As a business person, you know the importance of doing things right. As a conscientious person, you also want to do the right things.

Now Union City businesses such as restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, florists, coffee shops and bakeries have the opportunity to protect the environment and potentially save money. And it’s easy. Just separate food scraps and other compostable waste from the rest of your trash.

Take advantage of Union City’s new Food Scrap Recycling for Business program, offered by the City, Allied Waste, Tri-CED and StopWaste.org.

BENEFITS

Recycle resources. Food scraps can be composted and used as a soil amendment and fertilizer. It’s a natural way to benefit the earth while recycling an unwanted resource.

Conserve landfill space. Food waste makes up 30 percent of all commercial trash in Union City, according to a study released by StopWaste.org in June.  When you add other compostable material such as paper plates/cups/napkins, yard waste, pallets, etc., more than half of the commercial waste that is thrown away could be composted instead.

Comply with regulations. All cities in Alameda County are required to divert 75 percent of trash from the landfill by 2010. Union City’s rate is one of the best in the County, but we need to divert another 10-15 percent to reach that goal.

Reduce greenhouse gases. When food scraps decompose in a landfill, methane is created. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide (what vehicles emit). In comparison, very little methane is produced when food scraps are composted.

Cut costs. Garbage rates are four times higher than compost rates. Businesses that generate food waste can reduce the volume of trash by diverting compostable materials into the green container. The bottom line – you may be able to lower your overall bill by replacing some of your trash service with a more cost-effective alternative.

FREE AND EASY

Getting started is easy with the free assistance available, which includes:

• Coming to your business to conduct an assessment of your trash, recycling and composting needs.
• Training your employees in English, Spanish or Chinese.
• Providing posters that illustrate what should and should not go into green containers.
• Providing small indoor containers for segregating food scraps.
• Providing outdoor green containers. Bins come in 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-yard sizes. There are also 64-gallon carts.

Let us help you “green” your business and be a community leader. Contact Allied Waste at (510)252-4651 to learn more about Food Scrap Recycling for Business or to sign up.

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