Chandramogan Kunjambu | Facilities Management, Seremban, Malaysia

Chandramogan Kunjambu and and his colleagues are finding that their recycling programs are doing more than one might expect. They're not just reducing waste and lessening the facility's impact on the environment - theyre helping boost the bottom line, too.

“We've had recycling programs in place since 2000, when we obtained ISO 14001 certification,” he says. “The certification process helped us structure our efforts and gave us controls for monitoring performance.” The facility now has a comprehensive program in place, with documented processes for training, collecting, sorting, recycling, disposal, and cost-benefit analysis.

All new employees receive training that emphasizes the importance of recycling and introduces best practices. Brightly colored containers, located throughout the office and warehouse spaces, make it easy for employees to set aside material for sorting.

“We collect materials daily and process them for further separation,” explains Chandramogan. The team collects a wide range of items - cardboard boxes, office paper, plastic, scrap from finished goods, excess copper from lead frames, and wood shipping palettes - and stores them in neatly organized areas on-site until they are ready for transfer.

Many of these items can be sold to recyclers who prepare the material to be used again, and the proceeds of these sales can add up quickly. In 2009, for example, the total earnings from recycled items came to nearly USD 800 thousand. The leftover copper strips from lead frames are the largest single contributor to the total. Depending on the site's production volumes, their monthly sale of copper can range from USD 4,500 to 10,500. “We're seeing that recycling really brings revenue to the company,” he says.

Chandramogan and his colleagues are looking for more ways to increase that revenue. For example, they already recycle the wafer remains attached to Mylar plastic, but are working with the purchasing team to find a potential buyer or resale opportunity. Similarly, they would like to start recycling their used molding compound, but have yet to secure a partner. “Our facility is not very big,” explains Chandramogan, “so we need to find a recycler that will accept smaller quantities.”

Seeing that recycling brings revenue to the company has given employees one more reason to feel good about their efforts at running a green facility. According to Chandramogan, “our programs have created a recycling mindset, and our employees know they're making a real contribution to the company as a whole.”