recycling business plan template

Waste Recycling Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Green & Eco-friendly » Waste Recycling

The recycling business is an eco-friendly business that can earn you a living and make you a business owner and an employer of labor. Many misconceptions are out there and scaring people away from the recycling business, most people think a recycling business is all about collecting soda cans, bottles, and old paper.

But in fact, most profitable recycling businesses concentrate on other items and materials, such as the gold found in computers and cell phones, used tires, or re-selling household goods.

All you need to start a recycling business requires a good knowledge of where to collect your goods and where to sell them, as well as strong entrepreneurial skills and perseverance.

A Sample Waste Recycling Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The recycling industry has become an integral part of modern society not only due to its social and economic impact but also because it plays a vital role for the future of our planet. In the world today, it is estimated that over 1 trillion tons of waste at the household level and in industries is generated.

Common materials for recycling include bottles, paper towels and aluminum cans et al and the niches available in the recycling industry are metals recycling, plastics recycling, electronic recycling, water recycling, oil recycling, glass recycling, furniture recycling , garbage recycling, tire recycling, construction waste recycling, paper recycling, battery recycling, cartridge recycling and industrial waste recycling.

According to experts, all sorts of used scrap metal may be profitable. The waste and recycling sector is a broad one though, and there are lots of areas that remain unexploited often because big recycling companies and Waste Management outfits believe the market value is too small.

Some environmental experts further say that the world market for waste, from collection to recycling, is worth around 300 billion Euros ( US $410 billion ). The recycling business is therefore a growing business that has futuristic benefits; there are markets in the developing world that can be tapped into especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

For instance, with the scientific knowledge available to us in this dispensation, it is obvious that it might just   no longer be safe for the earth to accommodate plastic bottles and other waste materials that are buried in it. For this reason, it is very important for government of most countries to encourage plastic bottles and other recycling business.

If you are conversant with companies that use plastic bottles for packaging their products, you would realize that they are promoters of plastic bottle recycling and they ensure that they include the recycling instructions or signs on their entire plastic bottle product.

That is that, companies that are engaged in plastic bottles recycling business or other form of recycling business can be considered as part of those working to save our world from degradation. This is so because plastic bottles that are buried in the earth are shielded from sunlight hence it becomes impossible for them to decompose.

It is a known fact that at least 66% of energy is saved when producing new plastic bottles from recycled plastic bottles, as against producing plastic bottles from the very scratch. That is why most companies engage in the use of recycling plastic bottles for their packaging, clothing, toys, fiberfill for sleeping, plastic bags, plastic ruler, amongst many others.

Statistics has it that the Recycling industry in the united states of America is worth bn, with an estimated growth rate of -5.5 percent. There are about 1,155 registered and licensed recycling facilities in the United States and they are responsible for employing about 23,308 people.

The recycling industry has come to stay and the good part of it is that it enjoys the support of environmentalist and the government of various nations since it is a means to preserve the earth from degradation, greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution.

Although establishing your own recycling company requires huge startup capital and rigorous processes to build your own plant, but it is a fact that it is indeed a profitable venture.

The market for recycled aluminum cans, pet bottles, used papers and cardboards et al is large and can accommodate loads of investors. For example, recycled aluminum cans are used for canning foods, drinks, chemicals, lubricants, oil, industrial gum and much more.

2. Executive Summary

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is a U.S based licensed and standard recycling company. We have been able to secure a standard and well – positioned facility in the outskirt of town in San Bismarck, North Dakota; a facility that is well positioned and highly suitable for the kind of recycling plant that we want to build.

We are in the recycling industry to contribute our quota in saving the earth and also to compete in the highly competitive recycling industry not only in Bismarck – North Dakota, but also throughout the United States market.

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC will initially be involved in the recycling of materials such as aluminum cans, scrap metals, pet bottles, used papers and cardboards et al. We intend providing raw materials for companies that are into the manufacturing / production of books / papers, drinks, lubricants, oils, spare parts, chemicals, water, plastic and paper bags et al.

Our business goal is to become one of the leading recycling company in the United States and we will make sure that we do all we can to compete favorably with leaders in the industry.

We are going to operate on a topnotch level and that is why our workers are going to be selected from a pool of certified and highly experienced recycling engineers and technicians in and around Bismarck – North Dakota and also from any part of the United States of America as the business grows.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required trainings that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with leading recycling plants in the United States and throughout the globe.

At Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC our client’s best interest will always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for all our partners, employees and for our clients.

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is founded by Engr. Shannon Carson a recycling engineer per excellence who graduated with from Illinois Institute of Technology (B.Engr.) and his friend and business partner for many years Moses Carpenter (B.Sc. Business Management).

They have a combine experience that can help them build Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC to favorably compete with other leading recycling plants in the United States of America.

3. Our Products and Services

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC was established with the aim of maximizing profits in the recycling industry. We want to compete favorably with the leading recycling plant in the United States which is why we have but in place a competent quality assurance team that will ensure that every recycled material or products that leaves our recycling plant meet and even surpass our customers’ expectations.

We will work hard to ensure that Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is not just accepted in Bismarck – North Dakota but also in other cities in the United States of America. Our products and services are listed below;

• Sale of recycled pet bottles and plastic bags
• Sale of recycled papers and cardboards
• Sale of recycled aluminum cans and materials
• Sale of recycled metals and other related recycled materials

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to establish a standard and world class recycle plant whose products and brand will not only be accepted in Bismarck – North Dakota but also in other cities in the United States of America.
• Our mission is to provide standard recycled materials that will assist the relevant industries in saving cost and energy and also to contribute our quota in helping save our world from unnecessary degradation.
• We want to build a recycling plant that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the recycling industry.

Our Business Structure

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is a recycling company that intend starting small in Bismarck – North Dakota, serving smaller industries within our locations, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading recycling plants in the industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the importance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of world class business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands within our area of operations.

At Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC, we will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders ( the owners, workforce, and customers ).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer
• Head, Technical Services
• Human Resources and Admin Manager
• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Plant Engineers / Technicians and Operators

Client Service Executive

Truck Drivers

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

Head, Technical Services:

• Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
• Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
• Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
• Coordinates efforts by establishing procurement, production, marketing, field, and technical services policies and practices; coordinating actions with corporate staff.
• Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
• Makes certain that the technical department perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and recycling plant engineers, technicians and machine operators
• Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices.

Admin and HR Manager

• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Designs job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for clients
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities.

