‘Recycle as You Shop’
As a nation, we’ve become fairly accustomed to recycling our newspapers. In fact, we recycle them at an approximate rate of 75 percent (a passing grade).
Catalogs, magazines, phone books and other paper sources, on the other hand, are a much different story. Approximately 80 percent of catalogs and magazines are landfilled each year, along with an estimated 660,000 tons of phone books (definitely a failing grade).
One program hopes to change those statistics and make more forms of paper recycling accessible to small businesses and consumers. Recycle as You Shop (RAYS) is a partnership between leading business-to-business and consumer organizations working together to increase paper recycling rates among consumers and business professionals. The program offers incentives for bringing paper recyclables to participating Maryland Office Depot stores.
Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
Collaborations like the RAYS program are crucial as they provide incentives, education, and opportunities for consumers to practice environmental stewardship,” said Donna Harman, president and CEO of American Forest & Paper Association.
Launched regionally in Maryland, the program will likely expand to other states in 2009. One bag or more of paper recyclables will earn you a $10 coupon for your next store purchase. Acceptable items for drop-off include:
- Catalogs
- Magazines
- Phone books
- Retail inserts
- Brochures
- Newspapers
- Office paper
- Letters
- Envelopes
- File folders
- Flattened boxes.
Paper recylables can be dropped in the green “Don’t Come In Empty-Handed” bins at participating Office Depot locations, where they will be recycled by Waste Management.
- Recycle As You Shop http://www.recycleasyoushop.com.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Pepper Pascal
posted on January 14th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
When will we see recycling locations at OUR Office Depot?
Lori Brown
posted on January 15th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Hi Pepper,
At the current time, the recycling program is part of a pilot offering in the Maryland market. The team of vendors participating in the program are reviewing the possibility of expanding to other states. It will just depend on the success of the pilot. So let’s hope Maryland recycles in large amounts so it can expand to other areas! Recycle as You Shop has promised to keep us updated.
Thank you,
Lori Brown
MICHAEL
posted on January 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Is it possible to have start another pilot site up? I have a couple of ideas that may help, and with the current economic environment not all that impressive, I am in the area of southeast Texas where we are not really suffering as much as others may be. Currently I am working with a small group at Lamar to start a recycling program. Over the next 45 days I will be working on a way to quantify a savings or some cost reduction so the school management may take interest. I really new to the recycling and green world, I am finishing my MBA right now, 26years old, and have energy and drive to make something happen. Do you have any advice or ideas or interest in helping out. Thinking Green and being big the green ideas is not a big practice in the states along the coast, but I think with some hard work we can change that and not only be leaders but find ways in cutting the cost so it is not only healthy to recycle but cost efficient, by the way I am a Finance major, well I hope to hear back, hope everyone has a greart day. Michael
Nancy
posted on January 31st, 2009 at 9:35 am
I do hope Florida is at the top of the list of states to which you might expand the program. I currently go to a lot of trouble to recycle my magazines and catalogs, since our municipality stopped accepting them with the newspapers a few years back. It would be great to go to my favorite Office Depot Store and drop off these bags of magazines and catalogs.
Megan
posted on February 11th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I’m glad to hear that you are doing this pilot and hope that it is successful.
I would definitely drop off my paper recycables at an Office Depot store in Wichita, KS. There is a store a lot closer to my house than my recycling center is. So, it would save gas. :)