Page 82 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

60 BACKGROUND AND FUNDAMENTALS OF SOLID WASTE ANALYSIS AND MINIMIZATION

facilitate employee involvement. People do not like to be bothered by extra time and
energy needed in order to recycle. If it requires extra effort, people will often not
participate.
In a similar venue, the collection containers must be properly placed or people will
not bother to find them. Individuals who have a personal interest in recycling will hold
onto recyclables until they can be properly disposed of or placed in the proper container.
Such people have often been found to do such things as take aluminum cans home
from work if the company does not recycle them. These people will take the added
time and energy necessary to get the materials in their proper containers. However, if
one does not have such personal convictions, then in fast-paced society taking the
extra time and effort to find the proper recycling container is often too time consum-
ing and problematic to bother with.
If there is a motivation to recycle, the outcome is much better. There is not one
cure-all for motivating employees, but there are some highly successful motivation
factors. These include money, fun, and free time. The three motivation factors can be
utilized in a variety of ways. One option is to keep track of recycling by department
and then award the best department(s) with cash, a party, or a paid afternoon off.
There are countless other creative options available. The feasibility of these options
depends on the particular company and its schedule, policies, and recycling revenue.
According to human nature, there will always be some people who are too care-
less, apathetic, or lazy to obey recycling mandates. However, the proper use of
human factors and motivation can minimize the number of such people and in turn
minimize the incident of contamination of recyclables and recycling collection
containers.

2.9.2 OBSERVED COMMON HINDRANCES

There are many common hindrances to recycling that occur on a higher level than
employee involvement. These include management perceptions, company poli-
cies, union rules and regulations, poor past performance in recycling attempts, and
many other reasons. These hindrances must be overcome or successful recycling
will be impossible. It is often very difficult to overcome these hindrances. Very
often, they are due to a misunderstanding or wrong perceptions. This makes it
vitally important for the assessment team to understand the hindrances and how to
combat them.
Though it may seem impossible to overcome polices or company rules, recom-
mendations may still be made that do not conform to the problematic rules. The rec-
ommendations can be provided as win-win situations, and may go a long way to
adjusting the policies inhibiting recycling practices. The most important issue is that
the economically and ecologically best scenario is chosen. This can always be
accomplished with win-win situations if those participating are willing to be creative.
In short, the assessment team cannot direct the company to change its policies, but
can present alternatives, which allow the company, management, or union to see the
downfall in the policy and the benefits of alterations.