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City of St. Louis
Department of Streets
Refuse Division
Recycling Program |
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City Government
As City employees, we have an obligation to lead by example. This includes reducing, reusing, and recycling the wastes
that we produce. It also includes supporting sustainable businesses, such as those that sell recycled-content products. In
this manner, we cultivate our local community environmentally, by helping to keep our air, soil, and water clean. We also
promote our City economically (e.g., business and economic development, job creation) when we patronize businesses that
provide reduce, reuse, or recycle services, or sell recycled products. As you move through your workday, serving our
citizens and other City employees, below are some ways for you to easily incorporate these things into your everyday
activities.
Reducing
Reducing the amount of waste we generate is our highest priority, because then we avoid consuming resources or producing
pollution.
Purchase only what amount you need.
Purchase only when you need it.
Think before you print! Do you really need to print that document, e-mail, or webpage? You may be able to read it just
as well while it's on your computer screen. And, it can just as easily be saved to your electronic files.
To distribute information, e-mail it instead of printing, photocopying, or faxing.
Offer citizens the alternative of receiving their bills, statements, letters, reports, newsletters, etc. electronically
instead of by hard copy.
Use central bulletin boards to post flyers.
Create electronic versions of documents and publications by scanning them.
Store documents electronically on the computer server or hard drive.
If you absolutely must print or photocopy, choose just a selection of information to print or photocopy, or be sure to
make it double-sided.
Update outgoing and incoming mailing lists, to reduce undeliverable or duplicate mailings.
Make your document (e.g., memos, reports, brochures, etc.) margins smaller and you'll consume less paper.
Reusing
Reusing materials is our second highest priority; reuse involves the consumption of some resources and generation of some
pollution, but less than if we recycle. Before recycling or trashing materials, consider the following options:
Check throughout your work area, Section, Office, Division, Department, or Agency; other employees may be
able to use or may be getting ready to purchase what you already have.
Broadcast an e-mail to all employees; another Section, Office, Division, Department, or Agency may need what you have
available.
Surplus out your materials through the Supply Division or your Supply Officer; this could help the City earn money on
those items, or at least avoid disposal costs.
Provide details (and photographs) to the Refuse Division to be listed on a materials exchange.
Storing documents and projects electronically on reusable and portable flash drives, CDs,
DVDs, diskettes, etc. can reduce paper consumption and conserve storage space.
Water, coffee, juice, and other beverages may taste better from reusable mugs, particularly ceramic (rather than
disposable plastic or paper cups).
Meals and snacks can feel and taste better from reusable plates, bowls, and utensils, particularly ceramic or metal
(compared with disposal plastic or paper products).
Print or photocopy on any unused sides of paper.
Urge your suppliers to reuse totes and pallets when delivering products to you. It could save you and them money
(e.g., reduced supply costs by not repeatedly purchasing totes or pallets, avoided disposal costs because they're reused).
Use rechargeable batteries on all battery-operated devices.
If all offices in the United States increased the amount of two-sided copying to 60 percent, we would save over 15
million trees, or 890,000 tons of paper a year! (USEPA)
Recycling
Recycling resources is our third highest priority; recycling consumes more resources and results in more pollution than
reusing, but less than landfilling.
Material Categories for Reusing or Recycling
Do you have something that you no longer need or want? Do you not have something that you do need or want? You may have
items that you're not using, but that another employee could use, or vice versa. So, check out our inhouse Materials
Exchange on our website at http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle/citygovernmentme.html.
*Regarding the list below, please remember that there is a cost to provide any service (e.g., vehicle fuel and
maintenance, employee salaries and wages, rent or mortgage on buildings for storage or processing). If you're quoted a fee
for recycling pick-up, remember that the appropriate cost-comparison is recycling versus landfilling, for which our City has
to pay a fee. The calculation to evaluate is the fee being quoted for pick-up of recyclables compared with our current per
ton fee to landfill those recyclables. Additionally, by law, we are required to dispose of hazardous materials (e.g.,
electronics, fluorescent lamps, motor oil) appropriately; this can include recycling (which may be less expensive than
disposing of materials as hazardous wastes). Recycling is also an important part of efforts to "green" our City. It's more
energy-efficient to manufacture with recyclable materials than virgin resources, so it's a vital way of conserving energy.
Additionally, recycling causes less air, soil, and water pollution compared with manufacturing with virgin resources. Part
of that pollution reduction includes fewer emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. Please e-mail
the Refuse Division's Recycling Program at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org if
you need additional information or have questions.
Appliances*
The City has a contract to ensure that appliances are properly recycled. For details, please contact the
Supply Division or e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Batteries - Automotive
The City has a contract to ensure that automotive batteries are properly recycled. For details, please contact the
Supply Division or e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Batteries - Rechargeable
The City participates in an industry-funded program that ensures that rechargeable batteries are properly recycled.
Please e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org to sign up
your office for service, which includes a storage box for your work area.
Books (Hardback or Paperback)*
Please e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org, noting
how many hardback and paperback books you have awaiting recycling.
Carpet
Before you purchase carpet or have any installed, ask your vendor if they will reuse or recycle your used carpet (ask if
they'll provide written documentation that they've done so).
Aside from above, if you generate any kind of carpet waste, please contact us with details about what kind of carpet you
have, the estimated quantity, and approximately how often. You can reach us by e-mail at
recycle@stlouis.missouri.org or by fax at 314.352.5627.
