AIEL
RECYCLES!

The over-population of the planet is now depleting more resources
than can be comfortably sustained without detrimental consequences.

Making usage of existing products, for which the raw materials and the
energy employed to produce them have already been consumed, is
a more maintainable method of existence even as population expands.

AIEL is committed to sustainability.

Ways Our Company does its Part

Using something again reduces waste and expense,
and it delays the cost of disposal or recycling.

1. Cabling: Electrical cable that is still safe, but has become scuffed, discoloured, or has too many visible repairs is culled from rental stock and shifted to internal or home purposes.
   
   
2. Paper: Office paper, especially old printouts, is cut up for notepaper. Full sheets and envelopes are used for test printouts. Once used, all are placed into Paper Recycle. (Some are shredded first.)
   
   
3. Shipping Materials: Large boxes and packing sent to us by our suppliers are in turn used to pack items being shipped to our customers.
   
   
4. Textiles: Old articles of clothing and worn-out backdrops are cut up for rags. When these become too worn for rag purposes, they go to Textiles Recycle. Those that are too oily or were used for solvents are sent to the Hazardous Materials Depot.
   
   
5. Towels: When hand towels cannot be laundered to become completely clean, we switch them to drying equipment that has been washed. When they get too dirty for that purpose, the towels are cut up for shop wipes. After that, they become oil or solvents rags. Then they go to the Hazardous Materials Depot.

Things can often be employed for something other
than their originally intended usages. Doing so
keeps items out of the landfills or recycling
depots, or at least delays their disposal.

1. Backdrops: When drops get torn and can't be repaird, the cloth is sectioned and rehemmed into smaller sizes to be used as stage blacks. The smallest pieces become polish cloths, or they are sent to Textiles Recycle.
   
   
2. Blister Packaging: If the product information needs to be kept as a reference, the cardboard backing is removed to a documentation file. If not needed, it is sent to Boxboard Recycle. The plastic blister parts are repurposed as a surface upon which to mix adhesives. When shop staff has finished with them, the now-contaminated plastic goes to the Hazardous Materials Depot.
   
   
3. Cabling: Damaged sections have the outer insulation removed and the individual wires are redeployed for electrical or electronic hookup purposes. Usable sections are made into shorter cables for our inventory, while really bad sections go into Copper Recycle.
   
   
4. Cardboard: Small boxes shipped to us with orders from our suppliers become compartments inside drawers or cases, or are used to box items being placed into storage. Cut up, they become dividers to place between fragile items.
   
   
5. Computer: Taken out of service after an upgrade, an old computer was installed into our Showroom and repurposed to present a photo slideshow of lighting we have done.
   
   
6. Drawers: We use old drawers from discarded furniture or refrigerators as shelf bins. Sizes were matched, especially heights, and shelf spacing adjusted to contain them. Each is marked as to contents.
   
   
7. Eyeglasses Cases: These are repurposed to hold drill bits, flashdrives, and small tools such as miniature driver sets.
   
   
8. Frozen Dinner Trays: Once cleaned, these are employed for hardware sorting, as parts separators for each step of equipment disassembly, for adhesive mixing, to hold oily rags, or anywhere that a small, robust container is needed for temporary usage.
   
      For permanent purposes, these trays make great drawer organisers that will keep like items together but separated from other like items. The trays also prevent items from getting lost in the bottom or back of a drawer.
   
   
9. Locking Food Bags: These are rinsed of organics and then dried so that hardware or parts can be stored in them. The transparent property of these bags allows one to see the contents without opening.
   
   
10. Paper: Large sizes, such as newspapers or retail flyers, are taken to our Paint Shop for masking purposes or for brush/roller cleanup. In the Assembly Shop, they protect surfaces from dirt or grease. Once used, these papers are sent to the Hazardous Materials Depot.
    
    
11. Photo E-Frames: These present advertisements of sales items that are both displayed and not displayed within our Showroom. They can also be used to give information to customers regarding store policies. Since these ads are in an electronic format, updates are easily done, and without consuming paper and printer toner.
    
    
12. Plastic Clamshell Packages: Once cleaned, these are good for storage of lightweight items. In addition, for the smaller ones that have no air holes, batteries can be put in them. The plastic will contain any potential leakage.
    
    
13. Plastic Parts Drawers: Broken ones are cut and reshaped to be used as inserts in other parts cabinet drawers. (Manufacturers don't always supply enough dividers.)
    
    
14. Plastic -- Stiff, Clear: Some of these are kept to be cut into replacement windows for equipment, or as protectors for signs or documentation instead of laminating them. Laminated paper is not currently recyclable.
    
    
15. Retail Containers: Commercial packaging that would ordinarily end up going into Blue Bag Recycle is cleaned and used for liquids storage or dispensing, or parts are stored in them. Some are placed into roadcases or kits to hold, separate, and thus protect items during transit. Each is labeled as required. (See The Kits: Containers).
    
    
16. Retail Containers 2: Soup cans are de-labeled and cleaned to hold pens or pencils, or to become flashlight holders. The latter are typically screwed to the wall so as to reduce workbanch clutter.
    
    
17. Retail Containers 3: Juice cans are de-labeled and cleaned, and a row of them placed into a rack at 45-degree angles to hold chain or large hardware. Although not necessary in our shops, 20-litre plastic pails can also be racked in the same manner to store even larger chains or rope. Coiled neatly, these products can be dispensed directly from the pails without tangles.
    
