 Calculating Commercial Waste: Finally, A More Reliable Volume to Weight Conversion Ratio
How much waste are you really generating? This is a question commercial businesses across the country have difficulty answering accurately.
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Amy Marpman, Great Forest's Director of Recycling at ICSW
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To address this problem, Great Forest conducted a study that was presented earlier this month at the International Conference on Solid Waste in Philadelphia. [see a SLIDESHOW summary of the study.]
The problem stems from this - while waste is typically reported in weight (tons), waste is typically collected and measured by volume (cubic yards).
Because there is currently no standard conversion ratio for commercial trash, this divergence makes it challenging to accurately calculate the amount of waste generated, making it difficult to compare company reports, hauler invoices, third party assessments, and more.
The Great Forest study - involving over 2,684 bags of waste at 18 buildings - is the largest effort of its kind. It produced a volume to weight conversion ratio for commercial waste that could be the most accurate and reliable to date. (Current standards available for residential waste do not reflect the material makeup of commercial waste and therefore cannot be used accurately to calculate commercial waste.)
Download the six-page paper to get results of the study. Speak with your Great Forest consultant about using these more accurate conversion ratios for your waste metrics.
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Three Last-Minute Ideas for Earth Day
Earth Day (April 22) is just around the corner. While there is still time time to plan, here are three quick ideas that you can implement even at the last minute:
1) Say Thank You Thank your staff and/or tenants for their green efforts over the past year. If your sustainability programs have been a success, tell them about their accomplishments - showcase with facts and figures so they can see that their efforts are making a difference. Saying thank you also helps to raise awareness about your green programs among those who might not be contributing. 2) Join a Social Movement Encourage your staff and/or tenants to participate in community/social movements like Earth Hour or Billion Acts of Green. Many of these movements already have templates set up to make it easy for individuals and corporations to get involved. 3) Ask for One Green Act Encourage your employees to perform just one green act on Earth Day. It could be as simple as taking public transportation to work instead of driving, or using a reusable mug. Every big change comes from small acts. Get more ideas and see what companies nationwide have done for Earth Day over the past few years. Or call your Great Forest representative. |
The city of Houston has won $1 million in the Mayors Challenge for their idea to create a new system that aims to recover 75% of all recyclables from waste by simplifying the process for residents.
The system calls for the construction of a sophisticated plant capable of separating all recyclables into separate streams after pick-up. Residents no longer have to do any sorting. All trash and recycling goes into one bin. Currently, only one out of seven tons of garbage gets recycled in the city. If Houston succeeds, this system could be the leader in waste sorting technology. Watch a VIDEO about the idea.
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 Did You Know... Big Retailers Focus on Waste?
Waste management is a top concern for big retailers, according to the second annual Retail Sustainability Report, released early March by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). Nearly all retail companies surveyed have recycling and waste management initiatives in place. The report states what Great Forest clients already know: that recycling at stores not only reduces costs but also engages employees. A win-win for any business, not just retail stores. According to the report, retailers commonly track facility energy consumption, transportation fuel use and waste volumes. Nearly two-thirds of companies surveyed have staff dedicated to improving sustainability performance. Participating companies included 35 RILA member retailers, representing more than 65,000 locations and $1 trillion in global revenue, as well as interviews with 10 member companies.
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Great Forest Inc.
212.779.4757
2014 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10035
A pioneer in the industry with over 20 years of experience, Great Forest is one of the leading sustainability consultancies in the country. We improve environmental performance and reduce costs for clients nationwide ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to property management companies, hotels, retailers, financial and educational institutions, and municipalities.
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