Paper Use GHG Reporting FAQ (MMSW)

We produce an annual calendar that includes pages related to 'education' on MMSW and the collection schedules for all three of our waste streams including recycling. Would we include this entire document as paper use?

Please refer to how many pages are used for recycling information (for both education and collection schedule) relative to the total number of pages of the calendar. That will give you the percent of paper use allocated to MMSW relative to the total amount of paper you ordered for calendars for the year.

Do we keep track of our own paper use in the office and report on the portal when we include the reporting from our subcontractor?

Please report all materials at the same time, this will help ensure a complete report submission.

If a municipality charges a recycling or environmental fee to residents and this is included on utility billings, do you want this included within "paper use" reporting?

No, GHG data for paper use only applies to any paper used for the promotion of your residential recycling program and/or the education of residents for proper use of your recycling program.

How do I calculate and report for the paper used for municipal recycling guides that are mailed out to residents in an envelope along with other municipal information? What should be included in my submission to MMSW?

Please only include the MMSW proportion of the total weight of all of the recycling guides distributed, and a proportional share of the weight of all of the envelopes used for distribution. For example, if the weight of the recycling guide was 60% of the total weight of the municipal information mailed to the resident and MMSW’s proportional share of the recycling calendar was 20%, then 12% of the weight of all envelopes used should be included in the total weight reported.

Step 1:
Recycling Guide	600 grams	60%
Other municipal materials	400 grams	40%
TOTAL	1000 grams	100%

Step 2:
MMSW's share of Recycling Guide	120 grams	12%
Recycling Guide: Other	480 grams	48%
Other municipal materials	400 grams	40%
TOTAL	1000 grams	100%

Step 3:
Envelope	50 grams
MMSW's Share of each envelope	50 grams x 12% = 6 grams

How do I determine which WeRecycle paper category to use to report my MMSW-based paper use?

Please find below a description of the five “Paper Category Types” available on the WeRecycle Portal that can be used to report your MMSW-based paper use. Examples of the types of paper found in each category are provided. Choose the category(ies) that best represent your paper type used. For each category, you will also need to choose the range of recycled content included in the paper.

Copy Paper	Copy paper, inkjet/laser paper, letterhead, stationery, some higher-end notebook and lined writing paper, envelopes, fine book papers, text and cover grades (often beautiful designer papers), report covers, 'post-it' notes, some brochures, invitations, some business cards, some menus.
Catalog (high-end)	High-end catalogs, magazines, luxury advertising, and brochures.
Newsprint	Newspaper, newsprint, directory papers (e.g., phone books), inexpensive paperback books, some lined writing papers.
Catalog (mass market)	Mass-market catalogs and magazines, mass-market advertising on 'slick' paper.
Newspaper inserts	Newspaper inserts, grocery and drug store advertising papers, some bulk mailbox advertisements, some mass-market catalogs and magazines.

Is it just what is collected by a recycling bin or does it include what a Town Office would recycle or shred at the office as well (because this would end up being placed in a commercial bin)?

The only paper you are required to report GHG data for is that used specifically for promotion of your recycling program or education of your residents on how to use the program. Paper collected by your recycling program as a part of its normal operations is not included for GHG data reporting.

We have curbside, multi-family and depot recycling services. Under which contract do we report the weight, paper type and recycled content percentage for promotional calendars distributed to residents?

Allocate the share of paper data based on residents’ primary method of recycling. If you have multiple program types (curbside, multifamily, depot) allocate the share of paper data based on the relative number of households using that program type as their PRIMARY method of recycling.