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empowers and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant / Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC
• Serves as internal auditor for Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC

Recycling Plant Engineers (2) and Technicians / Machine Operators (8)

• Responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing of all the recycling machines in the plant
• Responsible for operating recycling machines in the plant
• Operates facilities for separating and sorting recyclable materials from nonhazardous waste streams
• Operates facilities where commingled recyclable materials are sorted into distinct categories
• Handles any other job functions as it relates to recycling materials.
• Assists in loading and unloading waste materials and recycled materials.
• Maintains a logbook of their driving activities to ensure compliance with federal regulations governing the rest and work periods for operators.
• Keeps a record of vehicle inspections and make sure the truck is equipped with safety equipment, such as hazardous material placards.
• Assists the transport and logistics manager in planning their route according to a pick – up and delivery schedule.
• Inspect vehicles for mechanical items and safety issues and perform preventative maintenance
• Complies with hazardous waste truck driving rules and regulations (size, weight, route designations, parking, break periods etc.) as well as with company policies and procedures
• Collects and verify delivery instructions
• Reports defects, accidents or violations
• Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the human resources and admin manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries

6. SWOT Analysis

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC engaged the services of a core professional in the area of business consulting and structuring to assist our organization in building a well – structured recycling business that can favorably compete in the highly competitive recycling industry in the United States and the world at large.

Part of what the team of business consultant did was to work with the management of our organization in conducting a comprehensive SWOT analysis for Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC;

Our core strength lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of certified and highly trained and experience recycling engineers and technicians / machine operators, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the recycling industry.

Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected workforce, our product will be guided by best practices in the industry and our recycling plant is built to fit into the design of a 21 st century recycling plant.

As a new recycling plant in Bismarck – North Dakota, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients ( big time manufacturing / production companies that make use of recycled materials ) in the already saturated and highly competitive recycling industry; that is perhaps our major weakness.

Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to pump into promoting our business the way we would want to.

• Opportunities:

No doubt, the opportunities in the recycling industry is massive considering the number of individuals and manufacturing companies who are now switching over to alternative source of raw materials basically to save cost and energy. As a recycling company, we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that is available in the industry.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new recycling plant in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

One obvious trend in the recycling industry is that players in this industry leverage on saving the earth and balancing the ecosystem to promote their business.

As a matter of fact, governments all over the world and even international Non – Government Organizations are in the forefront when it comes to campaigning in favor of recycling materials to generate raw materials for industries as against tapping virgin raw materials. This is so because it will help save cost and energy and the earth that we live in will be the better for it.

Another trend is that is common in the recycling industry is that, with the advancement of technology, it is now easier the recycle and process almost any materials and liquid waste that exist in our world. This trend and the immerse support from government and NGOs is sure responsible for encouraging investors to venture into the recycling industry

Lastly, more and more manufacturing industries are beginning to see the benefits of going for recycling materials as against going for virgin raw materials in the production of their products. This is the reason why the industry is expanding and becoming more profitable and viable.

8. Our Target Market

Before starting our recycling business in Bismarck – North Dakota, we conducted a market survey and feasibility studies and we are certain that there is a wide range of manufacturing / production factories that cannot successfully run their businesses without sourcing for recycled raw materials from us.

In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various manufacturing / production companies who we know can’t afford to do without our products / recycled raw materials. Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically market our products and services to;

• Food and drinks processing and packaging companies
• Roofing and construction companies
• Chemical manufacturing companies
• Manufacturers and Distributors
• Printing Press (Publishing Houses)
• Branding and Advertising agencies
• Entrepreneurs and Start – Ups who would need recycled raw materials from us.

Our Competitive Advantage

The recycling industry is an emerging one that is yet to be fully accepted globally, therefore there is little or no competition in the industry at the moment. Although, there is a relationship between the emerging players as they cannot do without the other.

Since the industry is a multi-stage one, there is need for collaboration among the players in order to have a win-win situation for all the players. Without a shadow of doubt, there are loads of big time investors that have a stake in the recycling industry; but one thing is certain, there is room big enough to accommodate all players.

So, if you enter the industry today, you should brace up yourself for collaboration and prepare for serious competition in the nearest future as soon as the recycling industry enter it boom period, this period will definitely arrive especially in the developing world in little time when recycled product is seen in the same light as the new and “virgin” materials.

Our competitive advantage lies in the power of our team; our workforce. We have a team of certified and highly trained and experience recycling engineers and technicians / machine operators, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in various niche areas in the recycling industry.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category ( startups recycling companies in the United States ) in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the recycling industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to meet and surpass the expectations of all our clients. Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC will generate income by selling and supplying the following products;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be manufacturing / production companies who cannot but source their raw materials from recycling plants.

We are well positioned to take on the recycling industry and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow our recycling company to enviable heights.

We have been able to critically examine the recycling market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to similar startups in Bismarck – North Dakota.

Below is the sales projection for Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC, it is based on the location of our business and of course the wide range of our services and target market;

• First Fiscal Year-: $150,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $250,000
• Third Year-: $600,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

We are mindful of the fact that there is stiffer competition in the recycling industry; hence we have been able to hire some of the best marketing experts to handle our sales and marketing.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited based on their vast experience in the recycling industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall business goal of Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC.

Our corporate goal is to grow Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC to become one of the top 10 recycling brands in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategy that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in Bismarck – North Dakota but also in other cities in the United States of America.

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our recycling company by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to manufacturing / production companies and other key stake holders in the manufacturing industry.
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV stations, and radio station.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still deliver good recycled raw materials
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We will not undermine the fact that for a lot of people to know what we do, we have to continuously advertise. We have been able to work with our in house brand and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market.

We are set to become the number one choice for manufacturing / production companies in the whole of Bismarck – North Dakota and beyond which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our recycling company.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Friends of the Earth Recycling®, LLC;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based events / programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic industrial locations all around Bismarck – North Dakota
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted industrial estates
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Contact manufacturing / production companies by calling them up and informing them of Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC and the services we offer
• List our solar panel installation, maintenance and repair company in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our recycling company in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles / trucks are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

At Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC we will keep the prices of our recycled raw materials below the average market rate for all of our customers by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance from corporate organizations who would hire our services. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to all our customers at regular intervals.

We are aware that there are some one – off jobs or government contracts that are always lucrative, we will ensure that we abide by the pricing model that is expected from contractors or organizations that bid for such contracts.

