Boosting the bottom line for some local business owners could be as simple as looking in the trash.
“We’re helping our businesses,” said Ramsey County commissioner Mary Jo McGuire. “We know our homes are all doing recycling, and now we want to help our businesses because they have a lot of waste that needs to be recycled.”
BizRecycling is run by Ramsey/Washington Recycling & Energy (R&E) and, since 2014, has assisted over 3,000 businesses, helping them reduce waste, improve recycling, operate more sustainably, and save money.
According to the BizRecycling website, about 1.2 million tons of recyclable material are thrown away each year. That material, if recycled, would be worth about $285 million to the state’s economy. Instead, it costs more than $200 million to send the material to landfills.
So far, more than $10 million in grants has been invested in local businesses to improve waste management. Businesses that qualify can receive up to $50,000 in grants toward these goals. Participating businesses are diverting roughly 28 million pounds of material from trash each year. “We’re asking businesses to step up, help and work with us to divert waste, and we’re here to help with these grants and customize plans,” Bigham said.
“It’s simple, you go to bizrecycling.com, and they’ll set up an appointment to do an audit and work through a plan for you,” said Karla Bigham, Washington County commissioner. She cited 3rd Act Craft Brewery in Woodbury, which got a grant for garbage recycling bins and also bins for the barley and hops coming from the brewery. “So, we can divert waste, and that’s a big deal for our future generations,” Bigham added. “You’re really going to turn the heads of your customers and the younger generation that wants to patronize businesses that have sustainable practices.”
McGuire offered an example from New Brighton and CAP Carpet and Flooring. “We helped them recycle 600 pounds of plastic film.”
BizRecycling has improved waste management operations of businesses of all types and sizes, including restaurants, offices, apartment buildings, schools, healthcare clinics, golf courses, warehouses, and more.
The BizRecycling program is ongoing and open to businesses in Ramsey and Washington Counties. You can learn more about the program here.
