How to Build a Recycling Center

Recycling is a growing industry as the Earth-friendly or "green movement" grows in popularity. You can jump onto the movement as well by starting up your own recycling center. A recycling center is a place where people can drop off recyclable material. Some of these materials include plastic, glass and paper. A recycling center can be a simple operation run from your own home or a more complex operation where you have your own business building. In some cases, you may even be able to receive a government grant to help start your business.

Things You'll Need

• Recycling bins

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Instructions

• 1

  Research your local area's rules and regulations on starting and operating a recycling center. Visit your city and county government offices to find out what regulations are in place for waste disposal, and also what zoning regulations might affect your business location. Find out what a business permit will cost and how to apply for one. Ensure that your business model will follow all the local ordinances and make changes where necessary.

• 2

  Create a business model that is specific to a recycling business. Determine who will be your target consumers. Plan how will you ship the recyclables to their destination. Decide if you will hire extra help or if the recycling center be a family owned and operated business.

• 3

  Contact businesses in your area that process waste and ask if they buy recyclable material. This is where you will transfer your collected recyclables. Make sure the company is willing to pay you a fair amount of money for your trouble, though, or your recycling center will fail. A fair amount would cover your living expenses, your business expenses and expenses your employees incur. As you can see, the "fair amount" will vary from one recycling business to another.

• 4

  Set up your work place. Make sure you have room to properly store all of your recyclable material. Label recycling bins with "paper," "metal," "plastic," and "glass" so you can easily reference your materials.

• 5

  Advertise your recycling center. Choose places like grocery stores and schools that get a lot of foot traffic. You can even set out fliers on cars to advertise your business if your local government permits it.

• 6

  Set out recycling bins in public places, if local regulations allow it. That saves time for your customers, making them more likely to participate in your recycling program. Schedule time to drive around and collect the bins on a regular basis.