• Payment Options

At Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC our payment policy will be all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

• Payment by via bank transfer
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment with cash

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no itches.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting a place, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business.The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting a standard recycling plant; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. However, this is what it would cost us to set up Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC in the United of America;

• Business incorporating fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
• The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
• Acquiring facility that will accommodate the design of recycling plant we want to build will cost – $150,000.
• The amount required to purchase the needed recycling equipment and machines – $120,000
• Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, servers / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $30,000
• Amount required to purchase the needed software applications to run our business – $3,500
• Launching an official Website will cost – $500
• Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
• Amount needed to acquire trucks – $50,000
• Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000

Going by the report from the market research and feasibility studies conducted, we will need about four hundred and fifty thousand ( $450,000 ) U.S. dollars to successfully set – up a medium scale but standard recycling plant in the United States of America.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Friends of the Earth Recycling®, LLC

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is a business that will be owned and managed by Engr. Shannon Carson and his friend and business partner for many years Moses Carpenter. They are the sole financial of the business which is why they decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital for the business to just three major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the start – up capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 ( Personal savings $70,000 and soft loan from family members $30,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $350,000 from our bank. All the papers and document has been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running. We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to sell our recycled raw materials a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Friends of The Earth Recycling®, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Securing a standard facility to build a standard and modern recycling plant: CompLeted
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the start – up capital from the founders: Completed
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of Logo for the business: Completed
• Purchase of repair and installation tools and equipment: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed recycling machines, equipment and trucks: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, office equipment, software applications, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the business: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors and key players in various industries: In Progress

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How To Write a Recycling Company Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for recycling businesses who want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every recycling business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Business Plan Template

What is a Recycling Business Plan?

A recycling business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write a Recycling Business Plan?

A recycling business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Recycling Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful recycling business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a recycling business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your recycling company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your recycling business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your recycling firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen recycling business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a recycling business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the recycling industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, a recycling business’ customers may include:

• Homes and businesses that need to recycle materials such as paper, glass, or metals
• Local government agencies responsible for recycling programs
• Possible suppliers of recyclable materials

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or recycling services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your recycling business may have:

• Proven business model
• Strong management team with experience in the recycling industry
• Established supplier relationships
• State-of-the-art equipment and technology
• Focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or you may promote your recycling business via a public relations or marketing agency.

Operations Plan

This part of your recycling business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for a recycling business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include adding a certain number of new customers, or increasing customer satisfaction.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific recycling industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Recycling Business

Balance sheet.

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Recycling Business

Cash flow statement.

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup recycling business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Recycling Business

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your recycling company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

A well-crafted business plan is an essential tool for any recycling company. Now that you understand the importance of a business plan for your recycling company, as well as the key components to include, you are ready to get started.  

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Recycling Waste Materials Business Plan

Start your own recycling waste materials business plan

Mid Atlantic Recycling

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">, opportunity.

Mid-Atlantic Recycling, LLC’s area of business will be to collect, recycle/compost, and market waste from municipality waste processing plants for use use as a consumer good. This recycled product will meet two critical needs:

• It will give municipalities a feasible and cost effective alternative to landfilling the waste, and
• It will help meet the growing demand for organic soil enhancers and fertilizers. The material that will be recycled is human waste sludge.

There are customers at both ends of our supply chain that will benefit from our services and products. Municipalities will benefit from our service by having an alternative means of waste disposal. Other potential customers who will benefit from our compost product include turf farms, fertilizer manufacturers, nurseries, landscapers, golf courses, homeowners, and even the federal government for use in highway construction reseeding. Therefore, we have two basic market segments; those waste treatment facilities which will benefit from our services and consumers who will benefit from our product.

The Worldwatch Institute reports that landfills are overflowing and the costs of disposing of sewage and garbage is rising. City leaders can relieve over extended municipal budgets, prevent the contamination of drinking water, and help farmers build healthier soils by recycling garbage and human waste back to farms. At least 13 U.S. states have 6 years or less before all of their landfills are completely full. (Paper 135: Recycling Organic Waste: From Urban Pollutant to Farm Resource.)  We offer a service by which municipalities can dispose of their waste without it having to be land filled anywhere. This is of great value to this customer.

At the other end of our process are the users of our compost. According to Cornell University (www.cals.cornell.edu/dept/compost.feas.study.html) composting is experiencing a resurgence of activity which is driven by increased understanding of the agronomic benefits of compost utilization, and rising disposal costs for municipal wastes. Also, according to Purdue University (www.ctic.purdue.edu/Core4/Nutrient/ManureMgt/Paper35.html) consumption of compost in the commercial market is growing due to people looking for a more organic or natural substitute for traditional chemical fertilizers. Recycling is at the forefront of responding to this growth trend in the Mid-Atlantic USA. We will initially focus on selling compost to fertilizer manufacturers, nurseries, and landscapers. We already have commitments from a fertilizer manufacturer and a landscaper to purchase 600 tons per year or more of our compost material.

Five major market segments for compost have been identified:

• Agriculture (for food and nonfood crops and sod farms).
• Landscapers (for industrial and commercial properties; golf courses, cemeteries, and athletic fields; landfill covers; and damaged soils).
• Nurseries (for plant and forest seedling crops and reforestation projects).
• Public agencies (for highway median strips, parks, recreational areas, and other public property).
• Residents (for home landscaping and gardening).

Competition

Our service offers a feasible, even desirable, alternative to traditional means of disposing of human waste. Our product is a value added, soil enhancer that appeals to the growing environmental conscientiousness among consumers. Direct competition is almost nonexistent. We intend to position ourselves as the logical, economical choice for human waste disposal and compost production in West Virginia and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Expectations

The start-up funding will be provided as follows: Owner equity investment of in the form of a loan from the Regional Council of Governments Revolving Loan Fund; this loan is secured by the owner’s real estate assets. The  Regional Revolving Loan Fund is an economic development fund sponsored by three West Virginia counties:  Mercer, Greenbrier, and Monroe.

Financial Highlights by Year

Financing needed.

We will be getting nearly $1,000,000 from two sources $850,000 dollar loan based on our assets and $150,000 from the owners. 

Problem & Solution

Our solution.

Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s mission is threefold. Our first responsibility is to ensure the financial well being of the business. Second, is to provide municipalities with an economical, alternative for the disposal of human waste sludge. Third, is to provide a top quality, recycled material to the consumer so that they may benefit from compost’s many good properties and organic elements. In addition, we hope to build in the consumer a positive feeling about the feasibility of using recycled human sludge as a fertilizer.

Target Market

Market size & segments.

The following table shows information regarding the number of potential customers in our target markets. This data is based on information taken from superpages.com.

