UGI Recycling Pilot Project Update
Recycling practices have been in place for decades, but the methods used to track recycling efficiency and identify room for improvement have changed significantly. Announced earlier this year, UGI made a business decision to increase waste management transparency and secure access to data regarding company recycling performance at many of its UGI Utilities’ facility locations by entering into a contract with Republic Services.
One of the services provided is an online dashboard report that summarizes information on company spend, extra pickups, light loads, and volumes of waste sent to landfills versus that which is diverted to recycling facilities. The data are useful for quantifying company waste management practices, which is increasingly considered by some of our stakeholders including suppliers, customers, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings, organizations, and the communities we serve.
As part of an ongoing pilot project, UGI developed and rolled out a training program at its Wilkes-Barre and Denver offices in May to educate staff on the “All-In-One” recycling program in place at both facilities. The training program also covered the benefits of recycling and waste minimization and provided staff with suggestions to help minimize office waste streams. Program participation has been very successful, with over 98% of targeted staff having completed the training by mid-July. In addition, to help improve company recycling performance, pilot project team members developed and posted signage – including digital signage to help eliminate paper consumption – at the Wilkes-Barre and Denver offices regarding the “All-In-One” recycling program. The team is also coordinating with building services staff to ensure that waste streams are managed as effectively and efficiently as possible.
For the first three months following rollout of the training program, UGI staff in the Wilkes-Barre and Denver offices have recycled more than 6 tons of waste and diverted between 28% and 30% of the total waste generated (almost 22 tons).
Using EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM), it is estimated that having the “All-In-One” recycling program in place is helping UGI reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by almost 6 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) per month at its Wilkes-Barre and Denver offices. Between June and August 2024, this translated to a total emissions reduction of nearly 18 MTCO2e, which is equivalent to the emissions generated by consuming over 2,000 gallons of gasoline.
Over the next several months, pilot project team members will assess trends using the online dashboard report to monitor for improvements in recycling efficiency and waste minimization compared to the baseline period in fall 2023.
Taking a new look at an established waste minimization strategy is another way UGI is looking to lead as a company committed to sustainability. Keep an eye out for future updates on this pilot project in the months ahead!
Sustainability: A Core Value
UGI is committed to acting in a sustainable and socially responsible manner to minimize our impact on the environment and to enrich the lives of our customers, communities, and employees.
Learn more about UGI’s sustainability initiatives in our latest ESG report.
