An incubator elicits an image of an enclosure with a clear top and a light bulb (heat source) providing optimal environmental conditions for nurturing a whole bunch of eggs containing chick embryos. After the usual gestation period baby chicks peck their way out of the shell. This begins the next step in the maturation of an individual chicken. If the chick is provided with nutrients, safety and nurturing it has a good chance of growing into a mature adult. Is it possible to use this example of birth, growth and maturity as a metaphor for growing a business from scratch (pun intended)?
In fact, the incubator concept is already a successful working model for growing recycling businesses in several areas of the country. In 2000 King County, WA sponsored LinkUp for the purpose of marketing recyclable materials. The program functions as a business incubator, hatching seven companies in one year that manufactures new products primarily from recyclable materials. LinkUp employs 21 teams of experts, who provide technical and marketing assistance to the hatchling companies. The hatchlings are new or existing companies that either process recyclable materials and/or remanufacture these materials into new, useable products. LinkUp services are customized to meet the unique needs of a new, small business, including material and product testing, market research, material sourcing, media campaigns, developing marketing materials, and facilitating business and strategic planning.
King County’s original goal was to achieve zero waste of resources by the year 2030. Creation of LinkUp is a progressive and innovative means of preventing waste from ending up in a landfill. LinkUp is nationally recognized for developing sustainable recycling. LinkUp has conducted approximately 140 assistance projects. The results of the projects include increasing sales and raising customer and product awareness. A survey revealed that 75% of participating businesses report that marketing support received helped increase sales either moderately or significantly. Ninety-one percent of all participating partners report greater credibility with customers, vendors, retailers, and their peer group. Stronger relationships led to connections enabling better sources of raw materials and establishing new markets.
It has been demonstrated that in North Carolina recycling is a powerful economic development tool. As was stated in A Case for Recycling, Part I, recycling created 14,000 jobs statewide by 2005. Fifty-four percent of businesses projected creation of more jobs by 2007. The number of recycling companies statewide rose from 306 in 1994 to 532 in 2004.
The primary obstacles to the growth of recycling businesses are access to recyclables currently being disposed in landfills, and the perennial obstacle for small to medium size companies is access to working capital (funding sources). The solutions to such obstacles are challenging. Education and incentives help people change behaviors about throwing away recyclables. Capital for jump-starting new businesses or expanding existing businesses is another matter. Banks may be conservative about loaning money to more risky (perception is the reality we all deal with) recycling businesses. Venture capitalists may be willing to accept more risk, but expect greater returns and often want a strong hand in managing the business.
The state of North Carolina has a creative alternative to funding fledgling recycling companies. The state created the North Carolina Recycling Business Assistance Center (RBAC) to assist recycling companies to have a positive environmental impact and succeed at startup, growth, and financial solvency. RBAC partners with Self-Help, the state’s community development bank to create the Recycling Business Loan Fund. As a result of loans made by the Loan Fund, eighteen jobs have been saved, and an additional forty-three have been created, and nearly 19,000 tons per year of recycling capacity has been created since 1999.
Let’s turn our attention to the concept of Zero Waste, which was mentioned above in relation to King County. In a nutshell, Zero Waste is the notion that all waste is recyclable, therefore, all waste will be diverted from landfills. A Zero Waste program can be implemented on a short-term basis, even a single event, or long-term, as in permanently. Examples of short-term events, although, on a grand scale are either the summer or winter Olympic Games. The winter Olympic Games of 2002, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) anticipated and planned for tons of solid waste. The SLOC rehired the same recycling team that was utilized at the Atlanta summer games. Weyerheauser Co. contributed the use of a warehouse to be used for solid waste recycling. A goal of achieving 85% diversion of recyclables from landfills was established by the SLOC. Over 1000 tons of solid waste was generated during the games. The recycling team projected a recycle rate in excess of 90%. This rate compares very favorably with the 1996 Atlanta Games at 50%, and the 2000 Sidney, Australia Games at 70 percent.
A weekly one-day event in Boulder, Colorado that attracts 10,000 people is a “Zero Waste” zone. The Saturday Farmers Market provides no trashcans, just signs proclaiming zero waste as the rule, and biodegradable utensils. Staff are ready with answers about how it works.
Examples of long-term or permanent programs are those driven by legislation. In 1989 the state of California passed a bill requiring municipalities to divert at least 50% of their municipal solid waste (MSW) by the year 2000 or pay fines of $10,000 per day.
In March of 2005, the city of Berkeley, California established a goal of 75% diversion by 2010, and 100% diversion by 2020. Their ambitious goals are based on the philosophy that if MSW “can’t by reused, rebuilt, refurbished, reconfigured, recycled, or composted, then it needs to be redesigned or removed from production all together.”
The City and County of San Francisco set goals to divert 75% by the year 2010 and 100% by the year 2020. In 2002, the City and County of San Francisco generated a total MSW of 1.8 million tons and was recycling at the rate of 63% and making great strides toward their goal of 75%. Commercial business contributes almost two-thirds of the total MSW and residences contribute the rest. Helping the cause, the San Francisco Giants diverted 1,760 tons of recyclables and saved over $100,000 on garbage disposal.
Funded by a $1,000,000 donation from International Paper, the National Park Foundation and the National Recycling Coalition will study ways to mitigate the impact of food service products in America’s national parks. The study started this summer with the goal of achieving “Zero Waste” throughout the Park system.
Last year, the City of San Diego passed an ordinance mandating recycling in order to be able to comply with state law. Residential, commercial and construction and demolition (C&D) sources are included in the ordinance and will be phased in over a 3-year period (2008-2010).
Proponents of Zero Waste (ZW) proclaim Americans are ready for a new paradigm on garbage. They claim we are tired of the bad news regarding the environment, and are ready to move toward better solutions. That would mean working without a net, or in this case without a garbage can.
Ask not what the planet could do for you, ask what should you do for the planet.
In some communities Artists are given first dibs on the trash pile.
In Los Angeles, local artists were commissioned to create artful instructions explaining how to recycle from collected recycled trash.
This was so well received, they then decorated the approach to the public dumping area’s.
After that, People wanted to purchase items produced by these artists, so a gallery was opened at the dump!
A fellowship program was set up and artists were given access from one to three months as on-site recycle to art featured artists! Art they produced went into the recycle gallery/store to be sold. The proceeds of the gallery went to the artist as hourly wage to create. This meant the artist did not have to wait until a piece was sold to be paid!
Recycling is FUN!