Awards aplenty for area small businesses
Six area small businesses received awards for waste reduction and recycling on May 13th at the Small Business Appreciation Breakfast sponsored by the Burlington/West Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce. The awards, presented to area small businesses (defined as employing 100 or fewer individuals), are given by the DMC Regional Waste Commission to small businesses who are exemplary in their waste reduction and recycling efforts. These businesses realize the financial and social benefits of being environmentally conscious members of our community. For 2005, three new businesses were recognized for their efforts and three winners from last year were recognized for enhancing or sustaining their winning efforts. All awards this year, as in past years, are made from 100% recycled glass.
New and noteworthy
3E Electrical Engineering & Equipment
Paper and cardboard pile up quickly as a result of just doing business at 3E Electrical Engineering & Equipment, according to Todd Van Scoy, assistant manager at their warehouse in Burlington. It is not uncommon for staff at Area Recyclers to see a 3E truck or van unloading materials once or twice per week. According to Van Scoy, recycling is made easier for them by unloading large quantities of paper or cardboard inside the Area Recyclers building, and "it is very convenient to use the recycling facilityÉthe employees are always friendly and helpful!"
Pictured are new winners of the Outstanding Waste Reduction & Recycling Program Laura Stein of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission and Kim Hunsaker of Walker, Egerton, and Hunsaker P.C. |
Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission
"Striving to preserve our environment," says administrative assistant Sarah Oldfield. "We feel that recycling is only one area to ensure a cleaner, healthier environment that we can all share for generations to come." SEIRPC currently purchases recycled content paper for office use, recycles printer and copier cartridges, uses scrap paper and junk fax sheets for messages and notes, office personnel take unneeded plastic and paper materials home to be set out for recycling weekly, and employees car pool to work 2-3 times per week. Additionally, staff at SEIRPC are currently competing in an office recycling contest.
Walker, Egerton, & Hunsaker, PC
How much paper does a public accounting firm generate? It might be easier to determine how many leaves there are on an oak tree. In 2004, though, nearly 3,500 pounds of paper was recycled by Walker, Egerton, & Hunsaker, PC. This saves nearly 10,000 gallons of water
that would be needed to make new paper and also enough energy to heat and cool an average home for 9 months. Their office also purchased a duplex printer in 2004 that allows them to print on both sides of a sheet of paper. Over 95% of the tax returns prepared in 2003 and 2004 were electronically filed, saving additional paper and energy required to deliver those forms. Additionally, all toner cartridges, newspapers, phone books, and beverage containers are recycled regularly.
Recycling & Winning, again!
Pictured are Sustainability Award for excellence in an ongoing waste reduction and recycling program winners Alan Fabel of Touchstone, Dana Johnson of Drake Hardware & Software, and Ron Storey of the Shopper Spree. |
Touchstone Behavioral Counseling, Inc.
A first time winner in 2003, Touchstone again is a recipient of a sustainability award for excellence in an ongoing recycling and waste reduction program. Alan Fabel, Clinical Social Worker for Touchstone, continues to spearhead the program at Touchstone. Fabel collects the paper from all of the agencies within the building that houses Des Moines Co. DHS, Des Moines Co. Case Management, and Child Support Recovery. A large amount of the paper collected is already shredded and in bags, and is delivered by Fabel directly to Area Recyclers. In 2004, Touchstone eliminated some 50+ years worth of patient files that were 10 years or older and, thanks to a HIPPA agreement signed with Area Recyclers, six truckloads of paper were delivered and emptied directly onto the paper semi truck at Area Recyclers.
Shopper Spree
How does a business whose primary purpose is using large quantities of paper qualify for a second year of winning? By conserving and recycling as much as possible, and by using recycled newsprint (not all area papers use recycled newsprint) and soy based inks in printing. Leftover papers are taken to Area Recyclers, and office memos are written on the reverse side of fax and scrap printer paper. Ron Storey, General Manager for Shopper Spree, gives credit for their award to Sue Stratton, office manager, who strives to conserve and recycle wherever possible.
Drake Hardware & Software
A first time winner in 2004, Drake Hardware & Software returns in 2005 to win their first sustainability award. Dana Johnston, President of Drake Hardware & Software, notes in their award application that over 11,000 pounds of electronic waste, or e-waste, was collected in June 2004 during their first e-waste recycling week held in Des Moines, Lee, and Henry Counties. This equipment was delivered to Midwest Electronic Recovery in Walford, IA for processing. Drake also encourages its customers to recycle and recycles nearly 100% of their office paper. Additionally, Styrofoam is re-used or taken to Mailboxes and Parcel Depot for their use in shipping items. An e-waste recycling week is already scheduled for 2005 (see front cover) and the company continually looks for ways to help its customers and the community be more environmentally conscious.
For assistance with implementing an ongoing recycling program
at your business,
call the Education Coordinator at the
Des Moines County Regional Solid Waste Commission,
319-753-8126 or 800-216-8126