As reflected in the table, there are approximately 34 waste treatment plants in West Virginia. These are all potential customers for our collection service and sources of material for compost processing. Additionally, there are a total of 1,779 potential customers in the initial target market for our compost product. This includes 11 fertilizer manufacturers, approximately 30 sod/turf farms, 324 nurseries, 483 golf courses, and 931 landscapers.

Target Market Segment Strategy

To target our customers, we examined the market trends. Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s products target buyers of organic fertilizers and soil enhancers. This market has grown significantly in recent years and we expect to capture a quarter of this multi billion-dollar market.

This market growth is fueled by a more health conscious consumer. People are better informed about the potential side effects associated with chemical fertilizer products both to their health and to the environment.

The growth of a more organic approach to gardening comes at a time when chemical options are diminishing. In 2000, the federal Environmental Protection Agency reached agreement with the makers of two widely used pesticides — Diazinon and Chlorpyrifos — to phase them out because of health problems associated with overexposure. Popular brands of Diazinon include Ortho and Spectracide; Chlorpyrifos is marketed under the trade name Dursban and is included in numerous familiar products, including Ortho Lawn Insect Spray ( Washington Post , Thursday, May 10, 2001).

According to an executive with the Scotts Co. in Marysville, Ohio, the pace of research into organic products continues feverishly, and their use is bound to increase.

Sales of organic foods have risen sharply. Organic food sales at the retail level totaled $10.4 billion, according to Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association. This year, retail sales of organic foods are expected to exceed $15 billion — with more than $32 billion projected by 2009 ( CNBC , Dec. 3, 2004).

Findings from a 15-year study at the Kamlath Institute, Newton, Pa., might lead to a solution that could help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The researchers suggest that regenerative agricultural management systems based on organic fertilizer can preserve carbon and nitrogen in the soil, thus reducing emissions. Moreover, they maintain that organic methods can produce the same yields as conventional systems that use synthetic fertilizer. If the major corn/soybean growing region of the U.S. were to adopt these organic practices, they say, the percentage of estimated annual carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion in the nation could be reduced by one to two percent ( USA Today , June 1999).

Mid-Atlantic’s products will help fill the growing need for organic fertilizers, and soil amendments, while helping to solve the problem of dwindling landfill space.

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• Organic : Our organic product allows us to be responsive to the dominant market trend. We offer all of the advantages that organic products have over chemical competitors.
• Comparable application times :  Based on the West Virginia University laboratory analysis, our product is comparable in potency to chemical fertilizer. Thus the application time is also comparable, which saves money and labor since there is no need to purchase and apply additional products.
• Recycled : This part of our product has to do with marketing. We are a company that cares about the consumer and the environment. We offer a valuable product, at low cost, that saves landfill space.

Main Competitors

As noted earlier, direct competitors are essentially non-existent in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our major indirect competitors are chemical fertilizer manufacturers. However, their products are more costly and do not address the market’s trend toward organic, natural soil enhancers.

Some municipalities have begun composting operations in an attempt to deal with waste disposal issues. They typically use a method in which sludge is placed on the ground in windrows which are turned periodically for aeration. This is an inefficient method of composting primarily because it is slow, taking 90 or more days, which means that availability is uncertain for consumers. Also, in this composting method high enough temperatures are not achieved to kill harmful bacteria and seeds that may sprout into weeds. Additionally, municipalities are not businesses, which means their marketing capabilities are limited. Their market primarily consists of local homeowners and businesses, which ignores the greater market. Also, this composting method requires a lot of ground space which restricts the operation. Finally, odor can be a problem for municipalities due to nearness of local residents or businesses. For these reasons, municipality composting efforts are not considered a competitive threat

Our advantages

The competitive edges we have are summarized as follows.

• Cost : The price of our compost product is much less than chemical fertilizers. 
• Organic product : We offer an organic product which is responsive to current market trends. This includes all of the advantages organics offer over chemicals.
• Recycled : Recycled products characterize a "caring company" and are more appealing to the customer’s changing attitude toward organic fertilizer as opposed to chemical fertilizer. 
• Elimination of disposal issues : Municipalities now have a waste that takes up landfill space. Our service recycles the waste which saves valuable landfill space. 
• More effective between application times : Normal times between applications can range from two to four weeks. Our product lasts for many months, thereby saving the customer time and money (no additional expenditure for more product). 
• HUBZone location : Provides advantage in selling to the government.
• SDB and 8(a) certifications : Provide additional advantages in selling to the government.

Keys To Success

Keys to success.

The keys to success in our business are:

• Overcome perception issues that may exist with using compost made from human waste sludge.
• Establish and build relationships and trust with customers to help shield from future competition.
• Expand rapidly to control the market.
• Offer reasonable prices.
• Get investment.

Marketing & Sales

Marketing plan.

The marketing strategy is the core of the main strategy:

• Emphasize high value, high quality products and services.
• Build a relationship oriented business.
• Focus on municipalities, fertilizer manufacturers, landscapers, nurseries, and the federal government as key initial markets.

Promotion Strategy

Our promotional strategy will be two-fold: first phase promotion will focus on before, during, and six months following our opening; the second phase of promotion will deal with the long term. The purpose of the first phase is to assist with rapid market entry to ensure early and sustained profitability. The purpose of the second phase is to ensure long-term growth and help propel us toward achieving our goal of expanding state wide and across the Mid-Atlantic region.

First Phase Promotions

• Publicity : We will send news releases to all of the major newspapers in West Virginia. Publication of news articles about Mid-Atlantic Recycling will lend great credibility and be an excellent way to let all target markets know about this new, innovative business and the solutions it provides for municipalities and users of compost or fertilizers. We will similarly seek publicity in the form of news stories from local (eastern West Virginia) radio and television stations. 
• Advertising : We will utilize direct mail and face-to-face promotional strategies to raise awareness about our products and services in the target markets. Newspaper advertising may also be used. Radio and television ads are not certain, we will evaluate their effectiveness before further implementation. 
• Internet : We will have a content heavy website geared toward educating potential customers about the benefits of our products and services. All literature, business cards, etc. will include our website and e-mail address information.
• Alliances : We intend to form alliances with fertilizer manufacturers to use our product in their fertilizer and/or distribute our product for us.

Second Phase Promotions

• Publicity : As the business grows and expands we will continue to seek publicity through news media to tout our successes. 
• Advertising : We will continue to make face-to-face contact with customers and potential customers. Mail-outs will be done again within a few months of start up. The second round of mail outs will be updated to reflect the benefits provided to customers thus far. Such mail-outs will be sent periodically. 
• Internet : We will continue to have a comprehensive website. The website will be updated to provide responses to frequently asked questions. After the first six months, and certainly after the first year, we will evaluate the viability of having target clients advertise on our site, and conversely, we will evaluate viability of advertising on our target clients websites (if applicable).
• Alliances : We will continue to seek mutually beneficial and complementary alliances with manufacturers where applicable.

Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s sales strategy is relatively straightforward. Get the word out about our products and services to potential customers, educate them as to the value added by our products and services, and the product/service will sell itself.

Our present management team will become the main sales force when operations begin. Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s sales force will increase as business demand permits. In the first six to twelve months of operations, our sales team will focus its efforts on municipalities, fertilizer manufacturers, farmers, small nurseries and other related companies. The team will promote the products based on their environmental strengths and extended duration. Mid-Atlantic Recycling will use other channels of selling after the first year. Face-to-face contact and direct mail selling are part of the selling plan.

Locations & Facilities

Mid-Atlantic Recycling will operate in Monroe County, WV, near the community of Lindside, WV. The Lindside location is approximately 10 miles from Peterstown, WV. The recycling facilities will be located on a 58+ acre property owned by company president, Oliver Pyne; 5 acres will be set aside for the recycling facility set up and operation. This site is ideal as it provides access to local municipalities and to Interstates 77 and 81. Also there is room for expansion as the business grows.

As the business expands to additional counties in subsequent years, we will need to lease property on which to site our facilities.

Composting is biological decomposition of organic materials. Bacteria, fungi, protozoans, insects, worms and other organisms typically play a part in the decomposition process. Composting is nature’s means of recycling. It will turn grass clipping, leaves, vegetables, fruit and other organic materials into a very beneficial soil amendment. Composting is also an effective means of reducing the amount of solid wastes going into our nation’s landfills. Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s process will greatly speed up the natural composting process. 

As briefly described above, the human waste sludge used in Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s process will be picked up from municipalities in skid boxes provided by Mid-Atlantic Recycling. Accepting the waste, rental of the boxes, and transportation will all be sold as a service to the municipalities. 

Upon arrival at our recycling facility, the sludge will be placed into one of six organic in-vessel digesters. These vessels are proven for composting various types of animal manure. In addition, Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s president, Oliver Pyne, has tested the unit’ ability to successfully compost human waste. The material compost produced was tested by the equipment manufacturer (CV Organics, Inc. of White Springs, TN) and found to be a high quality compost. Additionally, the compost material was recently tested by West Virginia University Agricultural Service Laboratory and found to be an exceptional soil amendment. 

These recycling/composting units work as follows. The unit is 50 feet long. The sludge is placed into one end of the unit. To make compost, additional dry fibrous material such as sawdust, wood chips,  or bark must be added. We will acquire a steady supply of these from International Paper Company.

The unit turns slowly, making four revolutions per hour, to ensure that adequate oxygen gets to all of the composting material. Also, the unit is set on a very slight, 2 degree, angle so that as the unit turns, the material slowly migrates toward the opposite end of the unit. During the composting process, the material heats up (due to the natural reaction) to temperatures of approximately 140 degrees Farenheit; this kills any harmful bacteria in the composting material. Temperature can be controlled to ensure optimum composting environment. Also, the moisture levels can be controlled to ensure optimum composting. After three days, the material has reached the opposite end of the unit where it is removed. 

Advantages of this recycling/composting method are as follows:

• Recycling is completed rapidly in three days. Other methods take 90 plus days.
• Waste materials in the unit are isolated from the environment.
• The manager has precise control of moisture, temperature, and aeration during the process to ensure the most efficient composting possible.
• In-vessel composting can maintain a rapid decomposition process year-round regardless of external ambient conditions.  The material can be used for improvement of organic matter content and fertility of soil. 

Milestones & Metrics

Milestones table, key metrics.

Key Metrics: 

• Facebook likes and twitter retweets and social media shares regarding articles about composting and why it is beneficial 
• get reviews and comments from our customers 
• customize inventory for needs 

Ownership & Structure

Mid-Atlantic Recycling is owned by its founder and president, Oliver Pyne. Mr. Pyne will be an active participant in management decisions. 

Management team

The responsibilities involved in the company Mid-Atlantic Recycling are great and abundant. Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s main purpose is to appeal to municipalities by offering a human waste disposal alternative, and to environmentally conscious minded consumers by developing products that include recycled human waste. Each executive member will have several responsibilities that are imperative to fulfill the duties in producing such unique products.

As founder and president of Mid-Atlantic Recycling, Mr. Oliver Pyne will be responsible for the entire operation. Some of his duties will include overseeing the areas held by the other company executives, as well as the output produced by other employees. He will be in charge of the company’s public relations. He will also have the job of hiring dedicated people and ensuring employees put their best efforts into the production of Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s products. He will have the lead role in making decisions that concern the well being of Mid-Atlantic Recycling.

Mr. Sam Cole has an important job as operations manager. His job will be crucial in the growth of Mid-Atlantic Recycling. He will ensure that day-to-day operations are conducted such that materials are received, methods and processes are standardized, and production is maximized to ensure uniform production of compost materials. This duty will entail establishing a good working relationship with production line employees because without them Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s products will not be produced.

Mr. Alexander Main will be responsible for Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s financial management operations including accounts payable, accounts receivables, and bookkeeping.

Management Team Gaps

To assist in sales and marketing, Mid-Atlantic Recycling plans to utilize the services of Blevins Consulting, LLC, a management consultant firm based in West Virginia. Blevins Consulting specializes in business planning, marketing planning, training, website design and marketing, and marketing to the federal government.

Marketing and sales will play an important role in convincing consumers to switch from their old products to Mid-Atlantic Recycling’s products. Blevins will help create the need for our products and services while at the same time capturing the attention of the consumers’ targeted. Some of Blevins duties will include writing press releases, coordinating print and radio press, monitoring the competition, making presentations to potential clients, and studying the markets to identify customers’ needs and determine how to best appeal to those needs.

Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

Key assumptions.

We assume that: 

• recycling is necessary for the planet 
• our customers appreciate options for their needs 
• there are a lot of products to help process

Revenue by Month

Expenses by month, net profit (or loss) by year, use of funds.

