BURRTEC NEWS

October 2013
BURRTEC NEWS
Waste Recycling Newsletter
Sponsored by the City of Santa Clarita and Burrtec Waste Industries
Close the lid!
Burrtec and the City of Santa Clarita are asking you to keep the lid closed on your trash and
recycling bins. Bins that are left open may cause pollution from stormwater runoff and are
susceptible to the following:
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Scavenging
Attraction of critters and rodents
Contamination
Illegal dumping
Please make sure the lid is closed after each use and Burrtec will make every effort to close it
after service. Also, please report broken lids to Burrtec Customer Service at 661-222-2249, so
they can be repaired or replaced.We appreciate your cooperation!
Business Recycling Tips
To ensure a successful recycling program, it’s important to get participation from employees and
support from the management team. Here are a few tips to get you started:
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Communication is essential. Post signs to remind employees which items to recycle (cardboard,
paper, etc.). Email reminders, newsletters and flyers will also help reinforce the message.
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Place recycling bins next to trash bins to increase the chance of getting more recyclables
into the correct container.
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Provide recycling bins in individual work spaces and near copiers and printers to encourage
more recycling by making it convenient.
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Make sure recycling bins get emptied into the proper recycling dumpster outside.
Contact Information
Burrtec Waste Industries, Inc.
(661) 222-2249
26000 Springbrook Avenue, Suite 101
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday* 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
(*on holiday weeks)
Holiday Schedule
If your normal pick-up day is
Collection will be on
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 28
Friday, November 29
Friday, November 29
Saturday, November 30
Christmas Day
Wednesday, December 25
Thursday, December 26
New Year’s Day
Wednesday, January 1
Thursday, January 2
GreenSantaClarita.com
Whac-A-Watt,
Save-A-Lot
The City of Santa Clarita and the Community Energy Partnership* invite local businesses to
enter the 2013 Whac-A-Watt, Save-A-Lot Business Energy Challenge.
Open to Santa Clarita businesses who have tracked their energy use through the U.S. EPA’s
ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, the Whac-A-Watt, Save-A-Lot Business Energy
Challenge recognizes businesses in two categories:
• Largest percentage of energy savings
• Most improved energy savings
One small to medium-sized business and one large business will be recognized in each
category. Businesses can receive credit for both kilowatt hours (electricity) and therms (natural
gas) saved. Energy use must have been tracked in Portfolio Manager for one year before the
energy improvement and one year after.
For more information and to enter by November 15th, 2013, visit Greensantaclarita.com
Questions? Contact Santa Clarita’s Environmental Services Division
at hmerenda@santa-clarita.com or 661 286-4098.
* This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by Southern California Gas Company and Southern California
Edison under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
GreenSantaClarita.com
Recycling Life Cycle
Have you ever wondered what happens to recycling after you place it in the bin?
Place recyclables
in bin…
we pick it up
and take it to the
Materials Recovery
Facility (MRF)…
ship it to
manufacturers to
be made into new
products.
load it into trucks…
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
sort it…
bale it…
GreenSantaClarita.com
Green Restaurants
Do you own or operate a restaurant? Did you know you can reduce waste, save energy and use sustainable practices to reduce
your carbon footprint? A green restaurant certification program can help your restaurant through assessment, consultation,
marketing and public relations assistance. Current and potential environmentally conscious customers will be able to see your
establishment as meeting the criteria for green restaurant certification.
The Green Restaurant Association (GRA) is a nonprofit organization working to create an environmentally sustainable restaurant
industry. With consulting, education, marketing, research, and consumer organizing, the GRA program helps restaurants
and their customers understand the environmental challenges facing the restaurant industry, and empower them with clear
solutions to combat these environmental issues. The following topics will be assessed to determine the certification level:
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Disposable Products
Sustainable Foods and Beverages
Energy Consumption
Water Efficiency
Sustainable Buildings
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Chemical and Pollution Reduction
After the assessment, a GRA consultant will provide detailed solutions to improve environmental practices, and reach your
goals as a restaurant.
Get additional information about the Green Restaurant Association and its certification program by visiting dinegreen.com
Focus on Material Reuse
Reuse is critical in diverting waste from California landfills. Reusing materials saves money, energy and natural resources.
Here are some reuse ideas you can use at home, work or school:
When at home:
• Rinse and reuse sandwich bags.
• Reuse water bottles as ice packs.
• Opt for rechargeable batteries for electronics and remote controls.
• Replace single use paper towels and napkins with reusable/washable cloth towels and napkins.
• Take reusable shopping bags with you when out at department or grocery stores.
• Reuse envelopes for shopping lists or carrying coupons.
• Reuse newspaper for packaging, gift wrap or in your backyard compost bin.
• Yogurt/butter/sandwich meat containers with lids are great for storing sewing supplies, carrying snacks, keeping hair
accessories sorted, etc.
When at work or at school:
• Use both sides of paper.
• Use refillable ink pens, tape dispensers and pencils.
• Reuse any packaging polystyrene “peanuts”.
• Bring your own mug and avoid single use cups.
• Use scrap paper for drawing or taking notes.
• Repurpose and decorate mayonnaise/pickle jars or aluminum cans as “piggy banks” or pen holders.
Reusable Bags
Currently, Californians use more than 19 billion plastic grocery bags and merchandise bags
every year, which generates over 147,000 tons of unnecessary waste. More than 6 billion
of these bags are used by Los Angeles County residents, which equates to approximately
600 bags a year per person.
“Plastic bags pose a serious danger to the environment in polluting our landfills, local
rivers and drains, wildlife and aesthetic appeal,” said Mayor Bob Kellar. “By using reusable
bags instead of plastic bags, community members can not only decrease the amount of
waste entering landfills but also help protect the environment.”
As a consumer, you can make the decision to take reusable bags every time you shop.
Retail facilities can encourage your customers to reduce plastic and paper bag waste by
bringing reusable bags to retailers!
GreenSantaClarita.com