Being leaner, greener, and smarter is as simple as watching your waste. First of all, don’t create waste if you can avoid it. Don’t buy disposable items and only buy what you need, then use it up completely. If you can’t eliminate it, ask yourself, “Can I reuse it, repurpose it, or refurbish it with a few repairs?” or “Can I donate it or give it to someone else?” If you’ve exhausted all possibilities and can’t reduce or reuse it, recycle it. With each new opportunity, you help the Postal Service® reduce waste.
A lot of what you throw away each day has real value, which translates into real dollars. The value may be obvious for some items you no longer want, like an old car, appliance, or sofa, but what about the day-to-day items you no longer need, like newspapers, magazines, batteries, or beverage containers? To a recycling company, these items are a valuable commodity that can be turned back into useful products. Waste reduction and recycling is easy, makes good sense, and helps you save money.
n The Postal Service recycles more than 250,000 tons of wastepaper, cardboard, cans, plastics, and other materials annually.
n In FY 2012, USPS® generated nearly $24 million in recycling revenue and $25 million in landfill cost avoidance.
n In FY 2012, over 15,000 tons of mail transport equipment (MTE) that could not be repaired or reused was recycled.
n The Postal Service adopted the USEPA Federal Green Challenge: to recycle 50% of all solid waste by the year 2015.
Waste disposal is expensive. The USPS spent $49 million on solid waste disposal costs in FY 2012. Recycling can divert virtually 95% of all waste from landfills. Recyclers are willing to pay for our discarded mixed paper, cardboard, plastics, metals, and other materials. Recycling makes good business sense, keeps the environment clean, and ultimately saves money. When the Postal Service recycles, everyone wins.
Waste reduction and recycling starts with each of us. As a team, we can make a difference. What are some of the things you can do at your Facility?
Start a Green Team. USPS Lean Green Teams are doing a lot to reduce waste, save money, and increase revenue through recycling. To get started, speak to your Facility Manager.
Take the “Zero Waste” Challenge. Zero waste means eliminating virtually all solid wastes. For practical purposes, this is achieved by reaching a 95% recycling rate. Since paper, plastic, cardboard, and metals are all 100% recyclable and represent 95% of the USPS waste stream, zero waste is achievable. Become a Zero Waste Site and demonstrate your commitment to maximizing recycling and minimizing waste. You’ll increase recycling revenues, reduce waste disposal costs, and reduce pollution.
Get going! Assess the waste created at your facility. Look for opportunities to reduce waste before it is generated, and recycle more of what is left. Play your part and get involved.
n Think Zero Waste. Start by recycling at least 50% of our solid waste. Once that goal is achieved, a 95% recycling rate can be achieved by recycling all paper, plastic, cardboard, and metals. It’s not impossible. There are Post Offices® that have already achieved this goal!
n Communicate to Others What We Recycle. New employees may not be familiar with the materials we recycle – whether it is mixed paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal. Also, make sure they know where recyclables are collected.
n Label Recycling Containers. Simply apply a self-adhesive label to the container on at least two sides.
n Recycle Everything. Before you throw anything away, ask your supervisor if there is a recycling program for that material. If not, consider starting a recycling program.
n Your Efforts Count. If each Postal Service employee recycled all of his or her waste daily, we could reduce solid waste by more than a quarter million tons a year. Your efforts count, whether you’re at work or at home.
n Get Involved. Learn more about how to recycle and save energy by joining a postal “Green Team.” Ask your manager about starting a Lean Green Team at your facility.
The Office of Sustainability developed a number of Advisory Bulletins that provide guidance for reducing and recycling common wastes that are generated at the Postal Service. These bulletins are available on the Office of Sustainability website (see link below).
For more information on waste reduction and recycling see:
n The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solid Waste – Common Wastes & Materials website at: http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/index.htm.
n USPS Sustainability information: http://blue.usps.gov/sustainability/.
n The Earth Day Postal Bulletin (PB22334) for information about Green Teams and recycling: http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22334/pdf/pb22334.pdf.
n For Green Teams, go to: http://blue.usps.gov/wps/portal, click Sustainability, then Lean Green Teams. Everything you need to start a Lean Green Team at your Facility is at your fingertips.
— Corporate Sustainability Initiatives,
Office of Sustainability, 3-7-13
