Environmental Progress - Spring 2000

Illinois EPA Moving Ahead To Promote Waste Reduction

Official Agency recycling policy will soon be distributed to employees

During April and May 1999, the Illinois EPA's waste reduction committee took a hard look at the Agency's waste generation and recycling efforts and needs. That project was highlighted in the Fall 1999 issue of Environmental Progress.

The waste audits showed that, of the total waste generated by 914 employees at the two Springfield locations, more than 60 percent was already being diverted through recycling efforts. Of the remaining 40 percent, about one-fourth (or another 10 percent) might be recycled or reused. For example, a substantial amount of blueprints being discarded could instead be recycled with mixed paper. Some file folders and binders being discarded could be reused. To achieve better recycling and reuse, the waste reduction committee plans to begin an education effort in 2000. This will include an informational brochure and, possibly, a uniform style of desk-side and hallway recycling bins.

Additionally, the committee has begun meeting with the eight Agency purchasing coordinators and the supply room coordinator to ensure that they work together to purchase standard items that have a high percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Since paper and paper products represent 93 percent of recyclables and about 70 percent of total waste generated, they will focus on those products as well as office supplies routinely purchased.

The committee will begin this year to implement recommendations made to management as a result of the waste audit. Encouraging two-sided copying and printing where possible, and reducing the number of cubic yards of waste the Agency is paying to have hauled are at the top of the list. Other recommendations include encouraging the use of swap areas for office supplies, encouraging the use of e-mail rather than distributing hard copies and developing better ways to handle large recyclable materials such as cardboard and blueprints.

The committee developed a Waste Reduction, Recycling and Recycled Products Procurement Policy that is under review prior to being distributed to Illinois EPA employees. To effectively support the recycling business in the state, and as part of the new way of doing business, the committee has undertaken maintenance of a list of preferred vendors for many commonly purchased items that can be found with post-consumer recycled content.