The Program
We support and celebrate the efforts of local businesses to improve waste diversion and minimization, encouraging a continuous improvement philosophy that will over time increase the number of local organizations with zero waste to landfill goals.
The WMSBF Recycling Partner Program provides customized support and resources to small and medium-sized organizations in the West Michigan region, helping them to improve or launch recycling efforts.
Support is available as concierge, as-needed engagements or through an audit program. This can include:
- Local contacts, guidance and resources for recycling or composting common commercial wastes.
- Evaluation of an organization’s waste stream and outline of opportunities for diversion. View a sample report here: Audit Sample.
- Walk-through of operations with experienced sustainability professionals to document waste encountered and discuss improvement and implementation strategies with your staff (requires approximately one hour of facility access).
- Guidance and resources on how to set-up receptacles, change purchasing behavior and educate employees.
- Introduction to state and national industry programs to support your efforts.
Partner Program fees are flexible and scalable, contact Aaron Bouwkamp at abouwkamp@wmsbf.org to learn more. Partner Program is available at no cost to minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs (no certification required) and institutions serving disadvantaged communities in the Greater Grand Rapids area.
In the past year we helped 47 organizations divert over 967 tons of waste from West Michigan landfills, created or expanded 70 waste diversion programs, educated over 1,300 professionals and nearly 1,100
employees, installed bins and signage at 60 businesses, and established recycling and/or composting hauler service at 66 facilities.