LIHUE, Hawaii – Kauai Community Federal Credit Union (KCFCU) isproving that recycling efforts at even just one branch can helpimprove the environment in a big way. Since implementing a pilotrecycling program at the Lihue branch, KCFCU has reduced its amountof waste sent to the landfill by 46%. Last year KCFCU BusinessDevelopment Account Executive Connie Clausen introduced desk-siderecycling to the Lihue main office as a test site for a newprogram. After an audit of employee trash cans by Kauai CountyRecycling Coordinator Allison Fraley, Clausen set up a recyclingcenter with six color coded bins, labeled for white paper, junkmail, mixed paper, cans, plastics and newspapers in the employeelounge areas. In addition, each employee had a specially markeddesk-side container for sorting paper, to be regularly emptied intolarger bins at the office recycling center or into a shredder.Staffers also viewed an educational video that detailed theimportance of office recycling for businesses. “What has reallyamazed me is the overwhelming participation of the staff. They aretotally behind it,” said Clausen. It is estimated that the creditunion's move has helped save approximately 97 cubic yards oflandfill space, 510-930 trees, 120,000 kilowatt hours of energy and1,800 pounds of air pollutants- in just 12 months. The success ofthe pilot has sparked the creation of not only an island widedesk-side recycling program in each of the five KCFCU branchoffices, but also an environmental commitment that is posted on theKCFCU Web site, which includes operational policies, managementpractices for recycled paper, waste, green waste, equipment,employee lounge areas, events, and new facilities. KCFCU has alsosponsored a Lihue Business Association Meeting on office recyclingfeaturing experts from Shred Ex, Garden Island Disposal, IslandRecycling and Kauai County offering tips to help businesses launchtheir own recycling program. “We hope that by making this not onlyan internal cultural commitment but also a public commitment tobuild awareness, it will encourage other businesses and thecommunity as a whole to develop similar programs,” said KCFCUMarketing Vice President Shannon Hoeckele.