The Burlington Post Office, in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service, has developed a model waste reduction program. According to Sally Rice, Customer Relations Coordinator, "the vast majority of what we recycle is bulk business mail that can not be delivered." The Post Office collects undeliverable bulk business mail each day from 50 branches throughout Chittenden County. This amounts to over 300 tons annually!

In addition to recycling, the Post Office sells stamps and envelopes which are made with recycled content. Most postal vehicles use re-refined motor oil and retreaded tires. To demonstrate their support of recycling to the Chittenden County community, the Burlington Post Office organized a special rally to celebrate the first annual America Recycles Day in November, 1997.

Commitment to waste reduction has earned the Burlington Post Office the 1997 Chittenden Solid Waste District Waste Reduction Award.