Collecting used materials is the important first step. The second step involves using recovered materials as feedstock in the manufacture of new products. The final step is purchasing and using the recycled products. Recyclables are materials that still have useful physical or chemical properties after serving their original purpose and that can, therefore, be reused or remanufactured into new products. Collecting recyclables reduces a company's waste disposal costs by diverting materials from waste.
Recycling can also provide revenues through the sale of collected materials.
In addition, collecting recyclables helps to ensure an adequate supply of raw materials for manufacturing recycled products. Recycling also has important environmental benefits, including the conservation of energy, natural resources, and valuable landfill capacity. Company support of recycling also can improve customer and employee relations by demonstrating a company's commitment to environmental protection. Each company in the WasteWise program commits to establish, expand, or improve programs to collect recyclables. If your company is not currently collecting recyclables, the first step would be to set up a collection program for one or more materials.