NIH | NEMS : Recyclable Materials

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NIH RECYCLING PROGRAM

Almost everything at NIH is recyclable! Before throwing items in the trash, please stop to consider if it’s recyclable. When in doubt of whether it is recyclable, just put it in the recycling bin.

For more information contact:
LCDR Mark Marshall, USPHS
NIH Recycling Coordinator
mashallma@mail.nih.gov
301-496-7990 (office); 301-526-2452 (cell)

Frequently Asked Recycling Questions

What is recycling?

Recycling is the process of collecting, sorting, cleaning, treating and reconstituting materials that would otherwise become solid waste, and returning them to the economic mainstream in the form of raw material for new products.

What can be recycled at NIH?

Mixed Paper*

White or Colored Office Paper
Shredded Paper
Newspaper
Telephone Directories
Paper and Hardback Books
Magazines
Document Binders/Three Ring Binders
Scientific Journals
Catalogs
Post-it® Notes
Envelopes
Manila Folders
Tissue and Paper Towel Boxes
All Other Paperboard Type Boxes (e.g., frozen meal packaging)

Commingled*

Aluminum Cans and Tin Foil
Steel and Tin Cans
All Plastic Bottles, Cups, and Containers (Plastic resin codes #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Non-Styrofoam), and 7)
Yogurt Containers (Rinsed)
Prescription Bottles
Glass Bottles and Jars ~ No Pyrex
Food Storage Containers
Grocery, Retail, Sandwich, and Other Miscellaneous Plastic Bags
Plastic Utensils (Clean)
Buffer and Saline Bottles

Cardboard*

Corrugated cardboard (packaging materials removed)

Yard Waste*

Grass, leaves, branches, brush, etc.

Scrap Metal*

Ferrous and non-ferrous metals

Voluntary Recyclables at NIH

Pipette Tip Racks
Wooden Pallets
Construction Debris
Toner/Printer Cartridges Benefits NIH Charities
Tyvek Garments Benefits NIH Charities
Batteries (All types)
Fluorescent Tubes
Electronics Waste (E-Waste)
Solvents

*Items that are required to be recycled in Montgomery County.

Why recycle at NIH?

Montgomery County Executive Regulation 15-04 AM: Requires ALL businesses and employees to recycle mixed paper, cardboard, commingled materials, and scrap metal. It is illegal to dispose of recyclable materials with solid waste. Violations of this regulation can result in fines of up to $150 per day per offense.

Executive Order 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management: Under Executive Order 13423 and the related implementing instructions, waste prevention and recycling must be incorporated into agency operations. The act of disposal is viewed as a last resort and recycling must always be considered first. Specifically, Section 2(e) of the Executive Order requires agencies to increase diversion of solid waste and maintain cost-effective waste prevention and recycling programs in its facilities.

What are the financial benefits from recycling?

Reduced Waste Disposal Fees

If the current recycling rate increases by...	Then NIH’s annual solid waste disposal costs will be reduced by...
10%	$51,000
35%	$178,000
50%	$255,000

Generate Revenue from Recyclable Materials
On average, NIH receives the following for the value of recyclables on a monthly basis:

Cardboard	$4,500
Mixed Paper	$1,500
Scrap Metal	$2,500
Wood Pallets	$1,300

This equates to nearly $120,000 per year for the value of these recyclables.

How does recycling benefit NIH Charities?

For every usable inkjet or toner cartridge that is recycled, $1.00 is donated to NIH Charities (The Children's Inn at NIH, Special Love for Children with Cancer-Camp Fantastic, Friends of the Clinical Center). Almost $3,500 was donated through this effort in 2007 and so far over $2,000 has been donated in 2008.

A charitable donation is also made on behalf of Garment Recovery Systems (GRS) for the recycling of Tyvek garments. A recent donation from GRS in the amount of $280 was made to the Children’s Inn.

How does recycling benefit the environment?

Recycling reduces the use of natural resources by reusing materials:

94% of the natural resources used by Americans are non-renewable. Non-renewable, natural resources use has increased from 59% in 1900 and 88% in 1945.
Recycling saves non-renewable resources. For example, by not recycling paper 80% more wood will need to be harvested by 2010 to meet growing paper consumption demands. However, through active paper recycling, only 20% more wood will need to be harvested by 2010.
It takes 95% less energy to recycle aluminum than it does to make it from raw materials.
Making products from recyclables results in energy savings. Recycled steel saves 60% production energy, recycled newspaper 40%, recycled plastics 70%, and recycled glass 40%.
Using scrap steel instead of virgin ore to make new steel takes 40% less water and creates 97% less mining waste.

How does recycling benefit the economy?

Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates 1 job, while landfilling the same amount creates 6 jobs. Recycling the same 10,000 tons creates 36 jobs!
The National Recycling Coalition reports that recycling has created 1.1 million jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales, and $37 billion in annual payroll.
By meeting the state’s 50% recycling goal, California is expected to create about 45,000 recycling jobs, compared to 20,000 new jobs slated to be created for the manufacturing sector.
Massachusetts employs more than 9,000 people in more than 200 recycling enterprises. About half of these jobs are in the recycling-based manufacturing sector. These businesses represent more than half a billion dollars in value to the state's economy.

What are NIH’s current recycling levels?

NIH’s current recycling monthly average is about 40%, which includes both the mandatory and voluntary recyclables.
The NIH recycling rates as reported to Montgomery County for the mandatory (e.g., mixed paper, commingled, cardboard, and scrap metal) recyclables was about 25% for 2007. The current recycling goal for businesses in Montgomery County is 50%.
A routine waste audit of Building 13 in June 2007 determined that over 42% of materials found in a solid waste compactor were mandatory recyclables.
A follow-up audit of Building 13 in July 2008 determined that 38% of solid waste compactor contents were mandatory recyclables, weighing over 2,540 pounds with the majority of it being mixed paper (2,340 lbs).

What is zero waste?

Zero waste is a fresh approach to waste management and the use of resources. It focuses on a “whole system” approach by going beyond the "end-of-the-line" treatment of waste and promoting the three "R's" of reduce, reuse, recycle. Zero Waste maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into nature or the marketplace.

Examples of Zero Waste Success in the Business World

Hewlett-Packard (9,000 employees) is diverting 92-95% of its solid waste, saving almost a million dollars a year in avoided waste disposal costs.
Toyota claims a 97% zero-landfill status average over its 14 assembly plants.
Copy-machine maker Ricoh has had a zero-landfill status at its U.S. plants since 2002.
Anheuser-Busch has recycled 99% of the solid waste generated at its 12 breweries.
Subaru claims that 99.8% of the refuse from its Indiana plant is diverted from going to landfills by recycling and reusing parts.

Does NIH have recycling plans for the future?

Individual recycling at workstations by all employees
Composting of food scraps from cafeterias
Composting of animal bedding
Promote zero waste for special events held on campus
Construction debris recycling
Reduce waste through green purchasing

Why is recycling important to future generations?

Natural resources are being depleted and landfills are being filled at an increasing rate. Our current system of production, consumption and disposal has become unsustainable. It is imperative for everyone—from individuals to large organizations—to rethink our ideas and our relationship to trash disposal. By reducing the amount of trash produced and reusing existing materials, we can all make a difference by protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and sustaining the planet for future generations.