Jackson Waste Watchers a program of: Jackson Waste Watchers offers an award of distinction to local businesses who demonstrate waste reduction, sustainability and leadership as environmental stewards. This award program is designed to publicly recognize the leaders of the business community of Jackson for their waste-reduction, recycling and repurposing practices and their efforts to protect and improve our local environment. Dahlem has opened the opportunity to local businesses to become an official WASTE WATCHER by completing a questionnaire. If your organization qualifies with all general criteria and two or more of the additional criteria your company will become an official Jackson Waste Watcher. Membership to the Jackson Chamber of Commerce is not required, although the business must be located in Jackson County. REWARDS FOR PARTICIPATING: Studies show that consumers want to patronize businesses that recycle or offer recycled products. A window decal will be awarded to proudly display at business locations and a printable certificate (badge) will be issued, which can be posted on company s website and shared with potential customers. Award recipients will be recognized at the Dahlem benefit breakfast where they will be introduced to over 200 members of the Jackson business community. Recognition on Chamber website for all recipients, and a live link to business website for Chamber members. Additional Jackson Waste Watcher benefits: A recognition program helps market those businesses and improve their corporate image. Operational costs will decrease by reducing waste stream. Dahlem provides free assistance from our experienced staff to implement or to advance company s established recycling practices.
WASTE WATCHER award recipient success profiles: Green Business Excellence in Recycling Craft Insurance Agency, Inc. In 1923, two brothers, Merrill and Rafe Craft, founded The Craft Agency, Inc. Dedicated to accommodating individuals, families and businesses with quality insurance options that provide security and peace of mind, The Craft Agency Inc quickly established itself as one of the premier independent insurance agencies in Michigan. The Craft Agency Inc continues to add new services and specialty programs to meet the ever-changing needs of individuals and businesses across the country. Today the Craft Agency Inc is still led by members of the Craft family. With over 40 employees, including 30 licensed agents, as well as two on-staff attorneys and a business consultant, The Craft Agency Inc is well-suited to help both families and organizations get the financial protection and the peace of mind they desire, well into the 21 st century. The Craft Agency aspires to be a green company by reducing, reusing and recycling as much as possible. They have taken decisive steps to demonstrate their dedication to the environment by implementing several smart office practices. The office has a formal written policy on recycling and waste reduction. The employees feel they have a duty to care for future generations, both through their insurance services and their stewardship of the planet. The Craft Agency has devoted a convenient and centrally located office cubicle to store recyclables for sorting. There are recycling containers for metal cans, glass, plastic jars and plastic water bottles in the lunch/break room. An employee collects the recyclables and transports them in her/his own vehicle to a convenient drop-off center once a week. Old fluorescent bulbs and cfl bulbs are recycled properly through Recycling Jackson. Old electronics are collected and sent to Goodwill for recycling. Ink and toner cartridges are sent to the supplier to be recycled. All Craft Agency employees are encouraged to watch what they throw. Most copiers and printers are set to double sided. Email is used for internal communication and sharing documents. All insurance policies are offered as e-policies which has saved 1500 pieces of paper in just the first 6 months! Disposable cups, plates and utensils have been eliminated, as the lunchroom now has a dishwasher. The Craft Agency has made significant efforts to affect change through their comprehensive office-wide reduce, reuse and recycle program. The owners of The
Craft Agency involved their employees in developing their program, seeking their ideas for waste reduction and recycling collection and storage. They realized this would be both an everyday and long-term practice that was not difficult or expensive, but also did not come naturally at the beginning. The employees were willing to change some old habits and try new ideas, like using 30% recycled paper for the copier and printer, maintaining electronic files instead of paper files, and receiving faxes through computers, with selective printing. Also, they were eager to have an informal audit of their offices and practices conducted, and welcomed all advice for increasing their efforts.
Green Business Excellence in Recycling The Toy House and Baby Too Phil Wrzesinski s grandfather started his happy business in 1949 in a small house he called the Toy House. The business thrived and he moved the store in 1967 to its current location in downtown Jackson, on the banks of the Grand River. Phil is third generation of family ownership. Today Toy House and Baby Too is one of the largest independent, family-owned toy stores in the United States. The 30,000-square-feet store holds the largest collection of quality toys, dolls, hobbies, baby items, crafts and books under one roof. Phil s grandparents and parents were ahead of their time, not just with the products and services they provided, but with their forward thinking regarding their environmental impact. Today Phil and his 17 employees continue their dedication to recycling and has stepped up the level of conscientious business practices by including eco-friendly and made in the USA toys in his inventory. For over 30 years the Toy House has been recycling the vast amount of cardboard boxes it receives from shipments. The cardboard dumpster fills up and is emptied two times as fast as the garbage dumpster. All office paper and supplies, junk mail and packaging pellets are recycled, and the store has a policy of using e-documents for its employees. Recently Phil had replaced the overhead lighting with environmentally and energy friendly bulbs and ballasts. Also, Phil purchases energy efficient appliances and has come to enjoy a 13% decrease in his energy bill by lowering his thermostat by just 1 degree. The employees at Toy House continue to strive to better the environment, both locally and globally, by purchasing eco-friendly and made in USA products, and implementing a reduced waste policy.