Start-up Expenses

Phone/utilities deposits $500

Licenses/tax deposit $4,000

Insurance $1,000

Brochures/sales literature $500

Advertising $2,500

Employee salaries $16,680

Skid boxes, 15 @ $3,000 ea. $45,000

Welding and cutting torch$ 10,000

Furniture and supplies $5,000

Website development $1,500

Miscellaneous $5,000

TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES $92,180

Our start-up costs will be $1,000,000. The funds will be primarily used for the following:

Capital Asset Purchases

Processing Plants  2 x $190,460

Processing Plants built in-house  2 x $40,000

Sheds 48’x72′  4 x $18,500

Skid Truck  2 x $73,000 (avg price)

Front-end Loader  2 x $50,000

Tandem Dump Trailer

Sources of Funds

We will have angel investors that will give us $850,000 and the owners will provide $150,000 totaling $1,000,000

Projected Profit and Loss

Projected balance sheet, projected cash flow statement.

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How to Start a Recycling Business

Importantly, a critical step in starting a recycling business is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

14 Steps To Start a Recycling Business :

• Choose the Name for Your Recycling Business
• Develop Your Recycling Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Recycling Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Recycling Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Recycling Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Recycling Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Recycling Business Equipment
• Develop Your Recycling Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Recycling Business
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Recycling Business

The first step to starting a recycling business is to choose your business’ name. This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your recycling business:

• Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your recycling business.

2. Develop Your Recycling Business Plan

One of the most important steps in starting a recycling business is to develop your business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business. Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your recycling business.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your recycling business and what type of recycling business you operate. For example, are you a recycling collection center, plastic, metal, glass, or a paper recycling business?
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the recycling industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products or services like the ones you will offer?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer
• Prices : Document the prices of your products/services
• Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your recycling business? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
• Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your recycling business make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

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3. choose the legal structure for your recycling business.

Next you need to choose a legal business structure for your recycling business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business. Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the business owner and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a recycling business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a recycling business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a recycling business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others. Once you register your recycling business, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

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4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Recycling Business (If Needed)

In developing your recycling business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. If so, the main sources of funding for a recycling business to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a recycling company that they believe has high potential for growth.  

5. Secure a Location for Your Business

There are a few things to consider when looking for a location for your recycling business. First, think about the type of recycling company you want to start. Do you want to recycle paper, plastic, metal, or glass? You may have different facility requirements depending on the type of material you’ll be recycling.

Next, you’ll need to consider the size of your operation. How much space do you need for your recycling equipment and materials? Will you be able to expand your business in the future? Finally, you’ll need to think about where your customers are located. You’ll want to choose a location that is convenient and easy for them to access.

When you’ve considered all of these factors, you’ll be able to narrow down your search for a location for your recycling business. Once you’ve found a few potential locations, you can contact the property owners and ask about leasing or purchasing options.  

6. Register Your Recycling Business with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.  

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your recycling business’ name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your recycling business to help you separate personal and business expenses. You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.  

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

To start a recycling business, you will need a business license and a permit to operate a recycling center. You may also need a permit to collect recycling materials from businesses and residences. Check with your local business licensing office to determine the specific requirements for your area.  

10. Get Business Insurance for Your Recycling Business

There are various types of insurance necessary to operate a recycling business. Some business insurance policies you should consider for your recycling business include:

• General liability insurance : This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or products.
• Auto insurance : If a vehicle is used in your business, this type of insurance will cover if a vehicle is damaged or stolen.
• Workers’ compensation insurance : If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages.
• Commercial property insurance : This covers damage to your property caused by fire, theft, or vandalism.
• Business interruption insurance : This covers lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event.
• Professional liability insurance : This protects your business against claims of professional negligence.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs.  

11. Buy or Lease the Right Recycling Business Equipment

Depending on the type of recycling business you operate, you may need a variety of equipment. For instance, you will need a recycling truck, a compactor, and a baler. You may also need a shear, shredder, and a conveyor belt. You can purchase these items new or used. Used equipment is usually cheaper but you may have to do more maintenance, which leads to greater ongoing costs. You can find all of these items at your local recycling center or online.  

12. Develop Your Recycling Business Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your recycling business. The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your recycling business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
• Website : Likewise, a professional recycling business website provides potential customers with information about the products and/or services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your recycling business.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Recycling Business

A computer is necessary to manage your business operations. You will need word processing software to create letters and invoices, accounting software to track expenses and income, and a contact management system to keep track of customers and suppliers. There are many different options for each type of software, so be sure to research the best options for your business needs.  

14. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your recycling business. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.  

Additional Resources

Recycling Mavericks  

How to Finish Your Ultimate Business Plan in 1 Day!

How to start a recycling business faqs, is it hard to start a recycling business.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the difficulty of starting a recycling business will vary depending on factors such as the location of the business, the amount of competition in the area, and the type of recycling services offered. However, with a solid business plan and good marketing strategy, it is definitely possible to start a successful recycling business.

How can I start a recycling business with no experience?

There are a few ways to start a recycling business with no experience. You can start by becoming familiar with the recycling process and learning about the different types of recycling. You may also want to network with other business owners and get advice from them. Finally, you can attend trade shows and events related to recycling to learn more about the industry.

What type of recycling business is most profitable?

There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the specifics of the recycling business. However, certain types of recycling companies may be more profitable than others. For example, a recycling business that specializes in collecting and recycling metals may be more profitable than a business that specializes in collecting and recycling plastic. Additionally, a recycling business that processes and recycles materials on-site may be more profitable than a business that requires materials to be shipped off-site for processing. Ultimately, the most profitable recycling businesses are those that are able to generate the most revenue while incurring the least amount of expenses.

How much does it cost to start a recycling business?

It typically costs around $10,000 to start a recycling business. There are a few things you'll need to get started, such as a vehicle to transport the materials, recycling bins, and advertising. You'll also need to pay for a business license and zoning permit from your local government.

What are the ongoing expenses for a recycling business?

A recycling business usually incurs ongoing expenses for transportation, labor, and supplies. The cost of transportation may vary depending on the distance involved. Labor costs will also depend on how many workers are needed and how long they work. The cost of supplies will include things like bags, gloves, and sorting equipment.

How does a recycling business make money?

A recycling business can make money in a few ways. One way is by charging customers for the service of recycling their materials. Another way is by selling the recycled materials to companies that need them. Recycling businesses can also make money by getting grants from local or state governments.

Is owning a recycling business profitable?

There are a number of reasons recycling can be a profitable business . 

First, there is a rising demand for recycled materials. Companies are increasingly environmentally conscious and look for new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Second, recyclers can charge to collect materials and then sell recycled materials for a profit. Recyclable materials are often preferred by commercial customers because they can be more sustainable and require less energy and money to process than raw materials. 

Finally, the recycling industry is becoming increasingly automated. There is less labor required to operate a recycling business. As a result, recycling businesses are becoming more cost-effective.

