Westchester County is taking a proactive stance on Business Recycling and Waste Reduction. The county is providing local businesses, institutions and school districts with basic information on how to set up an effective recycling program to save money, and comply with the law. In fact the Westchester County Source Separation Law requires all businesses, institutions, and school districts in Westchester to separate recyclables from their trash.

Potential savings
The majority of office waste is paper. By separating paper from the trash, your organization may save money in two ways

• Reduced collection costs for paper items
• Reduced costs for garbage collection due to the decreased amount of garbage to be collected.

These matters will need to be negotiated with your hauler. (If you do not ask about savings, it is unlikely that your hauler will bring it up!)

Available assistance
Call 211, the Westchester County Recycling Office, for assistance in setting up an effective recycling and waste reduction program. The Recycling Office can provide technical advice, as well as informational handouts and stickers to place on containers for recyclables, all free of charge. Also call for a free copy of “The Bottom Line: A Guide to Waste Reduction for New York State Businesses.”

Getting started

• Designate a Program Coordinator to act as liaison between management, employees and your hauler.
• Analyze your trash and contact your hauler – a typical office will generate half a pound of paper per employee each day.
• Develop an internal collection system to encourage participation and make recycling convenient.
• Organize an employee education program to sustain employee participation and keep them informed.

What to recycle
Review this list as it has changed. Starting Dec. 10, 2008, all businesses and institutions in Westchester County will be required to recycle:

• Glass (jars and bottles of clear, green or amber color, used to store food or beverages)
• Metal containers (for food and beverages)
• Plastic containers (coded 1 and 2),
• Yard waste (for fall leaves only),
• Cardboard (e.g. tissue boxes)

And don' forget all the other items currently required under the original recycling law enacted in 1992:

• Corrugated cardboard
• Newsprint, magazines and catalogs
• Junk mail and envelopes
• High-grade office paper (white and colored)
• Bulk metals (e.g. large fixtures and appliances)
• Vehicle batteries and used motor oil
• Aluminum (cans and clean foil)
• Metal cans
• Glass bottles and jars
• Plastics (coded #1 and #2)

Get or give away used by usable items
Whether giving away or looking for a used computer, office furniture, office equipment and supplies, visit Treasure Hunt.