GBBN

Architects

A Physical Waste Sort

Waste Characterization Objectives

GBBN’s Cincinnati office had already established a recycling program for all employees and requested a waste characterization audit from Hamilton County ReSource to:

Measure the effectiveness of the commingled recycling program
Identify opportunities for further reduction of the waste stream
Collect baseline data to evaluate future waste minimization strategies

Key Findings:
Cardboard and Compostable Food

Cardboard:

As with most offices, cardboard was the largest material in the waste stream
31% of overall waste stream
62% of recycling stream
Benefit: With an increase in online shopping, recyclers are actively seeking more cardboard to be recycled into new boxes.

Compostable food:

The largest material in the landfill stream by far that has the potential to be diverted is compostable food scraps.
By implementing a compost program, GBBN could increase its overall diversion rate to an impressive 68%.
Benefit: Keeping food waste out of the landfill is particularly important because it produces methane—a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. About 6%-8% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced if we stop wasting food.

By the Numbers:
Results from Trash

Cardboard - 31%

Compostable Food - 21%

Paper - 13%

Packaged Food - 12%

Other Trash - 5%

Cans - 5%

Non-Compostable Food - 4%

Office Supplies - 3%

Paper Cups - 2%

Plastic Film - 2%

Recyclable Plastic - 1%

Non-Recyclable Plastic - 1%

Trash

Compost

Recyclable

Results from Recycling

Cardboard - 62%

Paper - 25%

Cans - 7%

Compostable Food - 3%

Recyclable Plastics - 1%

Paper Cups - .5%

Office Supplies - .2%

Packaged Food - .1%