In the months after September 11, the Bush administration and the US Congress decided that Americans would be safer from terrorists if they combined 22 federal agencies into a single unit. This included the Coast Guard, the Customs Service, the Secret Service, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Infrastructure Protection Center, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, to name just a few. It was the largest reorganization of the federal government since the creation in 1947 of what would become the US Department of Defense.

The new Department of Homeland Security would have 180,000 employees and a $36 billion budget, but its supporters promised it would be nimble. The project, located at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital (a former mental institution), is the largest construction project in the District of Columbia since the Pentagon was completed in 1943. There are herds of deer, a flock of wild turkeys, and a bald eagle that reside in the fenced-in facility in Anacostia.

The GSA decided that they wanted exterior recycling stations that had the ability to collect two streams in high traffic areas throughout the West Campus. Fibrex’s Envirodesign Combination Trash/Recycling Containers were a perfect solution to their needs! These receptacles are made from 95% post consumer content recycled plastic (milk jugs). These two-compartment (2x 21 gallon) containers are designed especially for the collection of both waste and recyclables at non-residential locations.

Recycling and waste reduction programs can provide cost savings to any organization. Initial costs are offset by reduced trash disposal fees and less waste creation. A visible commitment to the environment will also result in intangible benefits to employee morale and the public perception of the organization. The DHS and GSA realize that it is paramount to establish a successful recycling program that maximizes cost savings by ensuring employees actively participate at their place of work while doing the right thing for the planet.

Since 1990 Fibrex Group www.fibrexgroup.com has been known for its innovative product line of green design recycling containers, waste receptacles and site furnishings. Our aesthetically pleasing products combine outstanding durability and environmentally friendly practices with affordable high-end design and performance. Fibrex Group products are made with sustainable resources containing the maximum amount of post consumer recycled content and require minimum maintenance. Providing attractive and user friendly recycling receptacles in high visibility public spaces promotes good environmental stewardship while reducing waste and increasing recycling participating rates.

According to the EPA website, recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy needed to make aluminum from bauxite ore.  Almost everything we use in our offices can be recycled, including printed paper, used ink cartridges, empty cartons and old computers and printers.

Here are 5 simple tips from the Green Business Bureau to help your business recycle:

1. Get the iRecycle App. This is a simple app that helps you find a recycling facility near you.
2. Place clearly labeled recycling bins around the office. Provide separate bins for plastic, metal, glass and paper if your recycling system is not single-stream.
3. Place recycle bins strategically. Easily accessible recycling bins are more likely to be used. Place a paper-recycling bin near the printer and aluminum/plastic/glass recycling bin in kitchen and break room.
4. Recycle hardware carefully. Take used batteries, old computers and printers to a certified electronic recycling facility.
5. Select a recycling coordinator. As with other programs, accountability is important. Choose a recycling coordinator who would be responsible for dropping off the recycled material at the right locations, encouraging and educating other employees about benefits of recycling. The recycling coordinator can also reward employees who recycle most with a free lunch, day off, etc.

Fibrex Group, Inc. manufactures the latest, most innovative recycling containers and waste receptacles on the market. Our new Mobius FLEX model has the attractive appeal and functionality of an expensive design, but is priced at less than $400.  Our large selection of custom designs is tailored to today’s wide variety of public area waste collection and separation needs – perfect for your office recycling efforts!   Call 1-800-346-4458 or visit us at www.FibrexGroup.com today for a copy of our free catalog!

**Parts originally published by the Green Business Bureau

Fibrex Group, Inc. is pleased that Texas A&M’s College of Architecture has chosen our new Mobius Flex recycling bins for inclusion on their campus!! The Flex is an affordable but stylish, high-end design for high traffic public areas. It is perfect for the most discriminate of locations. The Flex’s innovative anti-scratch surface and rotational molded plastic body & lid make it extremely durable and user friendly. This dual stream receptacle is absolutely perfect for universities, schools, malls, hotels, convention centers, airports, military installations & office settings.

With approximately 1,900 students, the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University is one of the largest colleges of its kind in the United States, offering a comprehensive catalog of prominently ranked graduate and undergraduate programs in the design, planning, construction, land development and visualization professions.

Offerings include four professional design and planning degrees, as well as doctorate programs in architecture and urban and regional planning. It also houses all Texas A&M University programs in the visual arts.

Together, the college's 120 faculty members, 40 staff members, 400 graduate students and 1,500 undergraduate students create an energetic environment for academic and professional success.

One of the premier design research institutions in the world, the Texas A&M College of Architecture strives to remain at the forefront of research, teaching, professional education and outreach associated with built and virtual environments.

The college is distinctive in that it offers a truly interdisciplinary curriculum, recognizing that no single professional track or narrow specialization can adequately prepare tomorrow's building and planning professionals. Because the college houses all of the built environment disciplines, it is uniquely suited for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Fibrex Group offers low factory direct pricing and a large variety of designs, sizes and custom models of recycling bins to fit today’s wide range of recycling, composting & waste needs. Call us today at 1.800.346.4456 for more information or visit us on the web at www.fibrexgroup.com.