Cartridges - Ink and Toner
In development.
Cellular Phones
The City participates in an industry-funded program that ensures that cellular phones are properly recycled. Please
e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org to sign up your
office for service, which includes a storage box for your work area.
Containers (e.g., aluminum, glass, plastic, steel cans bottles, jars, and jugs)*
If the Refuse Division is hauling your trash and you have space for a recycling dumpster (to be able to separate these
materials from your trash), please e-mail us at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Corrugated Cardboard*
Please e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Electronic Media (e.g., compact discs/CDs, floppy disks)
Please interoffice these items to the Refuse Division; we use them in our K-12 education program for arts and crafts
projects, to make games, etc.
Electronics*
The City has a contract to ensure that electronics are properly reused or recycled. For details, please contact the
Supply Division or e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Fluorescent Lamps*
The City has a contract to ensure that fluorescent lamps are properly recycled. For details, please contact the
Supply Division or e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Metals
If metal items (e.g., desks, shelves, organizers) have reached the end of their useful life, store them separately from
your trash and contact the Refuse Division (they'll be recycled with other scrap metals, such as appliances).
Office Furniture
In development.
Pallets and Totes
Please e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org, noting
how many pallets or totes you have awaiting recycling, including their sizes or dimensions, and which material they're made
of (e.g., wood, plastic).
Paper - Office
The City avoids disposal costs (and can earn revenue) on office paper waste. Click here for a list of accepted materials http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle/documents/citygovernmentofficepaper.pdf.
Please e-mail the Refuse Division at
recycle@stlouis.missouri.org to sign up your office for service
and/or to receive office paper recycling bins for your area. Click here to view the two types of
office paper recycling
bins we have to offer.
The City also has a contract for document shredding services, which includes recycling of that paper. For details,
please contact the Supply Division or e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
City employees recycle junk mail, magazines, mixed office paper, and newspaper. According to
the United States Environmental Protection Agency, preventing one ton of paper waste saves 15-17
trees. Quantities recycled annually by City employees, and resulting benefits, are as follows:
| YEAR |
POUNDS |
TONS |
TREES SAVED |
| 2008 |
268,856 |
134 |
7.8-8.9 |
| 2007 |
156,404 |
78 |
4.5-5.2 |
| 2006 |
133,475 |
67 |
3.9-4.4 |
| 2005 |
83,190 |
42 |
2.4-2.8 |
Telephone Books
Please e-mail the Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org, noting
how many telephone books you have awaiting recycling.
Textiles
If you generate any kind of textile waste, such as uniforms or linens (e.g., sheets, towels), please contact us with
details about what material you have, in about what quantity, and approximately how often. You can reach us by e-mail at
recycle@stlouis.missouri.org or by fax at 314.352.5627.
Buying Reused and Recycled
Regardless of the volume of material we set aside or collect for reusing or recycling, nobody will want recyclables from
us unless there is a market for them somewhere along the line. Therefore, when purchasing or acquiring materials and
supplies, it's important to buy products that include post-consumer reused or recycled content (Note: "post-consumer"
means that consumers like you have used it; "post-industrial" refers to factory scrap that never reached the consumer).
What kinds of office and shop products are already available with post-consumer reused or recycled content? Just a few
examples are:
ink or toner cartridges
facial tissue
toilet rolls
paper towels
paper for printers and photocopiers
file folders (hanging and manila)
letterhead and envelopes
Carpet
The City has a contract for recycled content carpet. For details, please contact the Supply Division or e-mail the
Refuse Division at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
Office Supplies
| BUY... |
POST-CONSUMER (PC) RECYCLED CONTENT |
...SAVE THIS MANY TREES |
...SAVE THIS MUCH ELECTRICITY |
...SAVE THIS MUCH WATER |
...PREVENT THIS MUCH AIR POLLUTION |
| 1 case |
30% PC paper |
n/a |
30 kilowatt hours |
52 gallons |
n/a |
| 5 cases |
30% PC paper |
n/a |
153 kilowatt hours |
262 gallons |
2 pounds |
| 20 cases |
30% PC paper |
3 trees |
615 kilowatt hours |
1,050 gallons |
9 pounds |
For details on the City's contracts for office paper, please contact the Supply Division or e-mail the Refuse Division
at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org.
For details on a variety of office supplies available through the City's office supplies contractor, currently Corporate
Express, please check with the Purchasing Agent in your office, contact the Supply Division, or e-mail the Refuse Division
at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org. A brief list is available here as a
downloadable PDF
or Excel spreadsheet
For a list of vendors that offer a wide variety of reused and recycled office supplies, visit
Reused and Recycled Office Supplies
Also available as a downloadable PDF
or Word document
Promotional Products
For a list of vendors that offer reused and recycled promotional products, visit
Recycled Content Premium and Promotional Products
Available as a downloadable PDF
or Word document
For information on Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, please visit the United States Environmental Protection
Agency's website at http://www.epa.gov/oppt/epp.
For questions, suggestions, or additional information, contact us by e-mail at recycle@stlouis.missouri.org or by phone at 314.353.8877.
Mark your calendar for our America Recycles Day Expo in our City Hall Rotunda in November. See and hear about the variety
of post-consumer reused- or recycled-content products are already available from our vendors and local businesses. Check
out alternatives for reducing, reusing, and recycling the types of waste and materials that are involved in your work.
Details are posted on our website at http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle/ARD.html.
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