Step 5: Talk to Your Hauler

Most waste haulers also offer recycling services.

Now that you have identified potential recyclables in your waste stream, you should find out what recycling services are available to your business. A good place to start is your existing waste disposal contractor. Most waste haulers can develop a recycling program tailored to your business.

Recycling Issues
It is important to explore what types of recycling opportunities the contractor can provide. Depending on market conditions, the disposal contractor may pay you for your recycled product, haul it away at no extra charge, or provide reduced rates for containers and periodic pick-ups. If your business generates a lot of recyclables, it is important to explore this issue carefully since some firms may offer much better prices for recyclables.

Your waste hauler can help you set up your recycling program by suggesting appropriate containers to use and by providing educational materials for your employees. Ask your waste hauler for advice about keeping recyclables and wet waste separate. Depending on the company's trucks and equipment, your hauler may want to give you separate containers for trash and recyclables. It's important to properly sort and prepare your recyclables. If you don't, recyclables become garbage.

If your business generates a small amount of recyclables, you may find that private haulers will not be interested in collecting your materials. In this situation it is often beneficial to join together with neighboring businesses to consolidate your recyclables and get better prices. Another option for small businesses is to check with local governments to see if they will accept commercial recyclables at their public recycling drop-off centers. These centers are typically intended for residential use. (Check Appendix A for a list of government contacts.)

Disposal Issues
Even with a good recycling program, your business will still generate trash for disposal. Since recycling will reduce the amount of trash, you should be able to save on disposal expenses. Ask prospective haulers to estimate these savings and to help you to choose the appropriate refuse container.

Containers are usually offered in sizes of two, four, six, eight and 10 cubic yards. Generally, you can expect to pack seven or eight filled trash bags per cubic yard. Depending on how quickly the container gets filled, the disposal contractor should be able to time pick-ups accordingly. While scheduled weekly pick-up is quite common, larger businesses may want service several times a week. In contrast, smaller businesses may simply want to schedule pick-up on an on-call basis. If your company falls in this small category, you should learn how quickly the contractor will respond to a call for pick-up.

How Much to Pay
Pricing for disposal and recycling services will help your decide which materials to recycle. Most disposal contractors offer monthly pricing, which incorporates a rental fee for the container, a set charge per pick-up, additional charges or credits for recycling, and optional services like weekend pick-up or rush service.

Contractors typically encourage customers to enter at least a three-year agreement, but many will consider working with you for a term as short as one year. Competition for disposal and recycling services can be quite fierce, so shopping around for the best deal usually pays off.

Tips for Saving Money

• Receive multiple bids — the disposal industry is highly competitive.
• Share the costs — if there are other businesses nearby, you may want to consider sharing a container.
• Be sure that your container can be easily secured against unauthorized usage — you do not want to pay for someone else's trash.
• Break down your trash — the disposal charge is based on the container size rather than the amount of waste generated. You can often save money by using a smaller container and packing the container more efficiently.