Concert Properties Ltd.
Posted: April 21st, 2011Concert Properties Ltd. is an award-winning real estate enterprise involved in developing rental and condominium homes, seniors living communities, resort developments. Highly committed to being a “developer with a difference,” Concert has a variety of recycling and waste reduction initiatives in place that highlight their responsibility to the environment. For example, recycling programs are in place within their income-producing properties and dedicated recycling areas exist within many of their rental properties.
Urban Impact is a market leading integrated recycling company, delivering sustainable waste management services including, paper recycling and cardboard recycling, through to total waste management solutions. In December 2010, Concert selected Urban Impact to develop a customized recycling program for their award-winning Fraser Pointe rental towers located along the scenic Fraser River in Vancouver.
Urban Impact’s dedicated BOMA Account Executive Steve Caulfield met with Concert’s Fraser Pointe property management team to develop ideas and formulate plans to increase their tenants’ recycling participation. Concert challenged Urban Impact to create ideas to help their employees change daily work routines for the benefit of the environment. Steve worked closely with Concert’s Director of Property Management Bev Greene and Property Manager Karen Rahal to design and implement a customized tenant-recycling program. Steve provided strategic advice on how to design the most efficient collection systems to meet the Fraser Pointe towers’ recycling needs.
Urban Impact developed a comprehensive recycling solution for the following recyclables:
- Compost
- Soft plastics
- Fluorescents
- Batteries
- Electronic waste
- Wood recovery
Going forward, Urban Impact’s goal is to eliminate the garbage compactor at Fraser Pointe’s towers. Our first step is to eliminate the wet waste, also known as kitchen waste which mainly contains vegetable peels and remains of fruits, vegetables, left over and rotten food etc.
Residential buildings contribute a significant proportion of waste to landfill in developed countries. Achieving strong recycling rates in residential buildings can represent a significant win; diverting large quantities of material from landfill, saving valuable resources and preventing the energy intensive extraction of new raw materials.
In large residential buildings, waste management presents several challenges, particularly in terms of space. The property management team generally controls waste management. Generally, people like to spend as little time as possible either thinking about or handling waste. In residential buildings where it is easy to dispose of mixed general waste and difficult to recycle, buildings operational costs are likely to rise as landfill costs increase.
Composting is nature’s process of recycling decomposed organic materials into a rich soil known as compost. Around 80% of household waste can be recycled, and over a third can be composted! Urban Impact’s goal is to make it easier for tenants to participate in the compost recycling program. Urban Impact kicked off educational seminars designed to introduce and reinforce the concepts of recycling, sustainability, provide a better understanding of our waste cycles, and describe how food waste fits into the picture. To improve the recycling rates and reduce confusion, elevator posters were created that outlined how the compost recycling program works.
Compost recycling rates are on the rise- to date, 36 units in the Fraser Pointe Towers have joined the compost recycling program. Urban Impact’s goal is to double that number by July by providing more education for the tenants to help them alleviate public perception that composting is smelly and unsightly.
For Urban Impact, there was the challenge of developing effective communication and establishing systems for simple, intuitive use. Urban Impact placed tenant-specific recycling containers along with educational pamphlets to encourage proper use of recycling containers. In addition, they provided a number of bin and container options that were designed for the suitable collection of materials in a cost effective, safe and efficient way.
The key to a good recycling program is to have properly trained staff on board to make sure the program works from top to bottom.
Urban Impact educated Fraser Pointe staff on all the recycling programs so they can provide advice to any new tenants or answer any questions their current tenants may have.
By implementing a comprehensive recycling program, Fraser Pointe tenants have become more conscience of what they dispose of and what is the proper way to recycle items. The recycling program is a “win-win”, bringing down operational costs, saving space and helping the environment. Concert’s recycling efforts at Fraser Pointe have helped sustain the company’s image as an eco- conscious business and reduced their waste generation.
The recycling program is a “win-win”, bringing down operational costs, saving space and helping the environment.
To learn more about how you can make the environment part of your brand’s positioning or to find out more about Urban Impact’s Recycling solution, please contact us at 604-273-0089.
Urban Impact Recycling Ltd.
15360 Knox Way
Richmond, British Columbia
V6V 3A6
For more information about Concert Properties Ltd. click here www.concertproperties.com
Kirk Marketing
Posted: April 21st, 2011Leading direct marketing company Kirk Marketing saves labor, space and money by working with Urban Impact to enhance their recycling program. By partnering with Urban Impact, Kirk Marketing gains a recycling solution that consistently generates revenue and increases their return-on-investment for office, warehouse and dock space.
Kirk Marketing has been helping clients in Vancouver and beyond with their direct marketing issues for nearly 60 years. The company serves a roster of clients from a 50,000 square foot warehouse facility and combines the capabilities of a data services bureau, a full-service printer, a direct mail lettershop and a fulfillment house, all under one roof.
Urban Impact provides paper, cardboard and plastics recycling services for Kirk Marketing’s office and warehouse. Under the direction of Marketing and Communications Manager James Hvezda, Kirk Marketing was looking to review their recycling processes to “see what we could do to divert more waste.” Increasingly concerned about what is going into landfills out the back doors of their business, James met with Urban Impact Business Development Manager Steve Caulfield to discuss how the company could take their existing corporate wide recycling program to a new level. Within a few seconds, Steve “was sifting through Kirk Marketing’s garbage bin, opening bags, and pulling out ‘stuff’ to see if it could be recycled.” Steve was able to point out a few things that Kirk Marketing was already doing well:
- The company’s paper recycling program for high grade was excellent. They were separating this material well, especially in their press room.
