Providing employees with a desk-side recycling bin and a smaller trash bin attached to it can increase recycling and reduce waste in the workplace, according to a survey commissioned by Keep America Beautiful with support from PepsiCo Recycling and CBRE.
The recommendation, called the “Little Trash” scenario, achieved a 20 percent increase in office recycling during the study.
The study also recommends that in common areas, recycling and trash bins be paired with simple, consistent signage provided on bins and posters with the most common recyclables identified on the recycling bin.
The study, conducted by Action Research, focused on the effects of office bin placement on recycling rates and level of contamination. In addition, the research team collected qualitative information about the potential issues encountered prior to and during the study’s implementation, as well as other important factors to consider when setting up a workplace recycling program.
Also this week the Solid Waste Association of North America and the National Waste & Recycling Association published new guidelines designed to improve protocols and standards for contracting practices for municipal recycling programs. The guidelines address challenges facing public agencies and private industry as they seek to improve the effectiveness of local residential recycling programs.
