In our fast-paced lifestyle, it is not unheard of for families to hit a fast food restaurant or the drive-through at least once a week...maybe more. Ball games, practices, meetings, going here, going there.  It has become the norm.  We seem to not even notice it anymore, until the statistics really hit home. “At least one quarter of American adults eat fast food everyday”*

In order for many of us to do certain things, it has to be simple, convenient, and of benefit to us in some way.  Fortunately, when it comes to recycling in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, it is all three of these things.  

The term “recycling” conjures up thoughts of aluminum, plastic, glass, and paper.  A recyclable commodity that may get overlooked is wood.  Wood recycling, consisting both of raw wood and used wood products, as well as paper, and has become more of a focus in the past decade. We don’t normally think of recycling a natural, renewable resource, but considering the staggering statistics, it is more than necessary.

With the development of single stream recycling, the recycling process has come a long way from its initial introduction.  Labels can be left on tin cans and plastic bottles since the heat involved in the processing of these materials eliminates the labels altogether. Most recycling centers even allow lids to be left on plastic bottles and containers.  If that’s the case, surely something as harmless as stickers on a cardboard box is ok, right?  The answer to that is a surprising No. How about a little food residue in cans, plastic or cardboard? Although recycling centers ask that plastic, glass, and metal recyclables be rinsed and clean,  cardboard and paper is a different story.  

It’s very common when one thinks of document destruction, the word “shredding” comes to mind.  Most commercial workplaces or home offices have had, at one time or another, a strip-shred or cross-cut shredding machine in them.  Depending on the need, one can be purchased for under $50 to well over $3,500.  While these may do a fair job of shredding at times, the real question to consider is whether or not a bag full of recyclable paper particles at the end of the day, headed for the landfill, is the best-practice for your company’s data security and environmental mindedness? 

When researching and learning about recyclable materials this past year, I have come across some things that I hadn’t necessarily thought of.  Along with information that I was looking for on what to recycle, how to recycle, and even statistics on the demographics of those most likely to recycle, comes some sad and alarming news about cooking with these materials.

With so many things in our lives being made of one type of plastic or another, it’s important to understand what these different plastics consist of and if they are able to be recycled.  Toys, packaging, electronics, and even cars almost always have some type of plastic in them.  Are they all recyclable?  Unfortunately, no.

If you have read any of my previous writings, you would see that I’m quick to acknowledge an
accomplishment. I could only wish that I was smart enough to “coin a phrase” or come up with
some “catchy idiom” or “pithy maxim” that would be used in our everyday English language.
Well, until that happens (and I’m not holding my breath), I shall do just as Samuel Adams
suggests in his October 29th, 1777 writing, “Give credit where credit is due.” So, again, I will…

Considering that recycling bins and carts around our neighborhoods always seem to be full, and recycling drop-off locations are brimming with newspapers, cardboard and all kinds of other recyclable materials we have successfully saved from the landfill, you would think that the recycling rate in America would be quite high, right?  Not really.

Historically, the phrase “The 3 Rs” meant Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic.  The basis on which all other schoolwork, and life for that matter, was going to be based.

In more recent years the 3 Rs became the 4 Rs as awareness and emphasis on recycling, preservation, and conservation grew. Not to say, however that the original basis doesn’t still hold some validity.  Reading, writing, and math are still stressed in school systems, as well they should be.
As the 4Rs make their debut in the everyday language of Americans, “they are commonly summarized as... reduction, reuse, recycling and recovery.*

In discussing the subject of recycling, we’ve touched on what can be recycled, what can’t be recycled, why we recycle, and so on….all of the pertinent information on recycling.  Or have we?  We could talk about all of those topics all day long, but one of the biggest challenges our society faces is how to get people to recycle.

Each element of a company is essential to keeping it running smoothly and efficiently.  Accounting, Human Resources, Customer Support, Sales, etc.  No matter the type of company, each department by itself is necessary, but nothing if left to run by itself.

