RECYCLE / WASTE MANAGEMENT

Recycling and reducing the amount of waste companies produce can lower refuse service costs as well as conserving valuable resources. Depending on how your company chooses to set things up, recycling programs can raise funds for special programs, benefit, charities or schools, and even reduce the amount of paper or other office products your company purchases.

A few general Recycling or Waste Reduction Tips:

• Use e-mail whenever possible instead of printing documents.
• Establish a policy of double-sided photocopying and printing.
• Make scratch pads out of single-sided paper.
• Send toner cartridges back to the vendor for remanufacturing or try donating to a local school recycling program.
• Circulate one copy of memos and reports for review instead of printing hard copies for everyone.
• Provide reusable plates, mugs, utensils and glasses instead of disposable paper and plastic items.
• If your facility has a lawn, leave grass clippings directly on the lawn instead of bagging them for disposal. This will reduce waste and add nitrogen back to the soil for a healthier lawn.
• For larger companies or business complexes, contact the building manager to ask about getting a recycling program that takes mixed paper, cardboard and beverage containers for the entire building.
• For smaller companies, consider paying for a recycling program as long as the cost is less than what you pay for waste disposal. If you eliminate a waste dumpster by recycling, that will lower your overall fees.

Ideas for Programs and Services

Check with your current waste hauler to see if they have a recycling program to offer. Torrance is an “open” city, meaning that waste haulers and recyclers are allowed to operate competitively, they just need a business license.

For a list of hauler operating in Torrance and other program ideas, try www.torrnet.com or the Department of Public Works at 310/781-6900.

Only You Can Prevent Storm Drain Pollution!

The storm drain is for Rain Water only! Please help keep your local beaches clean.

Anything that is spilled or dumped onto the streets, sidewalks, parking lots or driveways goes through the storm drain system and to the beach untreated. Not just any beach, but Torrance Beach and Redondo Beach.

When rainwater moves over land, it picks up litter, toxic car fluids, oil, and yard waste. Anything we leave on the ground goes straight to the ocean. This urban runoff pollution causes health risks, leads to beach closures and can cause damage to aquatic life, neighborhood flooding, and lowering of property values.

Project Pollution Prevention is a County-wide program to control and reduce pollutants entering the storm drain system from residents and businesses. The program seeks to educate the public about preventing pollution to keep local waterways clean.

Here’s a few tips for businesses to prevent storm drain and urban runoff pollution:

• Never dispose of vehicle fluids in the street or gutter.
• Recycle or dispose of oil through recycling programs. Call Torrance Public Works for information at 310/471-6900.
• Dispose of restaurant grease and oil in proper containers for collection. Local haulers include but are not limited to*:
      ~ Baker Commodities 800/427-0696
      ~ Darling International 800/882-3600
      *(These listings do not necessarily imply or constitute an endorsement of these companies by the City of Torrance)

• Use dry clean-up methods to pick up spilled oil and grease such as kitty litter or sawdust, then sweep up and dispose of properly.
• Never use a water hose to rinse off a parking lot or any wash away spills.
• Take vehicles to the carwash to keep pollutants and excess water out of the storm drain.
• Trash bins should be kept clean and always closed to prevent overfilling. If there is liquid spillage from the container, request a replacement trash bin.

Following these tips leads to a cleaner business and prevents the issuance of fines.

For additional pollution prevention or recycling information, contact Project Pollution Prevention at 626/458-3543 or www.888CleanLA.com.