Though businesses produce nearly half of American solid waste, especially paper waste, little attention and no systematic research has focused on recycling by businesses. This study conducted phone interviews with key informants in a systematic sample of 105 large businesses with headquarters in Los Angeles County, obtaining an 85% response rate. Of the responding companies, 85% reported having paper recycling programs, but the programs' histories and characteristics were highly diverse. Nearly half of the programs began in 1990 or later, many collected only computer and white paper, and most had less than optimal features. Financial motives seemed at least as important as general concern for the environment, and three-fourths of the companies received earnings from their programs. Only about half kept records on their paper recycling-generally the larger companies, which had more formal recycling programs and a variety of other kinds of environmental programs. Implications of the findings for policy and for further research are discussed.
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