Braintree Printing, a digital and offset printing company serving printers and print brokers throughout the Northeast has partnered with Environmental Operations Management Services (EOMS Recycling) of West Bridgewater, MA to reduce the amount of waste it produces. Thanks to a customized recycling program created by EOMS, Braintree Printing has doubled the amount it recycles, turning formerly discarded printing products into reusable materials.

According to owner Jim Corliss, Braintree Printing received an extensive waste audit by EOMS in 2008. "EOMS evaluated all of the waste and recyclable materials being generated at our plant. They identified everything that could be recycled and recommended proper collection methods to keep them out of the waste stream, " he said, noting that EOMS also taught Braintree Printing employees how to recognize and collect recyclables.

Like most major printing plants operating seven days a week, Braintree Printing produces a large volume of discarded paper: paper from printing press trial runs, overages and defective pieces. This paper, along with cardboard containers and wood pallets, now ends up in the recycling facility and not the trash at Braintree Printing. After implementing the suggestions of EOMS, Braintree Printing reduced its trash by one 10-yard container and generated 1.5 tons of recyclable material every week, filling twelve 18-bushel hampers in 2008.

Over the last three years, Braintree Printing has grown, purchasing new printing and bindery equipment and expanding into book publishing. Corliss realized that with such growth comes additional waste and he was determined to keep it at a minimum. With careful planning, direction from EOMS, and employee cooperation, Braintree Printing now averages over three tons of recyclable material every week. The month of September netted 15 tons.

Recently, the company purchased a 35-yard self-contained compactor unit following an EOMS recommendation. "Braintree Printing's recycling volume increased to a point where we were making multiple pickups each week," said Bob Boucher, EOMS sales manager. "Two dozen recycle hampers crowded the plant and covered a large amount of floor space needed for new printing equipment," he said. Now, material goes into just a few hampers which are pushed easily onto a hydraulic tipper and deposited into the compactor, eliminating lifting and back strain. EOMS truck drivers empty the compactor on an as-needed basis. "Because it has significantly increased its volume of recyclable materials while cutting down on EOMS collection costs, Braintree Printing receives a more lucrative financial rebate from us," said Boucher. "We all know recycling is good for the environment and now companies like Braintree Printing are discovering that recycling done right can be financially rewarding too."