Wipe Out Waste Ambassador News

- Guests Learn how to Implement a Successful Recycling Program at Ambassador Luncheon

- The Ambassador Program Teams Up with ReCommunity for a MRF Tour

- The 2012 Wipe Out Waste Ambassador Business Recognition Awards


Guests Learn how to Implement a Successful Recycling Program at the most recent Ambassador Luncheon

One of the keys to implementing a successful recycling program is involving your janitorial team, along with your employees, hauler and anyone else that touches the program. On March 26th at the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge, our five-member panel from the Ally Center talked about how they have done just that at the latest Wipe Out Waste Ambassador Luncheon. Heather Thompson and Lauren Green from Trinity Partners represented both the owner and property manager's perspectives; Kate Devine from UMC discussed the integral role janitorial staff play in the process; Audri Baker with HDR presented the tenant's point-of-view; and Robin Turner with O'Leary Group Waste Systems spoke from the waste and recycling hauler's outlook. The 65 attendees thoroughly enjoyed both the presentation and the beautiful venue! A special thanks to the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge for sponsoring the event. 

The Wipe Out Waste Ambassador Program Teams Up with ReCommunity for a MRF Tour

Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling once it leaves your home or office? On January 30th, local businesses were invited to find out! The Mecklenburg County Wipe Out Waste Ambassador Program teamed up with ReCommunity to provide a first-hand tour of the Metrolina Recycling Center. With approximately 45 attendees, the event was a great success. You can go to facebook to check out some of the photos, courtesy of Shade of Green Events.

The 2012 Wipe Out Waste Ambassador Business Recognition Awards

Mecklenburg County held its annual business recognition awards banquet for the Wipe Out Waste Ambassador Program on October 24th at the Charlotte Convention Center. County Commissioner George Dunlap helped us honor some of the most innovative and comprehensive waste reduction programs in the County. Check out our facebook page for photos from the event and videos of the winners. The winners of this year's awards are:

Commercial Drop-off Center of the Year - The Carolinas Animal Hospital
Mecklenburg County’s Commercial Drop-Off Center Program allows small businesses to host recycling drop-off centers that are open to the public. Carolinas Animal Hospital & Dental Clinic established their drop-off center in 2010, which has helped both them and neighboring businesses set up robust recycling programs. The hospital also developed written protocols to ensure staff only purchase recycled paper products and green cleaning supplies. 

Sustainable Small Business of the Year - Gita Sporting Goods
Gita is an importer and wholesale distributor of high quality bicycle equipment and soft goods. In addition to their recycling efforts addressing easier to recycle items such as paper and aluminum cans, Gita also recycles their carbon fiber waste from crashed/defective bicycle frames. So far this year, they have recycled almost 500 pounds of carbon fiber and they anticipate that the program will continue to grow. They incorporate not only recycling, but reuse as well when it comes to boxes and packaging materials. Gita has even set up shipping profiles with their shippers to ensure their packages come in the box sizes that they most commonly receive, so that they can easily be reused.

Sustainable Recycling Service Provider of the Year - Junk Rescue
Junk Rescue, as a junk removal and recycling service company, helps businesses recycle more than 5 tons of materials a week. This includes a wide array of items ranging from paper and cardboard to electronics and mattresses. Junk Rescue’s philosophy is reuse first, then recycle, break down into recyclable elements, determine whether an artist can utilize it and finally landfilling as a last resort. Junk Rescue’s support of reuse can be seen in their offices, which were furnished entirely from reused materials from their bulk pick-ups. They also show their support of buying recycled products by providing recycling bins to their customers made of 100% recycled plastic.

Outstanding Environmental Education Program - Charlotte Latin School
Charlotte Latin School, a college preparatory day school, updated and rejuvenated their on-campus recycling program last year, converting to single stream recycling and incorporating composting and waste and energy reduction efforts. They also began purchasing green cleaning products, recycled content paper products, organic gardening products and locally grown or raised food products. The results are remarkable. They increased from 11.5 tons of recyclables a year to 18.5 tons, and from 0 tons of composting to 39 tons. Instead of sending 90% of their waste stream to the landfill, they are now only sending 48%.

Outstanding Waste Reduction & Recycling Program - Celgard LLC
Celgard is a plastic film manufacturer that goes far beyond your typical on-site recycling program. They recycle any universal waste that can be recycled by regulation. This equates to approximately 99.36% of their waste stream, with only 0.64% going to the landfill. Celgard also realizes the importance of purchasing recycled and recyclable materials for use in processes and packaging materials. They utilize plastic pallets made with recycled content, environmentally friendly housekeeping and maintenance supplies, packaging materials that are recyclable, corrugated cardboard made with recycled content and purchase materials in recyclable containers that can be used for another purpose internally.

A big thank you also to our sponsors for this event: