HomeMy WebLinkAboutWaste Reduction and Recycling Policy, City of BozemanCITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA
WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING POLICY
I. PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The City of Bozeman is committed to good stewardship of the environment. A key element of
that stewardship is waste stream reduction from municipal operations into landfills or
incinerators. Solid waste landfills and incinerators have negative long-range environmental
impacts, drain community resources, and have limited capacity to accept the large quantities of
waste generated by our society today. The City of Bozeman will make every effort to reduce the
solid waste generated through municipal operations. Four methods will be used to implement this
policy: source reduction, reuse of materials, recycling, and purchase of recycled materials. Every
city department and individual employee has a personal responsibility for implementing this
policy.
II. DEFINITIONS
Incinerator- a furnace or container for burning waste materials.
Landfill- a waste disposal site for the deposit of solid waste from human activities
Recycling- the collection, reprocessing, marketing and use of materials that were diverted or
recovered from the solid waste stream. Recycling provides two categories of environmental
benefits: (1) diversion of waste from landfilling or incinerations and (2) reduces the need for
virgin materials for the manufacture of new products.
Source Reduction- reducing waste by reducing the amount of unnecessary material brought into
a building. Purchasing products with less packaging is an example of source reduction.
Waste Disposal- the process of eliminating waste by means of burial in a landfill, combustion in
an incinerator, dumping at sea, or eliminating waste in some other way that is not recycling for
reuse.
Waste Diversion- includes waste management activities that divert waste from disposal through
incineration or landfilling. Typical waste diversion methods are reuse and recycling.
III. POLICY
A. Source Reduction
All city employees are responsible for implementing operational practices that prevent
waste from being produced. Examples include printing reports and documents on both
sides of the paper; printing appropriate numbers of documents; using a-mail rather than
printed correspondence; and using products that are reusable, refillable, repairable, non-
toxic, and recyclable. Items requiring the least possible packaging should be purchased
when practical. Every effort should be made to prevent excess or unneeded materials
from being purchased.
B. Reuse of Materials
All city employees are responsible for reusing products whenever possible. Examples
include obtaining office furniture and equipment from other departments that are no
longer in use or using dishes, glasses, and reusable flatware rather than disposable paper
and plastic ware. Except where human health and safety is a concern, or when needed in
emergency or repair situations, purchase ofsingle-use bottled water for employees or
elected officials is not allowable.
C. Recycling
All city employees are responsible for separating identified recyclable materials and
placing them in appropriate recycling containers.
City recycling includes aluminum cans, rechargeable batteries, cellular phones,
cardboard, magazines, news paper, office paper, phonebooks, paper board, plastic (#1
through #7 only), steel cans, and additional items as implemented.
Facilities Management recycling includes fluorescent light bulbs and additional items as
implemented.
Street Department recycling includes motor oil, crank case oil, anti-freeze, and additional
items as implemented.
D. Purchase of Recycled Content Material
All city departments are responsible for making efforts to purchase and use products
manufactured from or containing recycled materials.
N. PROCEDURES
The Climate Protection Program Coordinator will be responsible for implementing this Policy
by:
1. Developing and implementing a waste reduction and recycling program in accordance with
this Policy.
2. Designating personnel in department to ensure recycled content products are purchased when
feasible and that criteria for recycled content products are included in the purchasing bid process.
3. Designate responsibility to individuals in each department to promote recycling and waste
reduction.
4. Designate responsibility in Human Resources to include waste reduction and recycling
information in the new employee orientation literature.
5. Encouraging all contractors to adhere to city recycling policies and procedures.
6. Taking other appropriate action as he/she deems necessary to implement this Policy.
DATED THIS ~f day of ~~c e m b e ~ , 2008.
~~
Chris Kukulski, City Manager