MJ has a goal for Zero Waste in 2018. Zero waste refers to diverting 90 percent or more of disposed materials away from the landfill by recycling, repurposing and composting. We will continue to compost all materials from landscape construction and maintenance. We will continue to use MJ-created compost, and we are finding that we can make the full composted need for a whole year.
If you visit our grounds and our shop environments, you will find that we have a variety of recycling bins throughout our buildings—for paper, cans, metal, and cardboard. We continue to encourage all employees to recycle on a daily basis. We have even worked with our Hispanic staff to donate the proceeds from the soda cans to a charity in Mexico. Knowing this, it has helped them to focus on the proper recycling. Along with beverage cans, we recycle paint cans, root ball baskets on plants, along with any other metal that comes in. We have recently purchased an additional dumpster to hold all these recyclables! In past years, The Ohio State University hosts a recycling day, and we have been able to take all the plant tags and smaller pots down there for recycling. We continue to focus on what we can re-use and how we can make good use of it.
You can join us and become a Zero Waste household! Here are some tips::
Refuse what you do not need. Fight junk mail. It’s not just a waste of resources, but also of time. Register to receive less by visiting: dmachoice.org, optoutprescreen.com and catalogchoice.org. Also, turn down freebies from conferences, fairs, and parties. Every time you take one, you create a demand to make more. Do you really need another “free” pen?
Reduce what you do need. Declutter your home and donate to your local thrift shop. You’ll lighten your load and make precious resources available to those looking to buy secondhand. Reduce your shopping trips and keep a shopping list. The less you bring home, the less waste you’ll have to deal with.
Reuse by using reusables. Swap disposables for reusables (start using handkerchiefs, refillable bottles, shopping totes, cloth napkins, rags, etc.). You might find that you don’t miss your paper towels, but rather enjoy the savings. Avoid grocery shopping waste: Bring reusable totes, cloth bags (for bulk aisles), and jars (for wet items like cheese and deli foods) to the store and farmers market.
Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse. Know your city’s recycling policies and locations—but think of recycling as a last resort. Have you refused, reduced, or reused first? Question the need and life-cycle of your purchases. Buy primarily in bulk or secondhand, but if you must buy new, choose glass, metal, or cardboard. Avoid plastic: Much of it gets shipped across the world for recycling and often ends up in the landfill (or worse yet, the ocean). SOURCE: https://zerowastehome.com
Call us for other ideas and/or to discuss green practices for your landscape!
614.873.7333