All of these factors together make owning a recycling business a lucrative venture. If you are looking to start a business that is both profitable and environmentally friendly, then a recycling business may be the perfect option for you.

Why do recycling businesses fail?

There can be a few reasons why most recycling businesses fail. Recycling businesses can fail if they are not able to effectively collect and process materials, or if they are unable to find buyers for their recycled products. Additionally, recycling businesses can be unsuccessful if they are not financially well-managed and operated. While there are many reasons recycling businesses can fail, there are also many ways to overcome these challenges and create a successful recycling operation.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How to Create Recycling Business Plan Efficiently in 2024

• Last Updated: May 2, 2024

• A well-crafted recycling business plan is crucial for financing, attracting investors, and driving the company’s growth and success.
• Analyzing the market is essential to identifying key opportunities, differentiating from competitors, and establishing a sustainable customer base.
• Developing a clear sales and marketing strategy with defined target markets help you build building brand awareness.

Starting a recycling business without a sound plan is like a sitting duck waiting to be shot. But thankfully, you are here so that you can get a guiding light for your new venture.

There is no doubt that the recycling services industry is on an upswing as it was valued at $57.69 billion in 2021 and is expected to touch the $90 billion mark by 2028 .

So first, let us show you what a recycling business plan is and how it will help you before moving on to its components.

Table of Content

• What is Recycling Business Plan?

How to Develop a Recycling Business Plan?

What is recycling business plan .

Recycling business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the goals, objectives, strategies, and financial projections of your business. In simple words, think of it as your pole star that will show you a way out of the dark.

Having such a well-developed plan can serve as a roadmap to guide your company’s operations and ensure better efficiency.

Why is it important to construct for your recycling business?

Whether you are starting a new business or already associated with the recycling industry, developing a robust business plan is essential for achieving organizational goals. Below is why you must construct one for your business. 

1. Identifying your target market

Firstly, it enables you to identify and analyze your target market to help you understand the needs of your potential customers so that you can precisely serve what they want.

This precision will give you a competitive edge over your competitors who are scattering their efforts all over the place.

2. Managing your operations and resources

A business plan provides you with clarity about your operations, like how the daily waste collection process should take place and what tasks will be carried out by your team in a timely manner.

This will ensure that everything is properly aligned along with the right set of instructions for doing them. As a result, your recycling business can run smoothly.

3. Making your financial projections

A recycling business plan includes financial projections for at least the first year of operation. This projection gives you an idea about the funding you need for your business to take off. In short, it assists you to develop your financial plan as well. 

Once you have projections ready, it also provides you with a roadmap for achieving your revenue and profitability goals. In other words, you can say, it gets your numbers right.

4. Ensuring compliance with regulations

As a business owner, you cannot provide your services legally without complying with the rules set by the jurisdiction in your area. 

This is where it is crucial to develop a business plan that gives you an overview of the regulations and requirements for operating a recycling business in your service area. 

Doing it right before starting your recycling business ensures that you have complied with all applicable regulations. This means you can avoid hefty fines as well as mitigate potential risks.

5. Monitoring your performance

A recycling business plan gives you detailed insights by serving as a baseline for monitoring your performance and progress. This allows you to come up with your strategies and operations accordingly and make informed decisions to optimize your recycling process.

Creating a plan is one of the initial steps when it comes to starting a new recycling business. But, how will you develop it efficiently? For that, let’s discuss its components in the next section..

Business owners should include 10 main components while developing a business plan. Let us talk about them one by one. 

1. Industry overview

This section gives you a gist of the recycling industry and the market trends that are driving its growth. It typically includes information such as:

Size and growth of the industry

This section should provide an overview of the recycling industry’s size and growth trends. You can include statistics on the amount of waste generated, the percentage of waste that is currently being recycled, and projections for future growth.

Key market segments

Target market segments mean the sections of the whole industry which you are eying to target. For example – commercial or residential waste. Identify your target market segments and provide information on the size of each segment and its growth potential.

Competitive landscape

Analyze the major players (aka competitors) in your region, including their market share, strengths, and weaknesses. Also, identify any new entrants or potential competitors that may affect your business.

The legal and regulatory environment

Provide an overview of the legal and regulatory environment in which your business will operate. This gives you an idea of any permits or licenses required to operate a recycling business.

2. Executive summary

An executive summary is like a quick overview of your overall business plan. Here are some key elements to include:

• Services: Give an overview of the services that your recycling business will offer and the types of waste you will recycle.
• Target market: Describe the target market for your recycling business, including demographics, geography, and the size of the market.
• Financial projections: Summarize your financial projections for the first few years of operation, including revenue, expenses, and profit margins.

3. Mission statement

The mission statement is all about your company’s primary focus and what it aims to achieve. A well-crafted mission statement can serve as a guiding principle for all the decisions made at your business.

Thus, it should communicate the essence of the company’s business, values, and culture, including recycling problems and solutions . However, when creating a mission statement, it is important that you keep it clear and concise.

4. Services and pricing

Following a statement, you can describe the recycling services that  you want to provide and how much you will charge for each of them. Hence, it should include a breakdown of the costs associated with any of your services as well as any pricing plans you offer. 

For example , you could charge a flat fee for a specific service such as curbside recycling pickup. Or, wherever possible, you can charge variably based on the volume of materials being recycled. 

5. Operational plan

It outlines the day-to-day activities that are essential to run your business. It gives details on: 

• How your business will function?
• How it will meet its goals and objectives?
• What processes and precautions will everyone need to follow?

This will ensure that your daily efforts produce the maximum output toward your desired goals. As an additional benefit, it also saves recycling companies from inconsistencies that happen when a reliable plan is not set.

When deciding your operational plan, it is wise to add software to your process that will relieve you of much of your daily burden.  One such recycling waste collection route planning software is Upper,  which helps you plan routes for your waste collection team so that they can reach their destinations in a minimum time.

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6. Job roles and responsibilities

This outlines the key positions within your business and the responsibilities associated with each of them. One of its purposes is to provide a clear understanding of the organizational structure of your company.

Here are some examples of job roles and responsibilities that can be included in a recycling business plan:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): The CEO is responsible for providing direction for the company while overseeing all aspects of its operations and ensuring that it achieves its objectives.
• Operations Manager: The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations, managing staff, coordinating with customers, and ensuring that all equipment and facilities are properly maintained.
• Sales and Marketing Manager: A person who can develop marketing strategies to promote the services, identify new business opportunities, and build relationships with key customers.
• Customer Service Representative: The person should be responsible for providing customers with information about the company’s services, answering questions, and resolving any issues or concerns that arise.
• Recycling Technician: The Recycling Technician is responsible for sorting, processing, and preparing recyclable materials using recycling technologies for reuse.

