a process for making scratch pads.
• Look into designating certain printers/copiers with draft paper trays, including determination of whether warranties would be void if such a practice were implemented.

Step 7: Reduce excess printing and copying.

• Define and implement procedures that save paper, such as previewing documents on computer before printing, verifying the number of copies needed, and formatting to avoid excessive white space and blank pages.
• Evaluate extent of overruns and develop strategies for reducing them.
• Evaluate mailing lists: remove duplicate names and determine if recipients still want Board mailings.

Step 8: Encourage reduction of paper generation through e-mail.

• Support ITAC efforts to get standardized forms on e-mail.
• Use bulletin board for announcements of general interest items.
• Educate Board employees about saving messages and documents on computer rather than printing them out.

Step 9: Continue efforts to find new and innovative ways to conserve paper.

Step 10: Evaluate progress according to process established in Step 1C.

Step 11: Publicize results.

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Goal 3. Encourage staff to reduce food and related waste.

Step 1: Establish a baseline of waste generation.

• Estimate amount of food and packaging waste from non-cafeteria sources.
• Estimate cafeteria waste.
• Establish a process for assessing progress.

Step 2: Reduce non-cafeteria food and packaging waste.

• Work with In-House Recycling Program to initiate worm bin project.
• Encourage use of reusable dishware, lunch bags, and carry-out bags through contests, Waste Prevention Pros, etc.
• Approach eating establishments frequented by Board employees to see what possibilities exist to reduce take-out food waste.

Step 3: Reduce cafeteria waste.

• Work with cafeteria operator to develop waste prevention practices.
• Implement waste prevention measures in cafeteria.

Step 4: Reduce waste at special events.

• Work with the building management company about events they sponsor (such as receptions, holiday parties).
• Develop waste prevention procedures for Board-sponsored events.
• Establish a collection of reusable dishware for informal Board gatherings (e.g., pot lucks).

Step 5: Evaluate the feasibility of purchasing a dishwasher.

Step 6: Evaluate progress according to process established in Step 1C.

Step 7: Publicize results.

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Goal 4. Actively work with building management to reduce waste.

Step 1: Establish a baseline of waste generation.

• Estimate amount of custodial waste generated.
• Estimate amount of landscape waste generated.
• Establish a process for assessing progress.

Step 2. Educate building management about benefits of waste prevention.

Step 3: Work with building management company to reduce landscape waste.

• Evaluate grasscycling pilot.
• Implement full scale grasscycling
• Reduce frequency of landscape plantings.
• Explore usage of compost from vermicomposting for on site landscaping.
• Explore means to use other landscape waste on site.

Step 4: Work with management company to establish waste preventative custodial practices.

Step 5: Evaluate progress according to process established in Step 1D.

Step 6: Publicize results.

As previously noted, the following goals will be detailed after the above goals are implemented.

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Goal 5. Implement waste prevention practices in procurement.

Step 1: Establish a procurement baseline and evaluation process.

Step 2: Determine procurement practices and products to target.

Step 3: Buy durable, reusable, and repairable products.

Step 4: Buy recycled and recyclable (important compliments to waste prevention).

Step 5: Reduce packaging.

Step 6: Promote reusable transportation packaging.

Step 7: Evaluate progress according to process established in Step 1.

Step 8: Publicize results.

Goal 6. Persuade Board employees to conserve other resources.

Step 1: Establish a baseline of waste generation & evaluation process.

Step 2: Reduce newspaper generation (e.g., reduce subscriptions, utilize electronic news services).

Step 3: Reduce use of mixed paper (e.g., reduce packaging waste, buy reuse labels and reuse envelopes).

Step 4: Determine and implement other waste prevention measures

Step 5: Evaluate progress according to process established in Step 1.

Step 6: Publicize results.

Do you have questions, or some ideas of your own we could share with others?

bzassist@ciwmb.ca.gov

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Last updated: November 01, 2007