Lincoln companies cut waste to zero, even get rid of their trash cans- how do they do it?

Humans create a lot of waste.

“The lids from our coffee cups, plastic cups and sleeves from our coffee, our toilet paper rolls,” Ann Ringlein with The Lincoln Running Company listed off some items they used to throw in the trash can.

But now all of those items are being recycled.

The Lincoln Running Company is among three honored for thinking twice before putting items in the garbage can, earning them the city’s award for achieving Zero Waste status.

“We can recycle almost everything we use,” Ringlein said. “Our trash is less than one bag a week because we do so much recycling.”

The Printer and Carson + Co Global also won the award.

Carson + Co Global is a marketing and communications company focused on sustainability.

Louise Lynch, director of outreach and research for the company, said it only felt natural for them to work toward this goal.

“Because the sector we’re in we felt it was important that we walk the walk,” Lynch said.

She said Carson + Co took a hard look at everything they consumed, and now avoid anything that can’t be recycled.

They don’t even have a trashcan on location, Lynch said.

“We sort everything into four bins; glass, mixed recycling, cardboard and compost,” she said.

Both Ringlein and Lynch said it was a matter of educating employees and getting used to the changes.

“It’s super simple, there’s nothing to it,” Ringlein said. “We take a big cardboard box from all the shoes we get in and everything goes into that box.”

Lynch said there are a lot of resources on the city of Lincoln’s website for companies and individuals to get started improving their sustainability.

Click here to learn more.