Is Styrofoam recyclable since it has a recycling symbol on it?  Has this question crossed your mind?  Styrofoam is actually a genericized brand name for the actual material called polystyrene.  Polystyrene containers do have a recycle symbol in it, but very few recycling centers accept it.  There are a couple reasons for this.  Polystyrene is such a light material and, since raw commodity recycling is purchased by the ton, its market value is less than other commodities. It may be more profitable in extremely large quantities, but usual amounts produced by residential recycling collection has very little demand as a recycled product. It can, however, be made into products like insulation and packing material.

We’ve talked about throwing trash into the landfill.  We’ve talked about recycling.  But what do we do with items that we don’t put in either place? Toss it out the window?  Throw it on the sidewalk?  Well, “75% of Americans Admit to Littering within the last 5 years.”*  The fact that 3 out of 4 people admitted to doing something my 4-year old knows not to do is very alarming.

We’ve all heard of recycling in one context or another, but not many of us really know what spurred on this environment saver.  On March 22, 1987, “it started when the Long Island town of Islip, overcome by its own refuse, shipped 3,168 tons of it down the Atlantic coast, with a plan to dump it in some farmers’ backyards. But North Carolina turned the barge away, as did Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Florida; Mexico and Belize sent out their militaries to keep the barge offshore. The barge returned and spent the summer stinking up New York Harbor.... Six months after its sorry tale began, the barge finally unloaded at a Brooklyn incinerator. The story turns uplifting only after it ends: the incessant news coverage helped inspire Americans to pay more attention to their trash, ushering in the recycling era.”* 

The real question is this….in very competitive and ever-changing times, is today’s business expected
to have an attitude of civic governance and social participation, especially when the economic climate
exists as it does right now? Hopefully, the answer still is, “Yes, if at all possible.”

Go Pink in October to raise awareness for Breast Cancer, a disease affecting hundreds of thousands of lives across the country.  Research into the cause, prevention and cure of this disease relies on contributions and donations from people just like you.

It wouldn’t be as beneficial to talk about recycling if we didn’t add in information and discussion on topics that round out the concept of recycling. Conservation and preservation of our natural resources remains of equal importance. For our purposes today, and along the lines of conservation, I’d like to discuss water conservation.

Numerous reports of vandalism to trash carts and mailboxes have been reported to Borden Waste-Away as well as to the Elkhart County sheriff's department.  Carts smashed into mailboxes, overturned carts with the contents spilled all over yards, and even missing carts are among the reports that have been taken.

With so much information on recycling available at the touch of a button, some of it being erroneous, it’s no wonder that myths come about.  Once these myths circulate for so long, they tend to become viewed as reality.  Between these myths and excuses for not recycling, they drag down the number of households participating in a recycling program.

Since when has talking trash really paid off for you?  Since now!  With Borden Waste-Away’s new Talkin’ Trash referral program, it can pay your trash bill!  Our new referral program is so easy you can’t help but get free trash service.  Simply tell all of your family, friends, neighbors, people on the street, in the grocery line, (you get the idea) about your competitive prices and great service with Borden Waste-Away Service and encourage them to sign up.  When they do, you BOTH get a month of service FREE!  What could be easier?

Many of us don’t know what to do with the ever-problematic piles of leaves in our yard.  It doesn’t seem quite right that organic matter would be banned from a landfill, but that is exactly what has happened in Indiana and several other states.  According to Indiana Code 13-20-9, leaves are specifically named as being something that the landfills can no longer accept in large quantities.  “In the U.S., yard waste accounts for nearly 17% of all Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) according to the EPA. The waste consists of the usual backyard things like grass clippings, leaves and tree trimmings that adds up to nearly 31 million tons each year. Records show that over the last four decades the amount of green waste that ends up at landfills has drastically reduced due to residential composting, waste management, and composting facilities.

Now, while the following list is not exhaustive, these identifiers are unique identifying numbers, characteristics or codes and must be, by law, properly safeguarded.  For example:  names, addresses, geocodes, all elements of dates-birth, death, appointment, admission, discharge & application, telephone & fax numbers, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, medical records, account numbers, scores & reports, license numbers, vehicle ID and SN, license plate numbers, device identifiers, web universal resource locators (URL’s), internet protocol, finger & voice prints, full face photographic images, and the like!

