Sustainibility

When to Mini Bin™

See how the Mini Bin can benefit your recycling program

The Mini Bin Program can be customized to work in many different workplace environments. See how it can work best for you.

Before you implement the Mini Bin Program, you should evaluate your current waste management program, existing recycling and waste containers, the level of participation from employees, and their awareness of the program.

Conduct a waste audit to see how effective your current recycling program is. Are there high volumes
of recyclable materials still going out in the garbage? If so, you are paying more for waste disposal than you should. You need to capture these recyclables, reduce your waste, and help your bottom line. And this is
where the Mini Bin Program can help you out.

• Replace all standard deskside garbage cans with desktop Mini Bins, getting senior management approval when required.
• Have a recycling container beside each desk to handle day-to-day recycling. Check with your waste hauler to see if you can commingle your recycling or if you need to separate it into certain streams.
• Install centrally located recycling and waste containers. Employees will now be responsible for emptying their Mini Bins into
  central garbage containers directly into the central containers. The custodial staff will be responsible for emptying the centrally located containers only.
• This can be a huge paradigm shift for employees so it’s imperative that you create an in-depth
  communication program to cover these changes to
  the program.

Mini Bin Results

• When the Mini Bin recycling program is properly implemented, you will realize dramatic reductions overnight.
• Employee involvement and awareness will increase and they will see the difference that they are making to the environment.
• The visual effect of the Mini Bin is “less is better” and this will result in a conscious effort to produce as little garbage as possible.
• There should be a reduction in waste removal and disposal charges. At this point, depending on market conditions and your recycling contract, you should be able to see an increase in income from recyclables. You can
  (re)negotiate your custodial contract to reflect the change in duties. Now that the custodian does not have to go desk-to-desk emptying garbage bins and recycling bins, it may be possible to reduce the price for the
  contract. Or the custodian may use the “saved” time to do other duties like dusting, etc.

Mini Bin™ Cost Savings

Benefits and Savings of the Mini Bin Program
To see the results that can be achieved with the Mini Bin recycling program, let’s look at an environment with 1,000 people using traditional under-the-desk garbage cans and liners along with a desk-side recycling container.
Calculations are based on the following:

• The average office worker generates 2.2 pounds of garbage per day.
• The average office worker works 250 days per year.
• Cost of waste disposal is $100.00/ton
• Custodial savings are based on $9.00/hour/cleaner, cleaning 350-400 bins per night.
• Under the desk garbage can plastic liners $0.04/bag, three times a week.

Current Costs

Cost of Tipping Fees:
$100/ton/day (1,000 employees x 2.2 lbs) x 250 days – $25,000.00

Cost of Under-the-Desk Garbage Can Plastic Liners:
$0.04 x 3 per week x 52 weeks (1,000 employees) – $6,240.00

Custodial Costs to Empty Garbage Cans:
2.5 workers x 8 hours x $9.00/hour x 5 days x 52 weeks – $46,800.00

Total Cost: $78,040.00

Potential Costs When Mini Bin Recycling Program is Implemented

(based on minimum reduction of 50% less garbage)**

Cost of Tipping Fees:
$50/ton/day (1,000 employees x 2.2 lbs) x 250 days – $12,500

Cost of Mini Bin Liners*:
$0.04 x 1 per week x 52 weeks (1,000 employees) – $2,080.00

Custodial costs to empty bins**:
Workers empty their own bins – $0.00
Liners for central bins (1 bin for every 15 employees) x $0.04 – $416.00

Total Cost: $14,996.00

Total Savings: $63,044.00

Average savings per employee $63.04.

*Mini Bins do not necessarily require liners and are often used without. Due to their small size, they can easily be rinsed out in the sink if they become soiled.

**Depending on custodial contract terms, the savings of the Mini Bin recycling program can be realized immediately through negotiations or the custodians assuming “extra” duties. There will be less savings if the
custodians now assume the task of emptying the central collection containers.

Information based on studies from:

• National Office Recycling Program USA
• Environment Canada “No Waste” Program

More Benefits:

• The Mini Bin serves as a constant visual reminder to reduce garbage. On the desk and ‘in your face’.
• Very little paper fits into the Mini Bin so people have to change their wasteful habits.
• A reduction in garbage means a reduction in tipping fees and transportation costs.
• Increased recyclables can potentially (depending on market conditions and existing recycling contract) lead to increased savings.
• A savings of $50 per person, per year can be possible if custodial contracts are renegotiated to reflect reduced labor time in not having to empty garbage bins.
• You can use reduced waste and increased recyclables’ figures to put together a public relations campaign to give a profile of your savings.

