Don't Throw Your Profits Out With the Trash, Second Edition

The Bottom Line

When you get right down to it, making a profit is the driving force behind almost all businesses. Successful businesses maximize their income and minimize expenses. Why then, are so many potential profits going out with the trash?

Of the approximately 45 million tons of garbage produced in California each year, more than half originates from the commercial and industrial sectors. By practicing waste prevention, reusing products, recycling whenever possible, and making environmentally conscious purchases, your business can cut costs and increase profits.

Here are just a few examples of northern and central California businesses that have positively impacted their bottom line and were 1994 winners and participants of the California Integrated Waste Management Board's Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP).

Ben Franklin Press, Napa, CA

Ben Franklin Press is a high-quality commercial print shop in the Napa Valley, doing award-winning printing for the wine and food industry. Ben Franklin Press distributes leftover paper and paper scrap to many schools in the area. The shop recycles all cardboard and all uncoated paper it receives and uses recycled stock for printing on a daily basis. This waste reduction and recycling program enables Ben Franklin to save approximately $500 per month, while also benefiting its clients and local schoolchildren.

Broderbund Software, Novato, CA

Broderbund Software, Inc., a diversified consumer software company with a broad selection of products for homes, schools, and small businesses, has implemented a comprehensive recycling and waste reduction program targeting aluminum, paper, glass, cardboard packaging, and printer toner cartridges. With a recycling bin at every desk, each employee recycled over 170 pounds of paper in 1994, doubling their 1993 efforts! Broderbund has saved over $20,000 in disposal fees annually.

Doubletree Hotel, San Francisco, CA

The Doubletree Hotel at the San Francisco Airport offers 291 guest rooms, a restaurant, lounge and banquet/meeting facilities for individuals and groups. Since February 1992, the hotel's 160 employees have been participating in a recycling program. The commitment the hotel has made to its recycling program has resulted in a reduction of the size of containers used and fewer pickups for an approximate savings of $10,000 per year.

Eden Medical Center, Castro Valley, CA

Eden, a 324-bed, not-for-profit, district medical center, offering a full range of medical, surgical, and rehabilitative services, adopted their 4R program: reduce, reuse, recycle, repurchase, in 1992. Employees and staff accepted this program with great enthusiasm and kept approximately 18 tons of paper and 22 tons of cardboard from the landfill. This represents a cost savings of over $25,000, reducing compactor pickups from three times a week to once a week.

Farmers Insurance Group, Merced, CA

This regional office donates the proceeds from paper recycling to local community charities and all cardboard is given to a local facility for handicapped adults who, in turn, receive the recycling profits. Surplus equipment is donated to local schools and organizations rather than being sent for disposal. The office has reduced its waste disposal costs by about one-third, saving approximately $1,800 per year and raising $1,200 annually by recycling.

Fetzer Vineyards, Redwood Valley, CA

Fetzer Vineyards, a worldwide producer and marketer of fine wines, has found that waste reduction makes environmental AND economic sense. From 1991 through 1994, the company reduced its waste by 86 percent, saving more than $50,000 in disposal fees. Since 1991, Fetzer Vineyards has diverted 1.5 million pounds of solid waste from the landfill. The winery composts more than 10,000 tons of grape seeds and stems each year, and recycles 13.5 tons of plastic shrink wrap. Fetzer is also constructing a new administration office, which will feature the latest in solar photovoltaics, nontoxic paints and glues, and recycled wood and doors.

GenCorp Aerojet, Sacramento, CA

Aerojet is a major aerospace/defense contractor specializing in rocket propulsion systems, space sensor systems and smart munitions. Employees at Aerojet's Sacramento operations have recycled 290 tons of paper over the last 31 months, which they estimate has saved over 1000 cubic yards of municipal waste landfill space and over 5600 trees! These efforts have resulted in combined receipts and cost avoidance totaling $31,000.

Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA

The Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf is located in the heart of famous Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco. They have an active employee and client education program, consisting of bulletin board notices in employee areas and informational door hangers on guests' doors. The Hyatt has donated used linen and uniforms to the Salvation Army and building materials to the City's Homeless Task Force. The Hyatt has recycled more than 40,000 pounds of cardboard and mixed paper, and has saved more than $26,000 on disposal fees.

Nilsen Ace Hardware, Ferndale, CA

This family-owned and -operated retail hardware, feed, and seed sales company has reduced their waste disposal expenses by recycling all cardboard. This has resulted in a monthly savings of approximately $100.

Smith & Vandiver, Inc., Watsonville, CA

Smith & Vandiver manufactures and distributes natural ingredient fine toiletries and aromatherapeutic body care products. To minimize packaging waste, Smith & Vandiver reuses boxes in which they have received shipments by recutting the cardboard into smaller case pack cartons. Their waste reduction program has enabled the company to reduce its inventory of shipper cartons, saving both storage space and $20,000 annually for cardboard.

Sonoma Racquet Club, Rohnert Park, CA

Sonoma Racquet Club, a 241-unit condominium complex in Rohnert Park, has an extensive residential recycling program, which concentrates on educating residents. The program has reduced waste at the complex by 53 percent (not including green waste) and has resulted in monthly savings of $3,000.

Valin Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA

Valin Corporation distributes products and provides engineering support for controlling gases, liquids, and processes found in manufacturing environments. Two years ago Valin Corporation had no formal recycling program. With the cooperation of management and employees, they are now recycling all white paper, aluminum cans, packing materials, and cardboard, and ordering recyclable packaging materials. They have reduced their weekly trash pickup from three times a week to two times a week, with a goal of once a week, for an annual savings of $1,353.

Vasquez Delicatessen, Vacaville, CA

Vasquez Delicatessen, a Mexican deli, has recycled over 7000 lbs of glass and 250 lbs of aluminum, and reduced their trash from 6 cubic yards a week to 3 cubic yards a week, for an annual savings of $1,600.

For More Help:

For more information about WRAP, visit the WRAP Web site.
For more help in establishing a program to keep your profits from going out with the trash, call the Integrated Waste Management Board at (916) 341-6363. You can also call your city or county recycling coordinator or solid waste manager for local referrals and more information on industry-specific programs and waste evaluations.
The California Materials Exchange, CalMAX, facilitates the reuse and recycling of excess products, materials, and discards from California businesses. An online service and a bimonthly CalMAX catalog list materials available and materials wanted. Any business, nonprofit group, or government entity may list, at no charge, materials they have available or materials they need. For more information call CalMAX toll free, (877) 520-9703.
CIWMB Waste Prevention Information Exchange, (916) 341-6363. The Info Exchange has sample outreach materials from other organizations and offers technical assistance.
CIWMB Buy Recycled Program, (916) 341-6481.

Last updated: October 21, 2007

Business Resource Efficiency & Waste Reduction http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/BizWaste/
Business Assistance: bzassist@ciwmb.ca.gov (916) 341-6363