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Marketing recyclables requires knowledge of the material itself. Knowing the markets will provide invaluable information about what
types of materials are recyclable in the area and will indicate what is needed to know about collecting, processing, and transporting that
material. Marketing
recyclables to reduce costs of garbage and supplement a recycling effort,
is an important key to managing a recycling/waste reduction program. To
determine what materials to recycle it is important to do a waste stream
audit to determine what waste materials and amounts are generated on campus.
See Chapter
4 Solid Waste Audits *It is a big mistake to collect materials that do not have a ready market. Instead of recyclables, the end result is waste. Identify local waste management companies that handle recyclables and other recycling processors in the area. Obtain a list of prices from local vendors. Find out what the vendors' collection methods are? Determine the campus ability to collect, process and deliver materials to local vendors or if a contractor needs to be hired to do it. *Determine economic feasibility and benefits of recycling different items,
some materials might make money, others might be a break even and there
are some markets that will cost money to recycle. Do a cost benefit analysis on collection costs vs. benefits from
sale or diversion of materials from the landfill to determine if the benefits
are worth the effort. BE
AWARE that recycling markets are not consistent across the country and
the markets fluctuate.
*Determine areas where large amounts of materials are generated. Work with users on easy ways to capture the materials. Next, determine how to collect and store materials before transport to the market. *Determine processing needs (ex. sorting, grinding, crushing) for the market once materials are collected and incorporate this into program operations. *Ability to maximize revenue from recyclables can be dependent on the resources at hand. Many colleges have been fortunate to have large warehouses to accommodate balers and storage of recycled materials for bulk sale as well as storage of low market recyclables to wait out the market. Identify program priorities and resources. Collecting and processing is a number one priority, but becoming a recycling processor to maximize marketability might not always be feasible. The better job the team does in preparing non-contaminated clean recyclables for market, the more recycling markets will work to accommodate maximum revenue. *Set-up collection systems with educational information to maximize participant responsibility and minimize recycling processing needs. *Markets go through ebbs and flows. Be creative in the lean years and try and work to put money aside to carry over. Set-up collection programs that will be stable. Once a recycling collection system is established, it is very difficult to take it away, change it or scale it back. Try and create systems that are in synch with local residential recycling programs so that the program can benefit from local educational programs. *If markets are not available for materials generated in large quantities, find ways to encourage waste reduction prior to generation of waste. Institute waste reduction strategies for these materials. Design "precycling" education and contract procedures that encourage waste reduction. *Do waste reduction education campaigns for materials that do not have available markets, but can be reduced. For example: If the campus chooses to utilize paper towels instead of electric dryers or a linen service, create a paper towel reduction campaign. Print up decals that say "Use Wisely, Paper=Trees" and place these on all campus paper towel dispensers. This type of education can potentially reduce paper towel use on campus. It will plant a seed for people to think before using. *Consider markets in waste/recycling contracts. Research what other campuses are doing with RFP's to maximize recycling revenue and efficient collections while reducing garbage costs. Insert contract language that requires suppliers to provide products and services in reduced packaging, to have take-back and accountability programs (where the vendor takes back packaging and end-use product for recycling, include requirement for accountability on recycling including amounts recycled). As a last resort, if materials are left for the University waste stream, ensure through the contract, that materials are reduced and recyclable packaging is utilized. *Do the necessary research and network with other recycling programs in the area to stay on top of the many markets and possibilities for marketing campus recyclables. A good place to find local recycling market information is from the local City or County sanitation service. Check out the landfill or if available the local recycling center. Find out what is recyclable in the area. This is a good method for finding accurate information which could lead to assistance in setting up a campus program. *Form partnerships with other local waste generators, to collect and recycle, materials that can be recycled in larger quantities than an individual campus can generate or store. Often markets are available for materials generated in large quantities. These markets don't necessarily exist for smaller quantities. In finding markets, be aware of the specifications for preparing materials and quantities that are marketable. *For rural communities, contact the nearest metropolitan area to find out more information. If the campus is located in a town, work with town officials to obtain grants and services to provide recycling drop-off centers for on campus and off. Large rural campuses may have to be prepared to store large quantities of materials to be able to market them. For campuses in large urban areas, look in the phone book for recycling market information. Large urban areas have a better chance of being on the route for recycling collection for some odd or hard to recycle items.
Resources EPA State Data web site Recyclers World SC Dept of Commerce has a Recycling Market Development Advisory Council South Carolina DHEC Center for Waste Minimization |
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