How Can My Company Lower its Dependence on Plastics?
Do you know it takes plastic at least 1,000 years to start decomposing in a landfill? Consider that 2.5 million plastic water bottles get tossed in the trash every single hour, and it quickly becomes clear that we have a plastic waste removal problem. If you are trying to reduce plastic waste in your office, then here are some quick tips to help you get started.
Plastic Bottles
Besides plastic bags, plastic bottles create the greatest environmental waste since they are only used once before getting tossed out. To ease any hurt feelings by employees, give everyone a reusable sports bottle to use instead.
Recycling Bins
Now that you’ve reduced your plastic consumption by banning plastic bottles, lets focus on encouraging plastic recycling. Getting a local recycling company or waste removal services to install recycling bins either outside your workplace or in the breakroom by the trash can. This provides employees with a handy place to recycle their trash. Try to encourage participation in the recycling program by offering an incentive if your company recycles a certain amount of trash every month.
Plastic Utensils
Plastic utensils aren’t environmentally friendly, but if you are dreading your next office party without them, don’t despair. There are practical plastic utensil alternatives, such as recycled plastic or PLA, a plant-based plastic. Keep these in your break room and use them for parties.
Single Serve Coffee Makers
Single serving coffee makers like Keurig might be all the rage right now, but each little serving of coffee comes in a single use cup. It is not environmentally friendly, and it is incredibly wasteful, just like water bottles. Coffee makers with cloth filters work just as well, and they are able to produce multiple servings of coffee.
Key Takeaways
- Reducing, reusing and recycling plastic at the workplace not only helps the environment, it also makes your business look good. Once you start with these basics, you will quickly find new ways to continue reducing plastic consumption in the workplace.
- Ban plastic bottles
- Buy recycled or PLA utensils
- Buy coffee makers with cloth filters
- Create a recycling program at work
Need Help?
If you still have questions on what your company can do to lower dependence on plastics, feel free to contact us!
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