Bedford-based Taylor, the oldest furniture manufacturer in the United States, is making strides and saving money with its ‘zero waste’ policy. Working with a recycling consultant, in 2008-09 they redirected 90% of the waste generated at its facility, including:

• Diverted 59 tons of waste from landfills
• Converted 105,000 pounds of sawdust to compost or for thermo energy
• Recycled 6,900 pounds of cardboard, post-consumer plastic and paper
• Found another company to take and use (aka “upcycled”) 5,800 pounds of scrap leather and fabric.

Overall, their annual cost for waste hauling dropped to less than $1,500.

Through Northeast Ohio's Zero Waste Network, Taylor has committed to reach zero waste by 2019.