1. Recycling and Howard County Businesses
Howard County Chamber of Commerce
Recycling Cooperative 1

2. Why should my business recycle?2

3. Measurable Reasons:
Can potentially be cost-effective part of overall solid waste management program, by saving your company money on trash removal.
Recycling helps conserve natural resources such as timber, water, mineral ores, petroleum.
Prevents pollution caused by manufacturing from virgin resources.
Supplies industries with raw materials.
Helps create jobs.
Reduces need for landfills & WTE facilities (Incinerators). 3

4. Reasons to Recycle It is very easy!
Extra exposure for your business, and good PR potential for ‘doing the right thing’.
Happy employees!
Reduce the environmental impact of your business – recycling helps to conserve natural resources, reduce pollution of the air, water and soil, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 4

5. Typical Office Materials that can be recycled
Cardboard
Office paper (including shredded paper)
Newspaper, magazines, phone books, junk mail
Bottles and cans
Food boxes & other materials from break rooms
Bottles from cleaning products 5

6. Additional Recyclable Items
Typically not-curbside collection items, but recycling opportunities exist
Electronics (computers, printers, fax machines etc)
Light bulbs, batteries
Yard waste (landscaping debris)
Uniforms & rags (textile recycling)
Wooden shipping pallets
Hazardous Wastes (cleaning chemicals, pesticides, used motor oil etc…) 6

7. Recycling Statistics:
Paper
The average office worker in the US uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper each year. That’s 4 million tons of copy paper used annually. (Source: Earth911.com)
Office workers in the US generate approximately 2 pounds of paper and paperboard products every day. (Source: Earth911.com)
In 2006, only 66% of the office paper generated in the US was recycled.
In 2006, the recycling rates for different types of recovered paper were as follows:
Newspapers: 88 percent
Corrugated boxes: 72 percent
Office paper: 66 percent
Magazines: 41 percent
Telephone directories: 19 percent (Source: EPA) 7 7

8. Recycling Statistics cont’d
Aluminum
Aluminum cans recovered for recycling are back in the consumer stream in a short period of time. It takes about 6 weeks to manufacture, fill, sell, recycle, and then remanufacture a beverage can. (Source: EPA)
The average aluminum can contains 40 percent post consumer recycled aluminum. (Source: EPA) 8

9. Recycling Statistics cont’d
Plastics
The amount of plastics in the solid waste stream has increased from less than 1% in 1960 to 12.1%in (Source: Earth911.com)
In 2007, only 6.8% of the plastic generated was recycled. (Source: Earth911.com)
Eight out of 10 plastic water bottles become landfill waste. (Source: EPA) 9

10. Recycling Statistics cont’d
Glass
Americans generated 13.6 million tons of glass in the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream in About 24% of the glass was recovered for recycling. (Source: EPA)
Glass containers are 100 percent recyclable, and recovered glass is used as the majority ingredient in new glass containers. A recycled glass container can go from a recycling bin to a store shelf in as little as 30 days (Source: Earth911.com) 10

11. What about Howard County Businesses?
In 2007, approximately 1,200 tons of recycling was collected by the 650 businesses in the current County program.
In October 2008, the County had to stop adding new businesses to the existing collection program. Businesses in the program before that date are not currently paying for recycling collection.
Howard County is not able to continue to offer the free recycling collection program as it currently is structured. 11

12. 12

13. Decisions and Directions
Mix Refuse and Recycling in the Solid Waste Container Or
Select a Recycling Vendor to
separate recycled materials from refuse to reduce costs 13

14. Purchasing Options Negotiate with one or more vendor
Join a procurement cooperative:
Howard County Business Recycling Cooperative Sponsored by
Howard County Chamber of Commerce 14

15. Advantages of Joining the Howard County Chamber Co-op
Education and Support
Share in the costs to prepare a competitive bid
Technical support and expertise
Eliminate the need for the individual to go through the process alone
Be proactive by participating in a program to reduce environmental impacts
Value added service
Increased purchasing power by forming a buying group
Receive a competitive more price than the individual can receive on their own 15

16. Cooperative Goal
The Howard County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the creation of a Business Recycling Program.
Program offers individual Howard County business owners the ability to recycle at a reduced cost
Alternative to the Howard County Department of Public Works business recycling program which will be ending as of June 26, 2009
Current 96 gallon carts will be given to current user

17. Co-op Application Process
Application based on a business location
Business location Howard County
Location: Address for pick-up
Pick-up Frequency: Weekly
Application per location
Applicants must remain in the Co-op through the end of the Request for Proposal Process
Applicants will be required to meet the credit criteria of the potential vendors
Staff may visit your site to confirm location and container size requirements 17

18. Your Responsibilities
Agree to make a decision on acceptance of the offer within 72 hours
“Accept or Reject” the offer - it is your option
Each Business Location Owner will contract directly with the new vendor for each pickup location/service
Each Business Location Owner will pay for service monthly to the vendor
Typical contracts will be 12 months and fees will be fixed by container size per weekly pick-up charge billed monthly
If a you reject the offer you will remain with the current refuse service 18

19. Benefits
Participation will reduce Solid Waste Refuse costs since it is more expensive to dispose of refuse wasters than recycled materials – Estimate 15% to 25%
Businesses that recycle reduce overall refuse and recycled volumes thus reducing costs – Estimate 10%
Recycling in Howard County is a single stream process it is easy
Program is voluntary and not mandated
Participating Businesses will receive a “Green – Logo” for participation to display to customers 19

20. Support Services
Customer Service Center and designated vendor Account Executive call number
800 number to contract Chamber Consultant Team – CQI Associates
Chamber Support and Direction to Services
Field services from Chamber Consultants can be provided as required to assist with service questions
Education support to assist businesses improve recycling program will be available from the County 20

21. Next Steps Join the Cooperative Fill Out the Application Form
Contract Name
Contact Phone Number
Contract Address
Return to the Chamber
Refer to the Chamber Website for more information and application form: Deadline: May 15, 2009: 4:00 pm 21

22. Current County Program
Ends June 26, 2009
Containers will be collected starting June 29, 2009

23. Thanks for Supporting the Program
Questions?
Thanks for Supporting the Program
For additional information, copy of this presentation, copy of the application, and instructions on how to participate in the program please refer to 23