Disney
has been active in waste management issues for a number of years, and many are familiar with Disney's recycling efforts. What you may not be aware of, however, is that Disney is actively involved in reuse efforts as well.
Bob Colburn manages Disney's Environmental Initiatives, and oversees all of the non-regulatory environmental programs, along with four full-time employees, and approximately 35 groups of Disney cast members who volunteer
to make up the Environmental Circles of Excellence. Disney's effort is coined "Environmentally" and Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio's conscience, is their mascot. The programs began four and a half years
ago, and continue to grow. The programs are helping Disney save money, reduce disposal, and help their local community get the materials they need. Recycle Plus
Program - Building Materials Donations Program Walt Disney World Resort
is constantly expanding, and expansion means construction. When they realized how much waste was generated from some of their sites, the Environmental Circles of Excellence looked for a solution. What resulted was one of Disney's most successful reuse efforts. In partnership with
Orange County, Disney and their neighbor Universal Studios, now look for alternatives to disposal for many of the materials generated from construction and refurbishing. Items, such as mattresses, toilets, lumber and
plywood, used to be thrown away, but now make their way to the Community Distribution Center in Downtown Orlando. Disney collects all of the materials in bins and transports them to the center. Once at the
center, soon-to-be-released inmates from the jail next door oversee the handling and segregation of the materials. This program provides job-training in areas such as warehousing and forklift operation, and serves as a transitional
program before they are released. All the materials in the distribution center they find their way to local non-profit organizations for reuse. Disney estimates that over $2 million in material value has been donated to date. One
local organization was able to build an entire church from the materials donated by Disney. A Gift for Teaching - Materials for Schools Program The newest reuse program at Disney is a program called "A Gift for Teaching". When conventions come to Disney World, often there are
many notebooks, notepads, folders, binders and other items are left behind. Instead of throwing these items away, Disney donates them for use by local schools. But, Disney also looks internally at office supplies that they no
longer need, such as computers, crayons, and paper. The materials are collected and delivered to a distribution area where local schools can receive supplies. The program began in September 1998, and about one truckload a month is
donated to local schools from this program. Disney Harvest - Surplus Food Donations Program Bob Colburn began his Disney career 27 years ago in the food service division. It was there that he received his education on the amount of still sable food that was wasted each day. Disney began
diverting surplus food to local charities, and now redistributes about 30,000 pounds a month, or 400,000 pounds a year of food. The program specifically targets food that was prepared, but not served. Disney, through its
Community Relations Division, supplies the truck and the driver, and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida handles distribution to local non-profit charities. Other Reuse/Waste Minimization Initiatives Disney looks throughout their organization
for opportunities to voluntarily save materials and resources through reuse efforts. Some of these efforts include:
- Two sided copying
- Alternative packing materials to bubble-wrap
- Electronic communications versus paper
- Voluntary reuse of linens by overnight guests (this initiative saved Disney $13 million last year)
- Tree relocation instead of destruction (during landclearing)
- Landscape waste to compost
- Computerized water reuse.
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