7. Target market research

The process gives an in-depth analysis of the industry, competition, and potential customers. Thus, it is important to conduct thorough research using reliable sources and data. Let’s have a look at each of its components:

• Industry analysis: It provides an overview of the recycling industry, including its size, growth, and recycling trends as well.
• Competitor analysis: Here you identify your competition and their strengths or weaknesses. You can figure out information on their products, pricing strategies, marketing approaches, and market share.
• Customer analysis: Its purpose is to show you the buying behavior, pain points, and preferences of your target audience.

Pro tip: The better you know your audience, the more effective will be your market research. So, find out the demographics, psychographics, and needs and preference of your target audience in detail.

8. Sales and marketing strategy

A strategy outlines the specific tactics and approaches that you will use to promote your services, generate leads, and convert those leads into paid customers. Here are some of its key elements:

• Promotion channels: Here you identify specific channels for promoting your services and how you will use them. It includes digital marketing, social media, print media, events, and word-of-mouth marketing.
• Lead generation : This section describes the methods you will use to generate leads such as  cold calling, email marketing, SEO, and PPC advertising.
• Sales/Conversion approach: It tells you how you will close more sales and generate more revenue. If you have any unique selling proposition (USP) that makes you stand apart, you can describe it in this part.

9. Financial projections

It is crucial step as it provides an overview of the expected financial performance of the company in the short term and long term. This also serves as a goal to achieve for your entire team so that you keep on growing financially every year. 

Here is an example to give you a better idea of a financial projection: 

• Revenue: $500,000
• Cost of services provided: $250,000
• Gross profit: $250,000
• Operating expenses: $100,000
• Net income: $150,000

10. SWOT analysis

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It is a strategic planning tool that helps you identify and analyze internal and external factors that can affect the operations and profitability of your business. 

Here’s a breakdown of each component of the SWOT analysis:

• Strengths: These are internal factors that give you an advantage over other recycling businesses. It includes your business’s core competencies, unique selling points, financial stability, and other resources.
• Weaknesses: These are internal factors that put your business at a disadvantage compared to its competitors. It can be a lack of resources, inexperienced staff, poor infrastructure, etc.
• Opportunities: These are external factors such as emerging trends, changes in regulations, new markets, or partnerships that your business can capitalize on to improve its operations and profitability.
• Threats: These are external factors that can negatively impact your business’s operations and profitability. It can be market competition, economic downturns, changing regulations, natural disasters, etc.

By conducting a SWOT analysis, you will have a better understanding of what to capitalize on (strengths and opportunities) as well as figure out weaknesses and potential threats.

To identify your target market, you need to consider factors such as location, demographic, and behavior. Determine the type of recyclables products that are in demand and the consumers who are likely to use recycling services.

The startup costs for a recycling business can range from $10,000 to $20,000, depending on the size and type of operation.

One should establish a strong marketing strategy that promotes your services and highlights the benefits of recycling in order to attract more clients. Additionally, you can use social media platforms, local advertising, and community outreach to raise awareness of your business.

The success of a recycling business can be measured through various metrics such as revenue growth, customer retention rate, and the volume of recyclables collected and processed.

All in all, a recycling business plan is a crucial roadmap that outlines your company’s mission, services, target market, sales and marketing strategy, financial projections, and operational plan. 

A well-crafted plan can help you secure financing, attract clients and guide your business toward sustainable growth and profitability. So, go through these all components before you start your recycling business because it is worth all the effort. In case you want to streamline your waste collection process, it is recommended to use software like Upper. You can explore its features by taking a 7 days FREE TRIAL . 

Rakesh Patel, author of two defining books on reverse geotagging, is a trusted authority in routing and logistics. His innovative solutions at Upper Route Planner have simplified logistics for businesses across the board. A thought leader in the field, Rakesh's insights are shaping the future of modern-day logistics, making him your go-to expert for all things route optimization. Read more.

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Recycling Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting a successful recycling business requires thoughtful planning and research. Whether you are looking to create a small-scale operation or launch a full-scale business, having the right plan in place is essential for success. The #1 Recycling Business Plan Template & Guidebook is designed to help entrepreneurs craft a comprehensive and easy-to-follow business plan from start to finish. With this template, recyclers will be able to refine their ideas, outline objectives and goals, determine their competitive advantages, and more.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Recycling Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Recycling Business Ideas [2023]
• 25 Catchy Recycling Business Names:
• List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Recycling Business:

How to Write a Recycling Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your recycling business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your recycling business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a recycling business:

Our mission is to champion recycling initiatives that promote sustainability and reduce environmental impact. We aim to be a leader in the recycling industry, creating innovative solutions that increase efficiency and reduce waste, while educating our customers on the importance of sustainability for our planet.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Recycling Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your recycling business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your recycling business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your recycling business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your recycling business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a recycling business?

• Recycling sorting equipment
• Carts, bins, or dumpsters for collecting recyclables
• trucks for collecting and transporting recyclables
• packaging materials and supplies
• Any necessary licenses or permits required to operate legally

5. Management & Organization of Your Recycling Business.

The second part of your recycling business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your recycling business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Recycling Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a recycling business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a recycling business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your recycling business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your recycling business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your recycling business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Recycling Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a recycling business.

A business plan is an important document that outlines the goals, strategies and implementation of a business. A business plan for a recycling business will provide direction and structure to the business, enabling it to stay on track as it grows and develops. It can highlight potential areas of growth, as well as identify any potential risks or challenges that may arise along the way. Additionally, potential investors can use the business plan to understand the viability of the recycling business, and decide whether or not to invest in it. Ultimately, a well-crafted business plan is essential for any successful recycling business.

Who should you ask for help with your recycling business plan?

You could ask a local recycling facility or a business professional with experience in creating business plans. You might also want to contact your local Small Business Association (SBA) and ask for guidance on developing a business plan.

Can you write a recycling business plan yourself?

Yes, it is possible to write a recycling business plan yourself. Writing a business plan is time-consuming and requires research, financial analysis, and creative thinking. To get started, you should identify your goals, assess the market potential, create a marketing strategy, estimate startup costs, and develop an operational plan. You then need to review the legal aspects of starting a recycling business and create financial projections for your company. Finally, you should review your business plan with experts or experienced entrepreneurs before launching your recycling business.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.