5 Simple Ways to More Effectively Recycle at the Workplace
There are many facets of working in an office that produce an excess amount of waste. Every document that is needlessly printed is a waste.
Shipping boxes that are only used once are a waste. Packing material that is simply tossed in the garbage once a package is received is a waste.
In fact, each US office workers deals with as much as 10,000 sheets of paper per year. If you’re in an office setting, you can implement just a few small recycling changes that will not only make the office more green, but add green to the bottom-line.
After all, recycling materials is cheaper than purchasing new ones.
Re-use Boxes
As shipments come in, many companies merely toss the boxes. Even if a recycling company later recycles those boxes properly, there is a missed opportunity to use them in your office.
For instance, if your company ships products, why not pack your products in the box you received and send it to a customer. In this same manner, packing material can be recycled. You’ll save the business plenty of money by not having to purchase as many boxes or packing material.
Recycle Bottles and Cans
It seems simple, because it is simple. Instead of tossing cans and bottles in the trash, create a separate bin for these items. Then, once a week or once a month, give someone the task of recycling those bottles and cans.
The extra money can be used to purchase more items for the community kitchen. Additionally, by recycling those items, you’ll reduce the amount of garbage pickup. Since garbage companies charge by weight, the trash removal bill will be less.
Print on the Blank Side of Paper
Many documents in the office are only printed on one side of the paper. Once those documents are no longer needed, set them aside for re-use.
They can be used as scratch paper or to print non-essential documents that can have unrelated material on the other side. To this point, always try to print on both sides of paper.
Purchase Re-Chargeable Batteries
Another way to reduce environmental waste is to purchase rechargeable batteries. Rather than tossing out disposable batteries time and again, you’ll only need one set per battery-operated item. This will save the company money by not having to constantly repurchase them.
Re-Writable CDs and DVDs
Using re-writable CDs and DVDs allows you to simply write over old information on the same disk, rather than having to consistently utilize new disks. This reduces plastic waste and eliminates the cost of always having to purchase new disks.
Key Takeaways:
- Re-use cardboard boxes and packing material. This reduces the cost of purchasing new boxes and packing material, while at the same time reducing the amount of trash removal for your company.
- Recycle bottles and cans. Use the money gained to purchase more beverages or items for the community kitchen.
- Print on both sides of paper whenever possible. This also reduces the amount of garbage pickup.
- Purchase rechargeable batteries for the office.
- Utilize re-writeable CDs and DVDs when saving or storing information.
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