Waste is like beauty — it is in the eyes of the beholder. The Office of Sustainability is looking for 500 facilities interested in reducing their solid waste disposal costs by adopting the “zero waste” challenge. The “zero waste” challenge can help your office increase recycling revenue, reduce solid waste disposal costs, and play a key role in reducing greenhouse gases.
Zero waste is defined as the elimination of all solid wastes from landfill or incineration processes. For practical purposes, USPS has established a goal of a 95 percent recycling rate for paper, plastic, cardboard, and metal as the standard for achieving zero waste. Zero waste includes recycling, but goes beyond recycling by taking a “whole system” approach to the vast flow of resources and waste through the United States Postal Service®. Zero waste maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption, and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired, or recycled back into nature or the workplace. Numerous studies have shown that the incineration or land disposal of solid wastes generates significant greenhouse gas emissions. Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Warm Model to calculate greenhouse gas emissions, the Postal Service has determined that for every ton of mixed paper recycled, the Postal Service reduces an equivalent metric ton of carbon. The recycling of 1 ton of mixed paper, cardboard, or mixed metal reduces greenhouses gases by 1 metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE). Even greater emission reductions can be achieved if each of us can reduce the use of mixed paper, cardboard, and aluminum.
One of the benefits of adopting the zero waste challenge is it helps us reduce air pollution and its attendant adverse impacts on human health and energy consumption. It also plays a significant role in resource conservation, fiscally prudent materials management, and environmentally sustainable business practices. Zero waste can be achieved by incorporating recycling into our daily work practices. Poster 890-B, Reduce it! This is a Zero Waste Site, can be used to communicate the importance of recycling paper, plastic, cardboard, and metals — all of which are 100 percent recyclable. It should be used in the workroom to emphasize the USPS commitment to resource conservation. We have never had a greater need to be fiscally prudent, and adopting the “zero waste” challenge demonstrates your facility’s commitment to this corporate challenge.
There are a variety of additional actions that you should take to ensure all employees understand the types of containers used for recycling. With staff and transportation changes being made daily, employees who are new to the program need to be informed of our recycling goals. Use Label 890-A, Plastic Wrap, Label 890-B, Mixed Paper, and Notice 890-A, Do Not Place in Dumpster/Compactor, to increase employee awareness of the critical importance of recycling. You are encouraged to order these supplies by reviewing the ordering procedures on pages 26 and 47–48. If you wish to adopt the zero waste initiative, share your commitment with the Office of Sustainability by emaling sustainability@usps.gov.
