Waste Assessment

1/20/2003

Businesses are always looking for ways to cut costs and sometimes recycling can accomplish that goal. Urban Ministries of Wake County, Inc., a Wake County Human Services non-profit partner that works to meet the needs of the poor in Raleigh, started two recycling programs after obtaining a free waste assessment from Wake County's Solid Waste Management.

Carolyn Edge, Urban Ministries Finance Manager, requested the waste assessment to cut costs by recycling more waste and decreasing dumpster hauls. One program, the Open Door Clinic, provides free medical services to uninsured, low-income residents of Wake County.

"Through the assessment, we discovered that most of the trash included pharmacy waste from sample prescriptions we dispense," said Edge. "Since that time, the Clinic has set up a small recycling location in our building to sort through the waste using donated recycling bins from Waste Industries and volunteer labor."

Prescription packaging includes a chipboard box, plastic bottle and paper inserts, all of which can be recycled at City of Raleigh Recycling Drop-Off locations. One volunteer group that realized the huge amount of material that was being thrown away at the Clinic began recycling out-dated medications last year.

"Our group participates in community service projects and once a month our members sort through outdated medications to recycle the packaging material," said Donna Kelly, president of Altrusa International of Raleigh.

Urban Ministries also provides food distribution to low-income families through its Crisis Intervention Program. The Crisis Program recently started composting non-edible food waste and wax cardboard through Brooks Contractor who hauls the food off-site and composts it at their facility in Chatham County. John Craig, with Brooks Contractor, estimates that the Crisis Program is composting around 1 ton of food waste each week.

Wake County encourages businesses to evaluate their waste stream to see what material could be recycled or reused. For more information on business recycling or to receive a free Waste Reduction Guide, contact Kelley Dennings at 856-5277 or kdennings@co.wake.nc.us.

 

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