Since the dawn of time, we as human beings have made waste products. But other than food scraps and a few discarded daily essentials, for a vast majority of the millennia during which we have dominated the planet, we created as little waste as possible, and in some communities nearly none at all.
Were these earlier people simply better caretakers of the Earth than us, or less interested in material comforts than we are? Certainly not. Even in certain lush geographic areas and during eras of abundance when recycling might not have seemed as necessary, people still understood the inherent value of getting more return on investment from their waste. Of course, they didn’t really have a choice. In pre-Industrial times, the wasteful could soon find themselves wanting, or find themselves living in a less-hospitable environment than the one they previously had occupied.
Now, in the 21st century, approaching 200 years of industrial boom times (and, likewise, waste-producing times), mankind is once again moving toward an era of sustainability, when a vast majority of our waste products (the US Environmental Protection Agency estimates as much as 85%) are put back to use. And, perhaps, like those earlier people, our survival may very likely depend on it, and thus we may not have much of a choice.
In almost every community in the United States, there is a growing awareness and a growing concern for recycling and the environment. From the federal level to the local level, in both government and in private industry, sustainability initiatives are becoming higher and higher priorities.
What’s the good news about this steep climb toward sustainability? Well, as the saying goes, “there’s gold in them there hills.”
Yes, there’s money to be made in materials and services, money to be saved in energy cost reductions and resource conservation, and jobs to be created in recycling, with the potential to make a huge impact on the world economy.
For just one example, incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs.
Wastequip Knows How to Make Recycling Pay
At Wastequip, our reputation for product innovation and manufacturing expertise has made us the leading waste and recycling equipment manufacturer in North America. We deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions for containing and delivering waste and recycling to where it belongs. And eco-friendly innovations within our family of brands — such as our Toter brand’s initiative, Project25, exhibits the company’s dedication to sustainability with a commitment to reduce the amount of virgin resin used in its cart manufacturing by 25% — a move that would reduce Toter’s carbon footprint by at least 9% per cart.
READ: WASTEQUIP COMMITS TO REDUCING VIRGIN RESIN USE BY 25-PERCENT
Moving forward, as more and more of what we handle becomes recyclable, Wastequip is ideally suited to help the industry and our communities with stress-free solutions. Working with Wastequip offers:
- Convenient, one-stop sourcing for waste and recycling equipment
- A portfolio of the top brands in the industry
- Products to handle any type of waste and recyclables
- High-quality, durable, reliable steel and plastic products
- Outstanding customer-focused support and service
- Massive inventory and parts availability
- A large manufacturing footprint for convenient product and parts availability
Wastequip’s CORE Program—Building a Strong Core of Sustainability
Business is about dollars and cents, but it’s also about people working together in a sustainable way. At Wastequip, we’re working together to build a bright future for our employees, our communities, and our environment by leaving more than we take—because doing the right thing is the CORE of our business.
Through CORE, we will:
- Help define the future of the waste industry with progressive thinking and leadership
- Create products and a standard of behavior that respect the environment for future generations
- Employ a diverse workforce, provide development opportunities, and value differing perspectives
- Continue to demonstrate social consciousness through Wastequip Cares and the foresight that makes one proud to work for or do business with Wastequip
Championed by our senior leadership team and implemented by our sustainability and research team, CORE will build on what we are already doing, approach data from a new perspective, and provide insights to drive future performance and impacts across three pillars:
- People. We believe our people should feel this is the best job they’ve ever had. We are focused on safety, diversity, and creating more fulfilling work environments so we can continue to be the employee’s choice for the best place to work. We’re building on our diverse team with an emphasis on bringing more women into the waste industry and mentoring their growth.
- Planet. We believe in leaving more than we take from our environment. We will strengthen our support of the circular economy by sourcing responsibly, by reducing our carbon footprint, emissions, and energy use, and by developing more products with environmental benefits.
- Profit. We believe that doing the right thing makes good business sense. Our CORE efforts, along with responsible and informed business decisions, will drive the company growth and profitability needed to support Wastequip’s continued innovation and positive impact. Through Wastequip Cares, we will continue to generously support charitable giving and causes that help build a strong future for our industry and the communities we serve.
Recycling for the Future
There are some things money can’t buy. We call those kinds of things “priceless” when their value exceeds that of money. At Wastequip, we recognize the value that we can potentially bring to our industry, our communities, and our world. And we intend, through business practices large and small, and efforts internal and external, to do good business and protect what is priceless.