“What do I do with these old tires?”  One of the most popular recycling questions ever asked.  Our best advice to you is to go to your local tire dealer to dispose of them properly.  Tire dealers usually take unwanted tires for around $1.50 - $2.00 per tire, then turn them over to authorized recyclers.  

Have you found yourself wondering, “If I recycle a plastic bottle...does it go to make new plastic bottles?” or “What could possibly be made from recycled glass?”  You are not alone.  Recycling is one of those “blind processes” that we know happens, but it happens behind the scenes.

Eight glasses of water a day?  In today’s fast-paced society, how often are we near a glass and a kitchen faucet?  The obvious answer to being able to drink this much water a day is, of course, is the ever-popular water bottle.  It is estimated  that, “every 27 hours Americans consume enough bottled water to circle the entire equator with plastic bottles stacked end to end.  In just a single week, those bottles would stretch more than halfway to the moon — 155,400 miles.”*

When we were in high school and asked the question, “When am I ever going to use this again?”, we heard that we would need that math somewhere in our lives...but who would have thought it would be for recycling?  Numbers, triangles, densities...what do all of these mean?  Well, it’s not really math, and not as difficult as it sounds.

“Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for six hours”.*   Imagine how much energy Americans could save if every one of the estimated 30 to 50 billion water bottles that are thrown away each year were recycled!  Although it seems impractical to think that every one of them would be recycled, if even half of them wound up in the recycling bin instead of the landfill, it would impact the United States greatly.

Really, what or who is an expert on anything?  Generally defined, an expert is a person with extensive knowledge or ability based on research, experience or occupation in a particular field or area of study. Having prolonged and intense experience through practice and education, the expert judges and decides rightly, justly or wisely. Okay, I suppose it’s hard to argue with that, but can that “extensive knowledge and prolonged & intense experience be quantified? According to Malcolm Gladwell’s essay, “Outliers,” it can be.  You may remember those three words that every baseball coach and piano teacher recited, “practice, practice, practice.”  Gladwell agrees.  In fact, he suggests it takes 10,000 hours of practice to make an expert.

It is unbelievable how much trash Americans generate through the course of a week.  Estimates are that “1,600 pounds is the amount of trash the average American produces annually. With the garbage produced in America alone, you could form a line of filled-up garbage trucks that would reach the moon”.*  As astonishing as this number is, it’s just the tip of the iceberg since today’s fast-paced culture perpetuates the problem with readily available, pre-packaged everything!  In fact, speaking of packaging, “72 million tons of containers and packaging in 2009 ended up in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream or MSW. Packaging makes up 30 percent of America's trash — the largest portion of MSW generated”.*  Packaging....or rather over-packaging, seems to be an even more difficult problem when several types of packaging are not even recyclable by conventional means.

On a day like any other day in Customer Support, a co-worker took a call from a potential customer who eventually signed up for new residential trash service with Borden Waste-Away.  She ultimately called three times that day; once to ask questions and inquire about service options, once to tell us of her decision to sign up for service, and a final time to ask a couple forgotten questions about the service she had chosen.  During the third conversation with one of our Customer Support Representatives (CSR), she asked, “Do you know why I went with your service”? The CSR paused for a moment and she plainly stated...”Because I made 9 phone calls to different companies today and you are the only one who answered the phone.  I called you 3 times, and every time someone answered the phone”.  Our CSR went on to explain that, as long as it is during our business hours, you will always reach a live person.

