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Recycling is more than just sorting items into a blue bin. As the word and its symbol implies,
recycling is a cycle, which is dependent on three main steps: Collecting,
Remanufacturing, and Purchasing. Each of these steps is essential for the recycling industry
to succeed.
Over the past decade, the public has become increasingly willing to separate recyclables from trash.
Once materials are collected, manufacturers must be willing and able to use the recyclable materials
to make new products. This is dictated in part by the public's willingness and interest in purchasing
products with recycled content. Without any one of these three components, the recycling loop is
incomplete.
Both schools and businesses can help close this loop by demanding and purchasing products with recycled content. There are a wide range of recycled content products available these days at competitive prices. This includes everything from office supplies, such as copier paper, to janitorial supplies, such as recycled content tissues and towels.
Watch a 5-minute video on the importance of recycling paper and purchasing recycled paper products
Green purchasing resources for businesses:
The Northeast Recycling Council, Inc. (NERC) has recently published a sequence of webpages designed to assist businesses in their green purchasing programs. To access, just click on Green Purchasing Resources for Business.
Green purchasing resources for schools, towns, and municipal offices – easy as 1,2,3:
Towns, municipalities and schools can take advantage of the state’s bulk purchasing power and contracts to purchase environmentally preferred products (EPP), often at a savings. For a list of current contract vendors click here. Contract numbers that are printed in BOLD are available to towns, schools and municipalities. (1.) Click on contract number of product(s) desired;
(2.) call vendor and
(3.) provide contract number and place order.
Most contracts require a purchase order and will deliver product(s) ordered directly to your facility.
Below is a list of some local stores and distributors that also carry recycled content office supplies:
| Store name |
Town |
Phone |
| Boise Cascade Office Products |
Burlington |
(800) 472-6473 |
| Copytek - Boise Cascade Office Products |
Williston |
(800) 639-3375 |
| Ribbon Recyclers |
Williston |
660-8960 |
| Staples |
South Burlington |
862-1897 |
| Staples |
Williston |
872-0260 |
| Vermont Toner Recharge |
Burlington |
864-7637 |
| Office Quarters |
Various locations |
527-7544
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Foley Distributing |
Various locations |
773-3738 |
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