Businesses & Industry

A recycling program can reduce disposal costs and add to a company's bottom line. Recycling can reduce the amount of waste your organization sends to the landfill, thereby reducing the amount you pay to have the waste picked up by your trash hauler. Keep in mind that while you may be throwing those items away, they have value to a recycler, composter or manufacturer.

Buying More Sustainable Products

We like to say there is a hierarchy that most businesses can follow to choose sustainable options, but every business is unique and should pick what will work best for your set up and budget. Here is our ranking from great to greatest:

1. Things made from recycled content or those that are recyclable according to your local recycling or hauler's guidelines.
2. Materials that can be composted in your area
3. Reusable materials

Here are some easy swaps:

• Single-use food containers: Tupperware, beeswax wraps, aluminum foil, reusable snack bags, or lunch boxes.
• Water bottles, cups, coffee cups and sleeves: Grab some compostable or recyclable cups. Make sure your recyclable are not coated in plastic and your compostable cups are BPI or CMA certified. Ditch the water bottles and get everyone a reusable water bottle and coffee mug to refill. There are plenty of fun ones at the local thrift store or customize them for your businesses!
• Single use coffee filters or "K-Cups": Switch to a reusable filter or K-Cup.
• Note paper: Keep a stack of recycled paper for note taking and to replace post-it notes

Hosting an event and want it to be sustainable? Reach out to your local recyclers for support!

Recycling organizations and your community likely have a program or resources to help you run a sustainable event. They can help you with planning questions around which materials you should use, set up of recycling and composting bins, and will complete waste audits so you can share your impact with your attendees. Here are a few organizations that you can reach out to for event support:

• Diversion Designers
• Amber and her team helped us to divert 90% of the waste from our annual Summit for Recycling conference with over 200 attendees over 3 days!
• Walking Mountains
• Eco-Cycle
• High Country Conservation Center
• Town of Erie
• Scraps Mile High

Standardized Signs for Recycling and Composting Bins

The Recycling Partnership offers DIYSigns, a free, editable resource that assists with the production of consistent signage to help Americans know what to throw into any recycling container, anywhere.

Restaurant and Food Truck Resources

Recycle Colorado member Brian Loma with support from Green Latinos, the Surfrider Foundation and We Don't Waste has developed trains and resources to help your business succeed in implementing sustainable practices that help fight climate change and save you money. Check out the one-pager linked below in Spanish and English to learn more about these changes what you can do to be in compliance. 

Healthier Food Packaging Regulations for Colorado [English]

Healthier Food Packaging Regulations for Colorado [Spanish]