Waste Knot Partnership Requirements

Who Can Join

Any Washtenaw County business, school, governmental agency, non-profit, or other organization can apply to be a Waste Knot partner.

How to Qualify

Washtenaw organizations that incorporate the three key elements to a successful waste reduction and recycling program qualify to become partners.

The three key elements (referred to as the 3 P's) are:

1. Practice recycling and waste reduction, and recycling education, within the organization
   • What types of materials are being recycled? 
   • Is the organization reusing materials? 
   • What practices are being utilized to reduce waste? 
   • Is there room for improvement in reducing, reusing, or recycling?
   • How do you communicate to or educate employees about recycling and waste reduction?
2. Purchase environmentally friendly products - those with recycled content or are reusable, recyclable, or compostable.
   • What recycled-content products does the organization purchase?
   • Is there room for improvement to switch more products to recycled content, or to purchase a higher percentage recycled content?
   • Are single-use disposables being purchased? What can be replaced to compostable, recyclable, or reusable? What can be eliminated altogether?
3. Policy - Organization policies on recycling and waste reduction (may include energy conservation).
   • Does the business have a waste reduction and recycling policy, strategic plan, mission, or goals? 
   • Is waste reduction, recycling, or sustainability officially part of someone's job responsibilities? 
   • How are people informed of, education about, or updated on recycling policies? 

When You Don't Meet Requirements

If your organization does not meet one or all of the (3 P's) you may qualify instead for a Certificate of Merit designation. This is a temporary partnership that acknowledges your organization's commitment to waste reduction and recycling and to making the necessary changes! Once you have made improvements, the partnership can be re-visited.