Frequently
Asked Questions about Waste Reduction and Recycling
for North Carolina State Government Agencies
Tips for recycling office paper, glossy materials, and books
Tips for recycling aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and glass containers
1. Procedures for recycling in the Workplace.
Orange Recycling Services, our recycle services contractor, collects office paper, newspaper, aluminum drink cans, plastic drink bottles, glass containers, glossy materials, and hard back books from Raleigh-Area State Agencies. Corrugated cardboard is recycled under contract by Waste Industries, Inc. and Carolina Waste Removal. The Facility Management Division within the Department of Administration administers the recycling and solid waste contracts. The News and Observer Publishing Company also provides newspaper collection and recycling services at no charge to the state.
2. Tips for recycling office paper, glossy materials, and books.
Refer to signs near recycling containers about the types of paper that can and cannot be recycled. Place hard back books on the floor or in a box near the containers for the office paper and labeled RECYCLE.
Staples and paper clips attached to the paper to be recycled are acceptable in small quantities. Previously, adhesive on labels and post it notes were not acceptable, but improvements in the recycling process allow these items to be recycled. When in doubt always check. Acceptable and non-acceptable paper materials for recycling are listed below.
Any contaminants which is anything that is not acceptable for recycling in a recycling container can cause the whole load to be rejected. Whenever employees are unsure if an item can or cannot be recycled, they should show it to their monitor and ask whether it can be recycled. If the monitor is not sure, he or she should ask the department’s recycling coordinator.
To make recycling office paper convenient, encourage employees to place a box or other receptacle at their desks to collect paper as they generate it, then empty it into the larger office recycling containers from time to time.
3. What to do when your containers become full.
If your office containers become full between scheduled recycle collections, try pushing the paper down since there may be air pockets. If you have more than one container available, spread the paper among them. If necessary, set an empty box along side the bin for the overflow. But be sure to follow fire and safety rules.
If you or your co-workers are planning a file purge or other activity that will fill your containers before a scheduled pick-up, ask your recycling monitor or department recycling coordinator to inform Work Control about the increase and to request additional or larger containers if necessary. Notify Work Control at least 3 business days in advance of the desired pickup.
If you move your containers to a new location, make sure your recycling monitor informs Work Control and the contractor. Notify your department coordinator and Work Control if your office is planning to relocate to a new floor or building and will need containers in the new location.
4. Tips for recycling aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and glass containers.
Recycling containers for aluminum drink cans, clear and green plastic drink bottles, and clear glass bottles and jars are located at one or more central locations in each building. Often these containers are located in break rooms or vending areas. Before recycling these items, remove any lids and make sure the bottles and cans are empty. Please keep all trash and other contaminants out of the aluminum, plastic, and glass containers.
5. Tips for recycling corrugated cardboard.
Corrugated cardboard is the type of cardboard with a wavy inner layer sandwiched between two flat layers. It used to make boxes and other rigid packaging.
Your building should have either a special dumpster for recycling corrugated cardboard or a designated area for storage until it is picked up. To prepare cardboard for recycling, remove any packing material such as polystyrene foam, plastic bags, wood, etc., and flatten the boxes. It is okay to leave tape and stickers on the boxes.
In many buildings, discarded corrugated cardboard boxes (flattened or unflattened) may be placed with a note to RECYCLE and the housekeeping staff will take them to the appropriate place to be recycled. Since housekeeping policies may differ from building to building, ask your recycling monitor or department recycling coordinator the policies and procedures for recycling corrugated cardboard in your building or office area.
Landfills in Wake County will charge fines for loads of commercial trash including trash from government agencies if they contain more that 10% of corrugated cardboard. Employees at all state agencies located in Raleigh and Wake County should recycle all corrugated cardboard and ensure no corrugated cardboard ends up in the trash dumpsters.
6. Questions?? Problems?? Ideas!!
Contact your building recycling monitor or department recycling coordinator.