Have you ever heard the sayings, “Think Global-Act Local” or “Buy Local-Be Local”?.  How about the newly-coined term “Livin’ La Vida LocalTM? These sayings, although some of them cliche, pack more of a punch than we realize.  Local economy is driven, survives, and thrives if we feed it through purchases we make for goods and services.  The spending decisions we make every day can literally control local economy in a way some of us have never imagined. In fact, “if half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue”* 

Can you spot the recycling in this trash container?  Well, not only is it in there, but it’s staying in there.  I mean, is it possible that a trash truck can compact several hundred pounds of waste material, dump it at a transfer station, take perfectly clean, untorn recycling bags out of it, and send it to a materials recycling facility (MRF) for use in manufacturing other products?  It’s possible...but not very probable.  Statistics show that this method of taking recycling materials mixed with trash to a dirty MRF for separation and eventual processing at a  recycling facility can have very poor results.

Based on the NAID certification requirements for media endorsement, including hard drive destruction, Integra must have a written and verifiable process for the physical destruction of conventional computer hard drives which render them unreadable and
unreconstructable, and we do. We first record and retain the serial numbers of all the hard drives being destroyed for each client and provide the client with printed materials of our procedures and methods as well as certifications of destructions.

Recycling has been around in some form as long as any of us can remember.  We took glass and plastic bottles back to the grocery store for the deposit and we collected aluminum cans to take to the scrap yard for a little pocket change.  We even understood the importance of repurposing items for other uses than their original intended use, which is why most of our parents had a bird feeder made from an old milk jug or a paper mache picture frame made from popsicle sticks and newspapers. 

When it comes to the proper way to destroy a document, size matters!  When you see the next Integra truck roll by, take a note of the AAA certification logo.  This top level NAID endorsement is not only highly regarded, but it must be earned and requires diligent effort to maintain.  And, to keep this rating, our destruction process and audit methodology must prove that our shredded particle size meets or exceeds the certification specifications produced by the commercial grade destruction equipment we use in our trucks and at our plant.

And we do!

Integra Certified Document Destruction recently partnered with the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce and the Elkhart County Solid Waste Management District for the annual Clean Your Files Day, our goal for the 350 people that showed up was to provide the peace of mind that is inherent with destroying items like old files, tax records, cancelled checks and the like.   But, that’s only half of the story.

ELKHART, IN (January 10, 2012) – Today Borden Waste-Away presented IU Goshen Center For Cancer Care with a $ 19,502 donation check for their clinical research program. This check is first year results of Borden’s Trash Cancer Matching Program. 

ELKHART, IN (DECEMBER 5, 2011) – Borden Waste-Away driver David Inwood received a semi-finalist award for the Environmentalist Industry Association (EIA) Driver Of The Year program 2011.  David is a life-long resident of Mishawaka, IN, and he provides residential waste removal service to the Michiana area.

November 23, 2011

ELKHART -- County officials in northern Indiana have approved a trash collection and recycling company's plans for taking over the site of a large farmers market that closed last year.

Elkhart County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to rezone the former American Countryside Farmers Market property so that Waste-Away Group can use it for trash and recycling operations and office space.

The company bought the property along U.S. 20 with a distinctive 51,000-square-foot red barn for nearly $3.8 million in June. The Elkhart Truth reports that Waste-Away hopes to attract other business to the 275-acre site it is naming "Elkhart Eco Park."

County Commissioner Mike Yoder says he's impressed with plans for the site despite the differences from what was envisioned when the farmers market opened in 2007.

WASTE-AWAY GROUP ACQUIRES LAND TO INCLUDE AMERICAN COUNTRYSIDE FARMERS MARKET BUILDING

June 16, 2011

Waste-Away Group is pleased to announce the acquisition of 275 acres of land which includes the American Countryside Farmers Market building located on County Road 26 in Elkhart, IN.  The purchase was completed at the land auction held on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. 

This acquisition presents a few key opportunities for our company and our customers.  Waste-Away will consolidate operations at the location, which will streamline processes and employees.  The property provides a convenient highway system for improved access to customers and to disposal and processing facilities. 

This a great opportunity to consolidate and to improve the cost structure for our customers.  We look forward to the future of the company as we further develop operational efficiencies. 

If you have any questions please contact your sales representative at (574) 293-8534.  Thank you for your consideration.

