April 26, 2011

Workshop focuses on reducing waste in workplace

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Helping you reduce waste in your workplace is the goal of a Wednesday, April 27, workshop at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Recycling Works: A Toolkit for Reducing Waste in the Workplace is set for 9-11 a.m. at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, 150 E. Pleasant Hill Road in Carbondale. The free workshop is open to anyone with an interest in waste reduction in the workplace, including representatives from schools, businesses and offices.

“We celebrated Earth Day last week but this seminar will help us keep the recycling momentum and the focus on reducing waste in the workplace going all year long,” said Lynn Andersen Lindberg, director of business innovation and research at SIUC.

The presenters are Mike Mitchell of the Illinois Recycling Association and Mike Huskey of Revolution Recycling. The workshop will introduce the new Online Workplace Recycling Toolkit, a development from Shaw Environmental, Inc. Originally, plans called for two seminars but the Tuesday, April 26, workshop was rolled into the April 27 event.

If possible, organizers request that those planning to attend the Recycling Works seminar Wednesday call 618/453-6754 or email lindberg@siu.edu in advance to sign up. Participants can also just come at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The workshop includes a continental breakfast. Vendor displays will also showcase disposable service ware made of recyclable and compostable materials.

Sponsors for the recycling seminar include the Illinois Recycling Association, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Shaw Environmental Inc., the Southern Illinois Research Park, the SIUC Green Fund, the SIUC Small Business Incubator Program and the Illinois Small Business Development Center at SIUC.