Business Resource Champion Program
Our Business Resource Champion program is waste diversion and recycling recognition for businesses. Celebrating leaders in reducing, reusing, recycling.
Congratulations to our Certified Businesses!
We are pleased to announce that the following companies are Business Resource Champions of Cuyahoga County.
- 2024: Cleveland Botanical Garden, Platinum Level. See the post
- 2024: American Greetings Creative Studios, Platinum Level. See the post
- 2024: Great Lakes Brewing Co., Platinum Level. See the post
- 2025: Greater Cleveland Partnership, Platinum Level. See the post
- 2025: Distillata, Platinum Level. See the post.
- 2025: American Greetings Creative Studios, Platinum Level. See the post.
- 2025: CWRU Tinkham Veale Center, Plainum Level. See the post.
This certification program from the Solid Waste District has been offered since 2023.
About the Awards
The individual custom awards for the Business Resource Champion of Cuyahoga County awardees are designed and created by local creative-reuse and upcycling artist Nicole McGee.
In the spirit of the certification, each award is custom-made with reused, upcycled materials featuring details specific to the awardee's mission and goals.
McGee is the founder of Upcycle Parts Shop in Cleveland. She is currently launching her new endeavor Resource Assembly, LLC.
Business Resource Champion of Cuyahoga County Program
Recognizing Cuyahoga County businesses who have made a strong commitment to eliminating waste sent to landfills, while reducing the amount of waste generated through recycling and composting, helping to keep valuable materials in circulation.
Let's celebrate your organizational commitment to a clean environment! Tell us about your successes and receive recognition as Business Resource Champion of Cuyahoga County.
Set yourself apart from other businesses, contribute to your ESG goals, help attract and retain employees for your environmental efforts, and reduce your business operating costs.
Our certification program highlights and celebrates businesses in Cuyahoga County that are focused on waste reduction, recycling, composting, upcycling, and creating a world without waste.
The program offers certification in seven different business categories and has four different recognition levels.
There is no time limit to apply or to achieve certification at any level. Apply first, then work on achieving items in your checklist.
How Does the Business Resource Champion Program Work?
- Download the category checklist document with certification requirements that pertain to your business. See the Business Categories list below.
- Review the requirements for your Business Category.
- Submit the application. A pre-certification meeting will be scheduled within two weeks after receipt of the application to review the requirements.
- Complete the required actions, plus a minimum number of additional actions, to receive certification. Free consulting from our Business Recycling Specialist is available to help you achieve your goals.
- Request a site visit. A certification site visit will be scheduled to review the checklist and corresponding documentation.
- Become certified. Sign and return the Certification Acknowledgement Form.
Business Resource Champion certification is performed on a rolling basis. Certification is good for one year from the date of award.
Recognition Levels for the Business Resource Champion Program
- Platinum
- Gold
- Silver
- Green
Business Categories and Checklists
- Office/Commercial Retail
- Office/Commercial Retail Checklist
- Clothing, discount store, specialty store, warehouse, department store, drugstore, grocery store
- Office/Commercial Office
- Office/Commercial Office Checklist
- Doctor, dentist, veterinarian, real estate, insurance, law, government
- Multi-Family Housing
- Multi-Family Housing Checklist
- Apartment, condominium
- Manufacturing/Industrial
- Manufacturing/Industrial Checklist
- Businesses that manufacture a product
- Hospitality
- Hospitality Checklist
- Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel
- Nonprofit
- Nonprofit Checklist
- Religious organization, CDC, federal income tax exempt
- Education
- Education Checklist
- School (pre-school, K-12), college, university
- Healthcare - Large Facility
- Large healthcare facilities such as hospitals and surgery centers, due to the nature of their operations, should select a particular area, such as an office, for certification.
Contact Us
If you are uncertain of your category, or would like more details about the Business Resource Champion of Cuyahoga County program, contact Business Recycling Specialist Doreen Schreiber at (216) 443-3732 or send an email.
See the program flyer.