The Waste-Away Group

The Waste-Away Group is committed to providing quality service at the
best possible value. Our industry is trucking intensive and fuel is a large
component of our cost. Due to the recent surge in diesel prices we have
implemented a fuel adjustment on our invoices.

Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc. For Immediate Release

Borden Waste-Away Service announces recycling week change for a group of Warsaw contract residents in May 2011

March 7, 2011
Borden Waste-Away has completed the exchange of all City of Warsaw recycling carts for the new Borden recycling carts.  We appreciate the residents patience as we accommodated the increased interest in the recycling program.  The new recycling program includes an expanded program with additional volume.  If anyone is interested in signing up for the recycling program or if you have any questions, please contact Borden Waste-Away at www.wasteawaygroup.com or ( 800 ) 386-3313.

City of Warsaw, Indiana Awards Residential Recycling Collection Agreement to Borden Waste-Away Group

Borden Waste-Away Awarded City of Warsaw Indiana Recycling Collection Contract Beginning January 1, 2011.

WARSAW, IN (DECEMBER 29, 2010) – The City of Warsaw Indiana has chosen Borden Waste-Away as the new recycling hauler for residents included in the City contract. Borden Waste-Away will begin services January 1, 2011 with additional information available at WasteAwayGroup.com.

“We are pleased to be the chosen recycling hauler for the City of Warsaw contract,” said Ken Himes, President of Waste-Away Group, Ltd., “Warsaw is a great community to add to our family of customers. Our recycling service provides residents the ability to recycle almost 2 ½ times the present volume”.

Participating residents need to place their current recycling carts out on Monday, December 27. These carts will be removed and the new Borden carts will be delivered from December 27 to 30, 2010. Each resident will receive a Grey 96 gallon cart on wheels with a blue lid to collect recycling. This larger Borden cart replaces the current City owned cart.

Himes said his company is expanding the plastic items allowed in the single stream recycling program. “We are allowing residents to recycle plastics numbered 1 through 7. This is an improvement by including plastics #3 through #7,” he said. Notably, Waste Away Group owns a recycling facility located in Elkhart, Indiana, which gives Borden Waste-Away the ability to offer a greater amount of recycling options. Recycling operations can be viewed online at: WasteAwayGroup.com/recycling-works-waste-management-services.html

Recycling materials in Warsaw can be placed in the container without separation:

Newspaper, Magazines, Slick Ad Paper, Cardboard, Telephone Books, Aluminum and Metal Cans, Plastics #1-#7, Glass Bottles and Jars.

Warsaw Residents will receive recycling service every other week and Borden will be servicing the city two days per week. Along with the new recycling cart, each participating Warsaw resident will receive a magnetic calendar showing their service day and additional recycling information.

Borden Waste-Away is also offering Warsaw residents The Pink Cart™, a bright-pink recycling cart supporting cancer awareness programs. Borden Waste-Away and the manufacturer of The Pink Cart™, Cascade Cart Solutions, will donate a total of Five Dollars for each Pink Cart™ placed into service to support the Mishawaka American Cancer Society. The Pink Cart™ is made from 100-percent-recyclable plastic.

Those Warsaw contract residents interested in receiving The Pink Cart™ for their recycling can contact Borden Waste-Away for delivery. Anyone requesting The Pink Cart™ will incur a $15 service fee and the resident will be billed direct from Borden Waste-Away. Those interested in signing up for The Pink Cart™ should contact Borden Waste-Away at 1-800-386-3313 X 570, or may also order any of the above services online at WasteAwayGroup.com.

About Waste-Away Group, Ltd.

Waste-Away Group is a family-owned residential and commercial waste transporter serving Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Borden Waste-Away originated out of Goshen, Indiana and is a subsidiary of Waste-Away Group. The Company has provided residential waste disposal service to homeowners and area municipalities for over 60 years.

Headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, Waste-Away Group and its affiliated companies, Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc., Himco Waste-Away Service, Inc., Integra Certified Document Destruction LLC, and Recycling Works, Inc., provide modern waste handling solutions while maintaining a leading market share in its core business areas. For details, visit WasteAwayGroup.com today.