Green Business Excellence in Recycling James C. Butterfield, Inc. In 1924 Harold Butterfield entered the investment business as a matchmaker between farmers and investors. Today, the family tradition of helping clients broaden their financial options continues with the 3rd generation. James C. Butterfield Investments, headed by Ken and Alex Butterfield (James sons) is a comprehensive financial services firm, committed to helping clients improve long-term financial success. At James C. Butterfield Inc, (JCB) the 4 employees believe in going the extra step to be a local team player by supporting our local community both financially and with sweat equity. In addition to connecting with local businesses, JCB believes in maintaining a green office to help protect the environment. This is not something Harold or James focused on, but this generation is very aware of the responsibility they have to conservation. Ken and Alex have adopted a policy on recycling and reduced waste at the office. The office staff recycles every type of non-confidential office paper/folders/envelopes. All confidential documents are shredded and recycled by a local company. As a result of increased recycling, the office has been able to decrease its garbage collection, thereby saving money. Several years ago Ken and Alex started using biodegradable/compostable plates, cups and utensils for the large dinners at their seminars, and use only washable, reusable items for small meetings. This has saved several loads of garbage. Recently the securities regulators have switched from a back up paper copy for all client investment applications and statements to a computer file. This change is estimated is save 200 pieces of paper a week, and about $25 a month! Also, the office staff switched from paper coffee cups to reusable mugs, saving $15 a month. In addition to a reduced waste office policy, JCB uses Energy Star qualified office equipment such as the copier, printer, computers and the 5 gallon water heater (only 5 gallons!).
Green Business Excellence in Recycling MACI Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., MACI, is the largest manufacturing employer in Jackson County with 590 associates (employees.) Established in Sandstone Township on the west side of Jackson County in 1989, the company manufactures automotive airconditioning compressor units for North American automotive manufacturers. Customers include GM, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, and Honda, as well as Freightliner and John Deere. Environmental Management is integrated into all processes at MACI. This includes production processes as well as administrative, going so far as to include composting of lunch scraps. At a corporate level, the company is ISO 14001 certified. ISO 14001 is an environmental management system that ensures that a certified company goes beyond regulatory compliance and establishes goals to promote positive environmental interactions, while minimizing any negative impacts. The associates responsibly manage the parts and chemicals on their lines. When it comes to disposal, MACI has over 20 different recycling streams in place, from production-process byproducts such as grinding sludge and aluminum oxide to cardboard, plastic, Styrofoam and paper towels. MACI s biggest office recycling area is the lunchroom where they recycle plastic, cardboard, paper, metal, Styrofoam, glass and food scraps. As part of the environmental outreach to their associates, MACI has a summer gardening program using large cement pots. Associates raise vegetables, herbs and flowers in the pots, growing them in the compost they make from food scraps and paper towels.
Jackson Waste Watchers Application Form Company name: Contact person: Phone number: E-mail address: Website address: Number of employees: Type of company: General Criteria company must achieve all General Criteria to receive certification 1) All paper, magazines, catalogs, junk mail and cardboard are recycled. 2) All glass bottles, metal cans, plastic bottles (including those without a deposit) and #5 plastic containers are recycled. 3) Facility has a system wide process in place to keep recyclable items separate from the trash (such as desk side recycling containers) and ensures that these separated recyclables are placed in outside recycling containers for pick up and are not thrown in with the trash. 4) Recycling collection is provided through the business waste hauler or another method is in place to transport and recycle the materials (i.e. business self-hauls material to a Material Recovery Facility or to local drop-off center) Proof required if selfhauling option is utilized. 5) List one or more waste reduction practices the business has implemented to reduce waste in the workplace (Example: use less paper, provide reusable water bottles or coffee mugs to employees for reuse, etc.) Detail:
6) Fluorescent tubes and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are recycled. 7) Set copy machine(s) defaults to double-side documents to reduce paper usage. 8) Email is used for internal communication and sharing documents to reduce paper generation, as opposed to making multiple hard copies of documents and communications. 9) Has a company policy that emails are not printed unless necessary. 10) Electronics are recycled (including computers, monitors, printers and other peripheral equipment);; items cannot be thrown in the trash. 11) Business has a formal written policy on recycling. 12) Participates in an ink and toner cartridge recycling program. Reduce & Reuse - Choose Two (or more) Measures 1) Participates in a business battery recycling program. [Y/N] 2) Utilizes rechargeable or lithium batteries as a replacement for alkaline. [Y/N] 3) Reuses training materials or switch to computerized training tools. [Y/N]\ 4) Eliminates disposable cups and switch to reusable beverage containers for everyday use (special events excluded). [Y/N] 5) Recycles Styrofoam cups if utilized. [Y/N] 6) Purchases used or refurbished office furniture and equipment. [Y/N] 7) Reuses boxes and packing materials for shipments. [Y/N] 8) Every office space has recycling containers for papers, as well as bottles and cans;; or general recycling collection bins are located throughout administrative areas and next to every main printer. [Y/N] 9) Sets out additional recycling containers for special events or meetings. [Y/N] 10) Eliminate the purchase of bottled water in offices and for meetings and conference events. [Y/N] 11) Uses at least one of these paper products (paper napkins, towels, or other tissue products) made with 100% recycled content. [Y/N] 12) Openly promotes recycling to their customers or clients. [Y/N] 13) Purchase copy paper containing at least 30% recycled content. [Y/N]