Fairlawn Green Action:
Waste Diversion & Recycling

Objective statement

Reduce the number of black garbage bags created by the Fairlawn facility that are put out to the curb by better WASTE DIVERSION INTO RECYCLING, GREEN BINS AND COMPOSTING bins.

 

Status

Recycling improvements at Fairlawn have been underway since November with the "Put waste in its place!" campaign.  Building on the existing recycling program at Fairlawn, our waste diversion improvement program provides an improved system of clear labels, signs and waste containers always nearby – to make it very easy to put each waste item in its proper place  ~  for example:

• recycling items
• organics green bin items (e.g., used paper coffee cups)
• special items (e.g., plastic coffee cup lids)
• transition of used paper towels from garbage to green bin!

Find all the details here: Put Waste In Its Place!

This new recycling program was based on last year's garbage audit to anaylze our capability for recycling. The contents from six of the 12 bags of Fairlawn garbage were resorted.  This resulted in three bags worth of “green bin” material, one bag of "recycling" material and two bags worth of “real garbage”. So this sample points to an opportunity to divert 2/3 of what we are currently sending to Michigan for landfill.   There was a big opportunity for us here and we took advantage of it!  Our garbage to recycling ratio has changed dramatically with this revamped program.

For example, misplaced waste that must go in a green bin include:

  • Soiled paper cups, most coffee cups  (Note: the plastic lids go in the garbage)
  • Soiled paper towels

Find out more

Action Team

Margaret Harper, Eleanor Heinz, Paula Blaser