The Mini Bin Program is saving a minimum of $50.00 per employee annually when combining:

• Reduction on tipping fees;
• Savings on garbage can plastic liners; and
• Savings on custodial costs.

Implementing The Mini Bin™ Program

Introducing your Mini Bin recycling program for maximum results

The biggest thing to recognize about the Mini Bin Program is that it will introduce change in the workplace. Many people welcome change. Many people don’t. So you have to find a way to introduce this new recycling program
efficiently and effectively. Here are some suggestions about the steps to take and roles to fill for your best results:

Appoint a Program Champion

Identify a Mini Bin Program Champion who is responsible for pulling together all the elements that will ensure the success of the program.

Get Senior Management Approval

The Champion makes a presentation to senior management in order to receive approval to proceed with the new recycling program.

Implementation Team

The Champion pulls together key people to help implement the Mini Bin recycling program. Ideally the Implementation Team should consist of representatives from these areas:

• Facility/Property Management
  These are the individuals who run the building. They must be brought on board immediately so they understand how the program will affect the management of the building.
• Service Contracting
  All current contracts for recycling, waste removal and disposal, and custodial must be examined to see if renegotiation is possible to reduce costs.
• Communications
  Communication is probably the most important element in setting up, implementing, and supporting the Mini Bin Program. Once senior management approval is received, communication
  planning can start, and be sure to include a program launch.
• Health, Safety, and Union
  Introducing a new recycling program will affect all these areas. It is better to keep their representatives up to date on what is happening from the start.

Green Team Reps

The Champion uses the Implementation Team to help identify volunteer staff to become Green Team Reps. These people are essential to the success of the program as they educate their colleagues and assist the Champion in
putting the program together.

The Mini Bin Program really works but it needs input from all the above areas to do so. You will reap benefits from setting up a strong implementation strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

As with most new and unique programs, the Mini Bin™ generates a lot of questions. We have compiled a list of a few commonly asked questions regarding the implementation and usage of the Mini Bin.

How can the Mini Bin hold all my garbage? It’s so small.

You can now recycle almost everything that comes across your desk. The amount of ‘real’ garbage left is very little, so the Mini Bin will be big enough.

Why do I have to empty my own garbage? That’s not what I get paid for.

The Mini Bin may only need to be emptied once or twice a week, so it’s not a great inconvenience. It can be done during one of the many times you leave your desk. In order to make the program work, everyone has to be
involved.

What happens when I leave food stuff and items that make a mess and smell? We don’t have composting in our office.

If you eat lunch at your desk, it’s best to put food scraps directly into the central garbage bin or compost. Promote the use of litter-less lunches. Mini Bin liners are available for use in the Mini Bin, but they must be
thrown into the central garbage bin every day.

I handle too many courier packs during the day – where will they go?

In this situation, request a larger recycling bin. Most of the courier packs can be recycled if the plastic is removed or look into more eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Why do we need this new program? I thought we were already recycling.

Our “Before” waste audit shows that there is still a tremendous amount of recyclable materials going into people’s garbage bins. By replacing garbage bins with Mini Bins, we reduce the possibility of people not
recycling.

How will we know if the Mini Bin Program is working?

We will conduct an “After” waste audit. Then we will compare the “Before” and “After” waste audits to see the progress of the program.

How do I know what to recycle and what is garbage?

There is an updated list of recyclable materials available. If you have any further questions on this, please call the recycling coordinator.

What if I don’t want to go along with the Mini Bin Program?

The Mini Bin Program has been adopted by senior management as a real way to reduce operating costs, and as such, all employees are expected to participate to all our benefit. Custodial staff will no longer go from
desk-to-desk to empty garbage bins, so ultimately you are still responsible for emptying your garbage.

My desk is too small and cluttered. I don’t have any room left to put the Mini Bin on it.

If someone gave you a box of chocolates to sit on your desk, you’d find space for it, wouldn’t you?

If you have further questions about the Mini Bin program please contact us.

We would be more than happy to talk to you about the program and your goals.