Recycling – Has Rubbermaid got this completely wrong?

I never been one for shying away from naming names, when a company does something well I am going to Blog about it, but likewise when in my opinion they do something badly I am also going to tell you about.

The information below is taken from a number of sources including Rubbermaid’s own marketing material; you make up your own mind.

Did you know?
• Every employee generates 75 kg of paper waste in a year
• Possible examples:
- paper – plastic cups
- cardboard – cans
- plastic bottles – general waste
• Identification of contractors who pick up recycling waste

A Practical guide to set up your recycling programme 

1. Analyse Needs

■ Choose appropriate recycling products
■ Identify key areas for recycling points and put up adequate signage
■ Contract with recycling contractors and define frequency

2. Set Objectives

■ Measure the volume of each single waste type
■ Negotiate with your contractors who pick up recycling waste
■ Define if recycling will be a profit centre
■ Track volume trends, track material trends
■ Measure these results against main objectives
■ Get buy-in from your management

3. Choose Products and Implement Recycling

Rubbermaid offers Sustainable Products
Not only do our recycling solutions help you to increase recycling rates and reduce waste to landfill, they are designed and manufactured as sustainable products themselves, helping to further reduce overall environmental impact.

Rubbermaid offers a wide range of products to help you actively manage and recycle your waste. This includes everything from desk side containers for paper recycling to complete indoor and outdoor recycling stations and mobile collection equipment for handling larger loads with ease.

How can Rubbermaid Commercial Products help you recycle?

■ Quality and Durability: Longer lifespan products improve sustainability. Rubbermaid’s products are designed and tested to be of the highest quality and durability-Lower replacement costs.

■ Recyclable: Rubbermaid’s sustainable plastic, aluminium and steel products are engineered with the environment in mind. When a product does finally reach the end of its useful life, it is recyclable.

■ Recycled Content: Many of Rubbermaid’s sustainable plastic, aluminium and steel products have a significant recycled content.
This lessens environmental impact by reducing the demand for raw materials.

Manufacturing, Sourcing and Packaging
Rubbermaid Commercial Products has made a real and significant commitment to clean, sustainable manufacturing. The company search the world over to find the best resources that will meet our stringent quality and environmental standards and continually strive to make our packaging more sustainable, using less material and a higher recycled and recyclable content.

Did you know?

Zero factory emissions on all Rubbermaid products
100% of their Nonconforming product is reground and reuses.

Environmentally Responsible Products
■ Post-Consumer Resin (PCR) content
Rubbermaid offers a full line of recycling products that contain 30% post-consumer recycled resin.
■ Environmental Stewardship – environmentally conscious recycling products enhance facilities’ sustainability.
Products made with PCR close the recycling loop by incorporating recycled material into new products!

In my opinion Rubbermaid have got it spot on, they tick all the boxes from a recycling and quality perspective and the products look fantastic.

Download A Practical Guide to Recycling in Offices

About Gary Fage

Gary Fage has been Managing Director of Janitorial Express, since 1991, he is a Director of the Jangro Group and Council Member of the CHSA. www.janitorialexpress.co.uk

For more information contact Janitorial Express on 020 7700 3322 or email sales@janitorialexpress.co.uk