Recycling in the workplace can save a business money and also make for a happier team. It’s just as important as recycling at home because nearly half the waste generated in the U.S. happens at businesses and other non-residential locations.
Below are just a few of many steps you can take to reduce waste in the workplace:
Get educated! Read up on the Top 20 Tips to Reduce Waste in the Workplace from edie.net. You can also explore CalRecycle’s extensive resources, including Information for Coordinators of Waste Reduction and Recycling Programs and Business Waste Reduction.
Check out Recycling at Work, a national voluntary initiative challenging businesses, government agencies, schools, hospitals and other institutions to commit to increase workplace recycling by 10 percent. See their 10-Step Action Plan. They also offer recycling bin discounts and tools to help businesses increase recycling, encourage employee participation and earn recognition for their actions.
Replace disposable cups with reusable mugs and glasses. If an employee has one beverage a day, switching to a reusable mug or glass can save more than 200 cups from being thrown away per person each year.
Purchase only 100 percent recycled paper and as many other recycled or green office supplies as possible. Even better, implement policies to reduce overall paper usage. The NRDC Smarter Business Greening Advisor offers resources for making this happen. Through simple changes like defaulting to double-sided printing and reusing scrap paper, one EPA office cut paper usage by 30 percent, saving $49,000 a year.
Implement an organics recycling program for all food scraps, even if your business is not specifically required to under the Commercial Organics Recycling Law (AB 1826). To get started, read these guides by Green Action Centre and Sustainable America.
Place recycling bins in prominent locations for printer cartridges, batteries, and e-waste. An added benefit is this offers employees an easy way to dispose of these from their homes.
Get a TerraCycle® Zero Waste Box for your office supplies, printer cartridges or break room. You can also check out the full range of Zero Waste Boxes to see if your business disposes of any items that TerraCycle recycles.
Get your business off of mailing lists. To request removal from Dun & Bradstreet’s huge list, call 1-800-234-3867 or send an email to [email protected]. To stop junk mail addressed to former employees, visit the EcoLogical Mail Coalition.
Host a Friday File Fling. Have office workers purge file boxes and folders to recycle unneeded documents. In Australia, one day each November is dedicated to file flinging, but you may choose to host your event any time of the year.
Use prompt cards to encourage positive behavior in the workplace. Download free prompts from Recycle Reminders or order free stickers from Universal Eco-Symbol.
Cut down on employee miles driven by following these Steps for Creating a Successful Trip Reduction Program from Drive Less Save More.
If you want to go beyond recycling to achieve a green and sustainable workplace, you can receive national and local government incentives. Find out more from the Department of Energy and dsireusa.org.
Share informational and motivational infographics such as this with others in your workplace:
Did You Know?
Some of the top contaminants found in office recycling bins include:
• copy paper wrappers
• hanging file folders with metal bars
• food waste & sandwich wrappers
• non-paper envelopes (e.g. Tyvek)
• sheets of peel & stick labels
• rubber bands
• restroom waste (paper towels, tissues)