- They had separate bins for cardboard and plastic, which meant that most of the company’s soft plastics were already being recycled.
- Most workstations had paper-recycling bins beside them and, when it came to clean paper, they were being used consistently and effectively.
Steve confirmed that Kirk Marketing already had an easy and efficient system for recycling a large component of their waste, which, according to James, was “no surprise, mostly paper.”
When Steve exhumed the contents of Kirk Marketing’s 8 cubic yard garbage bin, he discovered metal banding, wood scraps, organics, paper cups, plastic bags, and tins from their lunchrooms that could all be diverted into a recycling stream. Paper towels could be included with Kirk Marketing’s mixed paper and coffee cups and lids could also be recycled as long as they were rinsed. Steve also advised James that their plastic strapping could go with their soft plastics as long as it was bagged. Urban Impact helped Kirk Marketing install bins that were dedicated to wood scraps and metal and also implemented an organics-composting program in their lunchrooms.
Urban Impact’s Solution
Kirk Marketing’s initial goal was to go from having their 8-yard bin picked-up weekly to having a 4-yard bin picked-up bi-monthly. Long term, they will continue to work with Urban Impact to help them identify further reductions. “Yes, Kirk Marketing’s goal is to move towards zero waste,” says James. “One of the simplest changes we made was simply adding bins for plastics by the machines and reducing the number of garbage bins on the shop floor and in our offices. It makes sense that if we continue to make recycling a convenient option for people then they’ll make the right choices.”
Urban Impact also worked with Kirk Marketing’s team to develop ways to collect their recyclables so that they maintain their value. “If the program works and we can achieve our preliminary goal of moving to a 4 yard bin, we will have cut our waste by more than half! Ok, it’s not Zero waste…yet. But our focus is on maintaining a continued effort to reduce our waste to landfill in measureable steps. By the end of the year I could see us moving to a 2 yard. Beyond that, well, then we’re looking at individual cans. That’s a terrific goal and, with the help we’ve received from Urban Impact, one that is not as far off as I had originally thought,” commented James.
Phase One- Warehouse Recycling Expansion: During our first phase of the recycling expansion program, we worked with Kirk Marketing to develop a recycling plan that encompassed their waste stream requirements. To make the biggest and most immediate impact on their diversion rate, we focused on expanding and refining their warehouse-recycling program. To standardize the look of the containers and bins and provide a cleaner look in the warehouse, Urban Impact sourced bins that were designed to handle plastics and high volume paper. We also helped Kirk Marketing expand their recycling program and identified new containers for including soft plastic and plastic strapping. We also initiated a bin-twinning program to ensure that wherever a garbage can was located, a recycling bin would be located right beside. Urban Impact also worked closely with Kirk Marketing’s team to create clear signage to promote the expanded recycling program. Urban Impact’s Five Phase recycling program for Kirk Marketing is outlined below:
Phase Two- Office and Warehouse Lunchroom Recycling Expansion: Phase Two included the rollout of a lunchroom-recycling program for Kirk Marketing’s office and warehouse. The objective of the lunchroom program was to continue to collect paper and to provide additional containers for collecting rigid glass, metal and plastic containers. Urban Impact provided a 96-gallon tote as a central collection bin for our drivers to service.
“Location, location, location – bottles & can collection bags in our lunch rooms makes recycling convenient. The money we get from these returns goes towards social events that are held throughout the year.” James Hvezda, Kirk Marketing’s Marketing and Communications Manager
Phase Three of the Office and Warehouse Lunchroom recycling expansion includes a roll-out of a coffee cup, coffee lid and paper towel program. Kirk Marketing encouraged their employees to bring their own reusable cups.
Phase Four was the roll-out of a composting program for Kirk Marketing’s office and warehouse lunchrooms. Composting, nature’s own way of recycling, is the controlled decomposition of organic material. Composting helps to keep the high volume of organic material out of landfills and turns it into a useful product. There are many sources of raw materials for the compost pile. From the lunchroom come coffee and tea grounds, and vegetable and fruit trimmings. Urban Impact supplied composting bins that were designed to meet Kirk Marketing’s composting needs. Through practice and close observation we found what worked best for their lunchroom situation.
Phase Five
For phase five, Urban Impact will be providing advice to Kirk Marketing on how to take their recycling program to a new level by streamlining their present wood scraps, metal, Styrofoam, e-waste, fluorescents, ballast and battery recycling programs.
Urban Impact provided Kirk Marketing with a Certificate of Diversion, which provides the company with documented proof of their efforts to reduce their environmental impact and improve their communities. Kirk’s Certificate of Diversion is proudly posted in the company’s main reception area.
To learn more about how you can make the environment part of your brand’s positioning or to find out more about Urban Impact’s Recycling solution, please contact us at 604-273-0089.
Urban Impact Recycling Ltd.
15360 Knox Way
Richmond, British Columbia
V6V 3A6
For more information about Kirk Marketing click here www.kirkmarketing.com
3S Printers
Posted: March 7th, 2011
Management at 3S Printers in Richmond is taking the Zero Waste Challenge seriously.
3S is committed to reducing the waste they dispose in landfills by finding a recycling solution for every item that is produced in the business process. The following materials are targeted for recycling: all cardboard and paper, plastic strapping, soft plastic wrap, wood waste, batteries, E Waste (or electronic waste). They are even trying to find a home for latex gloves and ink tins.
We applaud 3S Printers’ efforts and commitment to their environment.
