The task of starting a recycling program in an office, school, healthcare facility, a municipality or in the home can seem like a daunting job. Each space has its own specific recycling and waste needs and a program that works for a healthcare facility may not necessarily work for a College or University.
Busch Systems is more than happy to help subdue any of the confusion that comes with choosing a Recycling Program! By breaking down the process down step by step it makes it easier to determine what will work best for Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities, Schools – College and K-12, Large Venues, Municipalities, and in the home – turning any space into a sustainable powerhouse!
We’ll start off our weekly How-To Guides with Hospitals and Healthcare facilities.
Finding the Right Hospital & Healthcare Facility Recycling Program
Step 1: Research
First things first, contact your local municipality or waste hauler to find out what the collection criteria is for your area.  How recyclables are collected varies by community so it’s crucial to find out this information before you continue on.
The following needs to be taken into consideration:
- The types of materials collected.
- How they are separated.
- Types of containers that are accepted.
- When they are collected.
Step 2: What Are Your Facility’s Needs?
Compare how much and what kinds of waste are created by your health care facility to the specifications given by the waste hauler. The amount of traffic for the area needs to be taken into account as well.
Step 3: Bin Analysis
So what bins are a perfect fit for a health care facility? One size doesn’t fit all environments so the following areas need to be taken into account when choosing the right bin for the right place.
Offices and Nurses Stations – individual bins work best for offices occupied by one or a small group of people – bins that fit under desks and/or have a small footprint work best.
Common Areas – versatile, easy to use single-stream & multi-stream bins are best for common areas like cafeterias, waiting areas, and staff lounges.
Outdoor Areas – Durable and versatile bins are great for outdoor areas including entrances, designated smoking areas and public spaces.
Storage for Sensitive Documents – With the large amount of patient files and other sensitive information that is found in a healthcare facility it is imperative that secure document bins are in place for internal office use.
Step 4: Organize & Implement
To secure the success of a recycling program, a coordinator should be chosen oversee recycling to ensure that everything runs smoothly – making sure the healthcare facility staff are educated on how the program runs, what is collected, and whom to come to with any concerns.
Step 5: Keep it Simple, Keep it Interesting
To ensure the continued success of a recycling program, the coordinator should do the following:
- Ensure that bins are clearly labeled to ensure recyclables end up recycled.
- Set recycling goals – create goals for each department.
- Promote the program with colourful and interesting posters and signage.
- Report recycling achievements to inspire participants to keep up the good work!
Now you should be well on your way to not only choosing the right Recycling Program, but also ensuring it remains successful.
Stay tuned for next week’s How-To Guide for finding the best Recycling Program for a College and University.
