You’ve probably seen Department for Environmental Protection (DEP) staff emptying recycling barrels in your office or driving around Frankfort in big trucks with “Kentucky Government Recycles!” on the side.
These workers are with the Kentucky Government Recycling Section (KGRS), a program in the Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet (EPPC) created to help state agencies comply with mandatory recycling requirements. State law (KRS 224.10-650) requires all state agencies and state-supported institutions of higher education to develop recycling plans and institute programs to recover materials generated as a result of state government operations.
Agencies may elect to operate their own recycling program upon review and approval by the EPPC or take advantage of the service provided by KGRS.
The section provides weekly collection of many types of paper and cardboard, as well as confidential document destruction, to state agencies within Frankfort. KGRS staff can provide agencies with information on how to purchase containers for collection of white office paper, lockable containers for confidential document destruction, newsprint and mixed paper. Employees should separate material at their workspaces and then periodically place it in the appropriate collection container staged in a central location in each office. Each cabinet should also assign a coordinator for each building to be the point of contact for working with the KGRS staff.
KGRS employees collect the material on a regular schedule in each of the state office buildings in Frankfort. Offices outside of the Frankfort service area can deliver materials for recycling and shredding to the KGRS warehouse. The material is transported to a warehouse where it is sorted, baled and loaded for sale to a paper recycling company. All materials are shredded and baled, in accordance with federal IRS standards for confidentiality.
The Kentucky Government Recycling Section, part of DEP’s Division of Waste Management (DWM), operates out of its new recycling warehouse at 115 Northgate Drive, Frankfort, under the supervision of Brian Bentley. Operational costs are covered by revenue derived from the sale of recovered paper funds rather than taxpayer dollars.
We need your help
Many agencies already recycle their cardboard and office paper, the bulk of materials generated by state operations, but we need all employees and all agencies to get on board with recycling. It’s not just the law, recycling saves energy (45 percent less energy is required in making paper from recycled materials than from virgin materials) and it saves money.
State purchased paper and cardboard are not “trash” but are, in fact, surplus property. The value of paper in 2006 has averaged $124 per ton, and the cost to throw that same ton away is $30 per ton. By recycling our office paper, we are recovering $154 per ton. If we can double the amount of paper we recycle, we will be recovering over $480,000 annually in avoided disposal costs.
Following are the guidelines for preparation of paper for collection:
White Office Paper
(White Barrel)
White paper includes:
1. White bond paper
2. White copy paper
3. White notebook paper
4. White computer printouts
5. White and green computer printouts
6. Work-A-Day calendar pads
7. White notepaper
8. White index cards
Staples and paper clips DO NOT need to be removed from paper. Post-It Notes, rubber bands and binder clips MUST be removed before depositing paper in the recycling bin.
White paper does not include:
1. Mixed paper
2. Newspaper
3. Post-It Notes
4. Plastic window envelopes
5. Magazines
6. Onion skin paper
7. Glossy paper
8. Adhesive labels
9. Paper towels
10. White paper with glue or tape
11. Paper napkins
Mixed Office Paper
Mixed office paper includes:
1. Colored ledger paper
2. Any paper with glue, tape or adhesive
3. Paper envelopes – plain or with plastic windows
4. NCR paper (including white sheet)
5. Adding machine tape
6. Padded paper
7. Manila file folders
8. Discarded file contents
9. Blue line reproductions (e.g., maps, engineering drawings)
10. Glossy paper
11. Fax paper
12. Magazines
13. Newspapers *
14. Telephone books *
15. Kraft envelopes
16. Express mail envelopes.
* If no other barrel is provided.
Mixed office paper does not include:
1. Carbon paper
2. Paper bags
3. Food wrappers
4. Paper napkins
5. Paper towels
6. Paper cups
7. Paper plates
8. Copy paper ream wrappers
Sensitive Document Destruction Service
Procedures for Destruction Service
1) Employees should be aware that documents are manually fed into an industrial shredder and not incinerated. KGRS staff must hand sort the paper, so put only acceptable materials in recycling containers and document boxes.
2. Designate a centralized location for all sensitive documents to be destroyed, and move those documents to that location prior to scheduled collection time.
3. Ensure all nonpaper items are removed from documents:
a. Metal fasteners
b. Plastic binders
c. Cardboard
d. Food containers and wrappers
e. Broken bottles and other hazardous materials
f. Microfilm, CDs, magnetic tape cassettes, floppy disks and VHS cartridges.
4. Microfilm, VHS cartridges, floppy disks, CDs and magnetic tape cassettes that need shredding should be boxed separately. KGRS can provide confidential destruction of these items for $0.50 per pound.
5. More than 45 boxes of documents to be shredded must be palletized and stretch-wrapped prior to collection. The Paper Recycling Program will provide pallets as needed and training on how to properly stack and wrap the boxes.
6. Call KGRS to coordinate pick up of documents to be shredded prior to the desired date of destruction.
7. Designate chain of custody representatives to sign the Records Destruction Authorization Form and witness the destruction process (if required by agency security procedures).
8. Use the downloadable Records Destruction Authorization Form.
Onsite Paper Preparation for Regular Collection
1. Employees should sort paper according to the posted recycling guidelines.
2. Agencies may utilize correctional inmate workers or facilities management staff to consolidate the recycled paper to a central location in each building (preferably in a loading dock area) on the day of collection.
3. Please note that paper shredded “in-house” must be bagged, securely tied shut and placed beside the appropriate centralized recycling container. Lockable bins are recommended for sensitive documents, and KGRS staff can assist with locating bins for agency purchase.
For information on purchasing recycling barrels, lockable bins and consoles for sensitive documents and general questions about KGRP, please contact Brian Bentley at 502-352-2790 or Tim Bryant at 502-352-2784 or 502-564-8070.
