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�i <br />Measures to Increase Recycling and Enhance Waste Reduction <br />1) Adding recycling bins for glass, plastic and other <br />recyclables that are found during the audit in <br />significant enough quantities to warrant collection. <br />We are currently investigating the possibility of co- <br />mingling certain items that are not as prevalent in the <br />waste containers, such as glass and plastic. <br />?) Most County buildings have only one site for recycling. <br />County employees are familiar with site locations but <br />citizens are not. There are quite a few buildings that <br />get a significant amount of citizen traffic. Citizens <br />are generally not familiar with the location of the <br />recycling bins and throw recyclables into the waste <br />containers cans. We would like to invest in additional <br />recycling bins to be placed in County buildings with <br />citizen traffic. Bins would be in a very obvious <br />location and would be placed beside containers for non- <br />recyclable items. <br />3) One of the major problems with our inter office program <br />is contamination of recyclables. There is often garbage <br />and other items in the bins and public works employees <br />have sifted through bins on many. occasions. It is <br />impossible to catch all contaminants and this makes it <br />difficult for our processors. Processors cannot sell <br />contaminated recyclable materials and ultimately must <br />pass the cost of contaminants back to-the County. We are <br />currently taking all recyclables to American Reclaim in <br />Mebane. Although Orange County employees have <br />brochures and stickers on boxes informing them of items <br />that can and cannot be recycled, we continue to <br />experience quite a bit of contamination. An education <br />and training program is planned to address this problem <br />(described below). <br />4) Continue to increase the amount of recycled products <br />that the County buys. This can be accomplished by <br />thorough investigation of alternatives, and involvement <br />in associations researching how purchasers can accomplish <br />this goal in the County's (city, organization's) best <br />interest. A representative from the Orange, County <br />Purchasing Department recently attended the "Buy <br />Recycled" Conference in Research Triangle Park which <br />provided information about recycled products currently <br />available. It might be helpful to develop policy <br />guidelines or goals for buying recycled products. <br />