How To Use This Year’s Budget Money to Fund Next Year’s Program

Make investments that won’t expire along with the budget
Purchasing program specific items that can carry over into the following year will produce financial flexibility in future budgets. A recycling container would be an example of such purchases. A properly selected recycling bin can benefit the community, allocate the balance of a budget wisely and extend expenditures into the following year. When selecting a recycling container ensure that is equipped with a sustainable design. A container should maximize program participation and service the overall recycling initiative.

Invest in the community
Allocate a budget toward initiatives that express care for the welfare of the community and its citizens. Integrating environmental efficiencies built to last can place a municipality in a positive respect to its citizens and carry over into the following year. In order to accomplish this, an evaluation of current green processes and their participants must take place. Assess what is being collected, in what quantity, with what result, by what demographic and in what area. This will determine how to best target a local environmental program.

After the evaluation new systems may appear better suited to a particular municipality.  An alternative program may be single-stream recycling which collects all recyclable materials into one uniform container.  The goal is to maximize diversion rates with economic efficiencies. A single-stream program will garner the greatest results with mixed-opening containers which are custom designed for municipal programs, such as, the Busch Systems ‘Smart Sort’ series.

Make productive investments
When utilizing the balance of a budget try to invest in items which the community will be interested in using. Select items which service the recycling program, as well as, produce added benefits for the end user. For example, purchasing items which are locally produced will enable simplified distribution and replacement methods. Another example would be spending the balance of a composting program budget on containers with built in carbon filters. These filters are designed to eliminate household odours, and are therefore, beneficial for program participants.

Make future forward investments
Support municipal investments in green infrastructure with green recycling systems. Allocate budget money toward environmentally sound recycling containers. Select curbside recycling bins which contain a minimum of 35% recycled content and which are 100% recyclable. Also, consider organizing a return program for containers at the end of their lifecycle. Green products in green programs will demonstrate that environmental concerns are priority among municipal affairs. Curb side recycling bins will also carry forward to future programs at the expense of this year’s budget.  

Invest in impressive product launches
Prepare to roll out next year’s recycling program with the balance of this year’s budget. When preparing to launch a recycling system ensure that relevant promotional items have been selected. For example, miniature recycling containers can be distributed with educational information inside. This will designate a purpose for the balance of a budget while introducing, educating and motivating future program participants.