CONTACT:

Judy Bialka
Chief Marketing Officer
Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc.
707 N Wildwood Ave
Elkhart IN 46514
Tel. (574) 293-8534
e-Mail: judy.bialka@wasteawaygroup.com

Web:

www.WasteAwayGroup.com

Additional Resources:

http://www.wasteawaygroup.com/borden-wasteaway-residential-waste-management-services.html

http://www.wasteawaygroup.com/recycling-works-waste-management-services.html

http://www.wasteawaygroup.com/himco-wasteaway-industrial-waste-management-services.html

http://www.wasteawaygroup.com/integra-certified-document-destruction-services.html

Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc. For Immediate Release

Borden Waste-Away helps “Kick Cancer to the Curb,” offers pink waste and recycling carts throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan

ELKHART, IN (NOVEMBER 18, 2010) – Borden Waste-Away announced today it is giving customers a chance to “Kick Cancer to the Curb” through one of two donation programs that will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Goshen Center for Cancer Care Research Fund.

“I am encouraged at how far we have come,” said Ken Himes, President of Waste-Away Group, Ltd., “Many of us have been or will be touched by this terrible disease in one way or another. It is because of organizations like the American Cancer Society and Goshen Center for Cancer Care that we are making strides.”

Borden Waste-Away will immediately begin offering the Pink CartTM, a bright-pink waste and recycling cart supporting cancer awareness, to its customers throughout Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. Five dollars from each Pink Cart delivered will support the local American Cancer Society’s breast cancer awareness programs.

The Pink Cart displays the American Cancer Society’s powerful Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ribbon logo, which is widely recognized as a way to honor breast cancer survivors, remember those lost to the disease and support the progress we’re making to defeat breast cancer. The lid of each cart also displays early detection and health tips on a large in-mold label. The carts are made from 100-percent-recyclable plastic.

Himes said his company is also offering an ongoing donation matching program. “We are getting involved to support continued progress,” he said. Funds will go to the Goshen Center for Cancer Care Research Fund supporting clinical trials, the tissue bank and preclinical studies.

“There are few people whose lives haven’t been touched by cancer. Borden Waste-Away’s Kick Cancer to the Curb Campaign is not only promoting awareness but helping fund research that could someday put an end to this disease.” said Dr. Douglas Schwartzentruber, Medical Director of Goshen Center for Cancer Care. “Goshen Center for Cancer Care is honored to be a recipient of this campaign – we remain committed to cancer research, recognizing that it is what will move us forward in the treatment of all cancers. Cancer research is what is going to find cures, make a difference, and give us even greater knowledge to help not only those fighting cancer now, but who will be diagnosed with cancer in the future.”

According to Himes, those interested in signing up for a cart or the donation program should contact Borden Waste-Away at 1-800-386-3313 X 570.

The Pink Cart program (www.thepinkcart.com), developed by Cascade Cart Solutions in collaboration with the American Cancer Society®, enables households and businesses nationwide to make an important and visible demonstration of their support for the fight against breast cancer.

For information about ordering a Pink Cart contact Borden Waste-Away Customer Support at 1-800-386-3313 X 570 or order service online at www.wasteawaygroup.com. To learn more about the Pink Cart or to join the online community, visit thepinkcart.com.

Waste-Away Group, Ltd., is a residential and commercial waste transporter serving Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan. A subsidiary of Waste-Away Group, Borden has provided residential waste disposal service to homeowners and area municipalities for over 25 years. Headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., Waste- Away Group and its affiliated companies, Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc., Himco Waste-Away Service, Inc., Integra Certified Document Destruction LLC, and Recycling Works, Inc., provide modern waste handling solutions while maintaining a leading market share in its core business areas.

CONTACT: Judy Bialka Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc. ( 574 ) 293-8534 judy.bialka@wasteawaygroup.com

To help kick off our Pink Cart program, all drivers are wearing pink today.  Real men do wear pink!

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