Recycling in the Office
Office
The first important idea to try and implement is the minimum use of paper and ink. Try and create a paperless office. Your office will look tidier, cleaner and far more organized without piles of paper in every corner. Once employees know that the organization is aiming for a paper free office they will be much more aware of using paper and especially excess paper use. Make access to clean paper something an employee would need to ask for and justify. Although this may sound harsh you can justify it as part of the company´s environmental policy. The reason why we are suggesting this is because if you have a strict paper use policy in place then people will start to understand that the company does not want or allow paper waste. It is much easier with this type of culture in place to introduce recycling programs and guidelines. Internal communications- remember when employees receive internal communications stating there is a paper free policy they will respect the company more for it!
Recycling
Place clearly marked bins or trash containers around the office. As paper is the most common recyclable product in the office, make one clear color for paper bins around the office-for example green. This means that when an employee sees a green bin they know it is for paper only. You can also clearly mark the bin so there is no confusion.
Of course there are other types of trash produced in the office. We would suggest that most bins under each person´s desk should be the “green” paper only bin. For every ten people there should be two larger color coded bins that they can access. For example one for metal, tins or cans this makes up for any soda or fizzy drinks bought in from the outside and one for plastic. It is surprising the amount of plastic waste an average office produces, nearly all products bought in from the outside come in plastic containers or packaging that can be easily separated and recycled.
Finally you may put one other bin for “other” trash. Remember the secret is to clearly color code your bins or containers and make sure staff knows which trash goes in which container. Another secret is to eliminate the “other use” bin or at least not allow it to be under peoples desks. The same color coding applies for exterior trash containers or bins as well.
Ink
For paper, make sure staff print on both sides of a paper sheet before putting it in the recycling bin, for ink usage, in most large cities or if not by internet there are many ink refill services and ink services which offer longer lasting or eco friendly printing products. Try and create a culture where if employees really have to print that they use a low resolution, black and white print instead of color and buy printers and scanners which use the minimum amount of energy.
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