Recycling is taking a material, processing it and re-manufacturing it into another product...SIMPLE!  The most commonly recycled items are metals, paper, and plastic.  With enough time and money, nearly everything could be recycled, just not economically.  We have to remember that, start to finish, recycling is a manufacturing process.  We are creating a raw material that must meet certain specifications.  Materials must be sorted and cleaned before they can be used again to make new products.

Where can I take it?

There are numerous locations to take recyclables.  Some cities provide curbside collection along with trash service.  To find the drop-off location nearest you, click on the links at the bottom of the page to search by county or by material.

Preventing Waste in Retail Outlets

Retail outlets range from small boutiques to large department stores.  Despite the wide range of retail outlets, there is one common factor shared amongst them every retail outlet creates waste.  Large amounts of highly recyclable, non-hazardous wastes are produced within this sector, including paper products, photocopier and printer cartridges, merchandise packaging (cardboard boxes and pallets) and spoiled, outdated or broken merchandise.

With the fast paced growth in the retail industry and increased trash disposal costs a great need for waste reduction and waste prevention exists.  Below are the eight basic approaches to preventing wastes in retail outlets. Try one or all eight and see if your bottom line doesnt improve!

1. Eliminate Excess packaging. Give customers the option to have their purchase bagged or not bagged.
2. Reduce weight or thickness of packaging. Avoid over packaging by using the correct size package.
3. Increase capacity of shipping containers. Switch to pallet loads instead of smaller box loads.
4. Replace single-use with multiple-use products. Return boxes to suppliers that you work with on an ongoing basis.  Make it part of your purchasing agreement that they reuse shipping containers sent to you.
5. Purchase for long life. Use pallets that are made of recyclable materials and can be used many times over.
6. Redesign packaging. Reuse polystyrene fillers sent to you or use shredded waste paper instead.
7. Transform waste into product. Sell damaged merchandise at reduced prices or donate it to a local charity for a tax deduction.
8. Recycle printer/copier ink cartridges. The District can supply your business with postage paid recycling containers for toner and ink cartridges.

If you would like more information on establishing a waste prevention program for your retail business call the Boston Mountain Solid Waste District at 479-846-3005 .  We can help!

Remember that recycling is a manufacturing process.
To complete the process, you have to buy recycled products!