Back to Article Index

WRAP Awards now open for applications

by JANE BOGNER

Sunday, June 26, 2006

            I have a challenge for all businesses and nonprofit organizations in Vallejo, especially the 740 members of the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce. This is your opportunity to step up to the plate to show how you take care of our local environment by applying for the WRAP award.

            WRAP, the Waste Reduction Awards Program, sponsored by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, recognizes businesses for their commitment to reduce waste through reuse and recycling. The WRAP program is not a competition; each business is judged individually based upon its own accomplishments.

            WRAP-winning businesses demonstrate that managing discards responsibly can be profitable. The waste reduction practices of California’s proactive WRAP businesses go beyond beverage container or paper recycling. In addition to buying products manufactured with recycled content, many California businesses are reusing materials and creating innovative waste prevention activities while providing additional job opportunities.

            The 2005 WRAP awards went to 1,870 California businesses who reported saving $149 million dollars while diverting over 1.8 million tons of waste.

            In 2005, six Vallejo businesses received the WRAP award. Vallejo’s first-time winners: Paul Roberts + Partners (Architects), Vallejo Insurance Associates, and Vallejo Chamber of Commerce stood out as the only architectural firm, insurance agency and Chamber to win this award in the state. They joined ranks with previous local winners: Vallejo Garbage Service, VALCORE Recycling, and Safeway.

            VALCORE Recycling has received five WRAP awards since 2001. I have filled out the application and this exercise has given me a clearer picture about how our recycling center prevents waste and deals with the waste that our customers bring in.

            In addition to paper and beverage container recycling, businesses are analyzing other things in their trash.

            A common overlooked item is the toner cartridge for printers and copiers. Nearly 86 percent of these cartridges are used once and thrown away creating enough plastic waste to stretch halfway around the world. There are several local businesses that will refill or recycle ink jet and toner cartridges which will save money and reduce waste at the same time. VALCORE accepts empty inkjet and laser cartridges, cell phones, laptop computers, PDA as well as household batteries for recycling. Please call for details.

            Last year, at local and regional E-Waste events, Californians recycled over 50 million pounds of computer monitors and televisions. I would guess that these e-waste recyclers also collected 100 million pounds of computer parts and other electronic devices at these events.

            Businesses have begun to think outside the recycling bin with the state-wide push for Zero Waste. Zero Waste is simply “planning ahead” so there is no waste at the end of a product’s use.

            Consider this scenario: Table cloths are needed by a business for an annual party. The choices are: purchase inexpensive disposable ones at a discount store; purchase reusable new ones, purchase used ones at a local thrift store, borrow from friends or employees, or rent them. The last three choices are Zero Waste choices.

            Vallejo businesses have a new contact at Vallejo Garbage: Lisa LeFebvre is available at 551-2621 to answer your recycling questions. In addition to VALCORE and Vallejo Garbage, business recycling information is now available on the Solano County recycling web site: www.recycle-guide.com . If you can’t find what you are looking for, check another city on the site or send a comment to the web mistress and I will do my best to get the information that you need.

            The WRAP web site ( www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/ ) has a multitude of resources for your business under such headings as Business Waste Reduction, Buying Recycled, the California Materials Exchange, Green Lodging, Organics and Sustainable Landscaping, and Sustainable (Green Building) Design. To help implement your recycling programs, you can download free eye-catching posters (www.ciwmb.ca.gov/biz waste/Posters).

            The 2006 WRAP application is available online at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/  or by calling Piper Miguelgorry (916) 341-6604 or email at WRAP@ciwmb.ca.gov . The applications are due on August 31, 2006.

 VALCORE Recycling President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald. For recycling information call VALCORE Recycling at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org .

<< E N D >>

Back to Article Index