Start with a Waste Audit
Before designing a recycling program, conduct a waste audit — physically sorting and weighing a representative sample of your trash to understand what materials you're generating. Most businesses find that 50–70% of their 'trash' is actually recyclable or compostable.
Waste audits reveal the top opportunities: typically cardboard and paper, food waste, plastics, and metals. They also identify contamination patterns that can be addressed through training and signage.
Commercial Recycling Services
Most waste haulers offer commercial recycling services alongside regular trash pickup. Compare programs and pricing — commercial recycling is priced differently than residential, and some materials (especially cardboard) may generate rebates that offset costs.
For high volumes of specific materials (large quantities of cardboard, pallets, metals, or plastics), specialty recycling haulers often pay for the material rather than charging a pickup fee.
Setting Up Collection Systems
Placement matters enormously. Put recycling bins wherever waste is generated: in copy rooms (paper), near printers, in break rooms (food packaging, cans, bottles), at reception (packaging), and in warehouses (cardboard, pallets).
Use clear labeling with photos — pictures of accepted materials communicate more clearly than text alone. Color-coding helps: blue for paper, yellow for containers, green for organics.
Employee Training and Engagement
Programs fail without employee buy-in. Make recycling training part of onboarding. Post accepted materials lists at every collection point. Designate a 'recycling champion' in each department. Share recycling metrics — pounds diverted, cost savings, carbon equivalents — in company communications.
Gamification works: some companies run department recycling competitions with prizes.
Industry-Specific Programs
Many industries have sector-specific recycling programs: restaurants have food waste composting and cooking oil recycling; offices have paper and toner cartridge programs; construction firms have C&D debris recycling; hospitals have pharmaceutical takeback and medical device reprocessing programs. Search for industry-specific resources from trade associations.