When the County’s Green Works program was a fledgling technical assistance program to help businesses learn how to reduce waste, most time was spent telling businesses what was recyclable and how to do it.

Eight years later, recycling is a mainstream activity used by most companies to save money on purchasing and disposal costs. What businesses want to know in 2002 is how to market their efforts for a competitive advantage.

Consider this: The supplies you choose, how you use them, and how you dispose of them are a lot more public than you think. Everyone who has ever worked for your company knows if you recycle, if you’re conservative or wasteful with materials, and if you have a strong environmental ethic.

Since everyone is tuned in, take advantage of one of the easiest, most cost-effective public relations tools you’ll ever come across. If you already recycle, use recycled paper for your brochures, business cards, letterhead, and envelopes, and say “printed on recycled paper” right on them. In one easy step your company is positioned as efficient and as an environmental leader. You’re also closing the loop you started when you recycled in the first place.

Another common question from businesses is what to do with their hazardous wastes.

If you are a Small Quantity Generator (SQG), you may participate in the collections held at the Moderate Risk Waste Collection Facility. You are an SQG if your company generates less than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month, or annually accumulate less than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste on site.

All businesses that bring items to the SQG collection must call The Open Line and request an appointment. Business waste is not accepted except by appointment, and the customer is charged for the disposal cost of their waste.

Not all businesses think they use hazardous products, but most have fluorescent lights. Fluorescent tubes and bulbs must be disposed of at the SQG collection unless your business has a very large amount (over 100). In that case you should call The Open Line for a list of vendors. Store and transport tubes in their original box in groups of 25 or more. Do not tape them together.

Another common business waste is paint. Latex paint is not considered a hazardous waste, but it cannot be thrown away in its liquid state. Solidify latex paint by stirring in kitty litter or quick-setting concrete mix. When the paint is completely hardened, leave off the lid and throw it away. If you take latex to the SQG collection, you will pay $3.50 per gallon to dispose of it as a hazardous waste, which it’s not.

Oil-based paint, latex containing a fungicide, and other paint products including stains and thinners, must be disposed of at the SQG collection. Be sure all containers have lids and something under them to prevent leaking.

This is the kind of information that the Solid Waste Division makes available in a free quarterly newsletter, The Bottom Line. If you would like to receive the newsletter or would like more information about business waste, call The Open Line at 337-5777.