    
18. Sanding Sponges: These use a dense, yet flexible foam. After they wear out, clean them, and use for padding. A number of them could be glued to the bottom of a road case with spaces in between, and then covered by gluing planking or plywood on top. Keep the covering away from the case sides so as to permit movement. This example makes for a case floor with give that will cushion contents during trasnport.
    
       Sponges may be glued to the sides of cases, as well. To protect contents from scratches and scuffs, cover the pads with felt should residual abrasive material still exist.
    
    
19. Shredder Bins: When your paper shredder fails and is sent to E-Recycle, keep the bin. These slim, rectangular containers make great garbage or recycling bins that will fit into narrow spaces. Attach a small handle to one of the narrow sides to make it easy to pull out for emptying.
    
    
20. Surplus Clipboards: These are repaired and cleaned, and sometimes painted. They become sign/price holders or display boards for product information in our Showroom where such information needs to be changed regularly. They are also hung up with advertisements for sales which are often promoted as "Clipboard Specials".

Repairing is part of the routine maintenance and
regular shop procedures for us. Replacement
strains the environment, especially when
regarding the disposal of the old items.
Reparation is the most common way
of not disposing of an item.

1. Cables: Most equipment troubles occur in cabling. We repair all cables as many times as possible before sending them to Copper Recycle.
   
   
2. Lighting Equipment: Any repairs that can be economically done are performed, then the items are placed back into service, or are sold/donated to needy groups. If not, they are disassembled for parts which are labeled and stored.
   
   
3. Shop Equipment: We keep our tools and related shop items in working condition for as long as possible. It makes economic sense. In addition though, because so many low-quality items are on the market that don't last, buying them would mean more worn-out tools clogging the environment; so extra money is spent to extend the life of the tools we do own, and even to obtain older, longer-lasting ones.
   
   
4. Vehicles: We keep our motor vehicles for as many years as we can -- typically 10 to 15 years. The environmental cost of manufacturing new trucks, given the number of parts that go into making them, is high, so make them last.

Refurbishing equipment makes it work as
new and extends its life considerably.

1. Cabling: These are cleaned with solvent, connectors are replaced as necessary, and new markings and colour coding applied. For damaged items, shorter cables are made up from the good sections.
   
   
2. Lighting Equipment: is refurbished (and sometimes modified), to make it usable again. Such equipment can be rented, or sold at a lower price to groups or individuals that cannot afford to buy it new.
   
   
3. Shop Equipment: For older items, they are disassembled for rebuilding, and with worn parts, such as bearings and electrical brushes being replaced. Any old items are recycled whenever possible.

When things are just not that usable any more, or
they finally wear out or break to a point whereby
they must be disposed, recycling keeps many
of these items out of the environment.

1. Blister Pack Plastics: If not needed for storage, divider compartments, or shop purposes, these and similar plastics are sorted, cleaned as necessary, and bagged for recycle. The bag goes to curbside for pickup.
   
   
2. Boxboard: Bagged separately from paper and placed out for pickup.
   
   
3. Compost Food Waste: Customer and employee organic waste is separated from recyclables or garbage and put into a green bin for pickup.
   
   
4. Corrugated Cardboard: If not being reused, this type of cardboard is tied into bundles after tape and labels have been removed, then placed at the curb for pickup.
   
   
5. Hazardous Materials: We collect our depleted batteries, and left-over paints, solvents, oils, and adhesives, along with the rags or newspapers used with them. All are taken to the Hazardous Materials Depot two or three times a year.
   
   
6. Metals: Steel, aluminum, brass, and copper are sorted, then taken to Metals Recycle.
   
   
7. Paper: Clean paper is blue bagged and set out for pickup.
   
   
8. Retail Bags: Torn or undesired plastic retail bags are gathered into one bag and set out for pickup. Paper bags are placed into Paper Recycle.
   
   
9. Retail Packaging: Cans, bottles, and plastic spray-paint can caps are thoroughly rinsed, and placed into a standard blue bag, if they are not employed as described earlier. (As mentioned earlier, steel is separated out for metal recycle.) The bag goes to the curb for pickup.
   
   
10. Thin-Film Plastics: Sorted, cleaned, then bagged separately from the above and set out for pickup.
    

Organics and corrugated cardboard aside, everything
placed out for collection is either inside transparent
bags or marked so that recycling personnel can
identify the contents as it's being collected.

Reducing the load on the environment sometimes
just means simply adjusting one's mindset.

1. Burning: AIEL does not discard anything by burning in any manner. Never burn anything; there are better methods of disposal than by adding to air pollution.
   
   
2. Refrigerator Temperatures: Chilling or freezing things colder than necessary wastes electricity. Set your fridge to 5 degrees C, and its freezer compartment to -18 degrees C. Use an accurate thermometer to monitor these temperatures. You can maintain efficiency by checking that door seals are tight. Poor seals will show condensation at the leakage points. Adjust the door hinges, replace the seal (or add to it with peel & stick door gasket).
   
   
3. Set-Back Thermostats: We have this type so as to use less electricity. If you don't have them, get into the habit of setting them back yourself.
   
   
4. Warehouse and Office Lighting: Our industrial lighting is energy efficient with a minimum number of a fixtures so as to use less electricity. Showroom lighting is LED or halogen -- all controlled by dimmers for even more savings. As your lamps burn out, spend a little more to replace them with longer-life, energy-saving versions.
   
   
5. Water Temperature: Hot water that needs to have cold water added so as to be able to touch it is wasteful of the electricity required to heat it beyond a safe handling temperature. Our water heater thermostat is set to 55 C. Reduce your thermostat setting. You can also increase efficiency by wrapping your water tank in a thermal blanket.

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