There are numerous opportunities to enhance and encourage recycling and reuse in business environments. Here are just a few tips.

Cut Down on Waste Paper

The single biggest impact most businesses can make right away is to cut down on waste paper. A few simple procedures will eliminate a great deal of waste and may even provide reductions in office supply purchases. A few suggestions follow.

• Post office announcements in central locations on bulletin boards.
• Share and circulate a single copy of documents office-wide.
• Set up a central filing system or a shared electronic filing system on a network to reduce the need for hard copy file storage.
• Reformat faxes to eliminate cover sheets.
• Edit on the computer before printing.
• Require two-sided copying.
• Print rough drafts and informal memos on the unused of draft papers.
• Reuse draft and computer paper for notes and scrap paper.
• Use e-mail rather than paper for inter-office memos.
• Reuse file folders.
• Use two-way envelopes if regular correspondence occurs with other facilities.
• Target specific audiences for direct mail and avoid duplication in mailing lists.
• Share newspapers and magazines.

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing

Consider purchasing products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment. Encourage the use of:

• Printers and copiers that can make double sided copies.
• Programs that allow faxing directly the computer.
• Fax machines that use plain paper.
• Narrow-lined note pads.
• Modern cotton towel systems rather than paper towels for bathrooms.
• Reusable calendars that are hard surfaced and can be wiped clean; undated reusable wall calendars.
• Products or materials with recycled content.
• Mechanical pencils and refillable pens.
• Refillable tape dispensers.
• Solar-powered calculators and rechargeable batteries.

Reduce Mail Room Waste

Many simple strategies in the mailroom can make in big difference in supply consumption. Consider incorporating the following ideas in your policies.

• Reuse shipping/packaging materials and use reusable containers for your own shipping needs.
• Reuse envelopes with metal clasps and use reusable envelopes for interoffice mail.
• Save and reuse polystyrene “peanuts” used as packing material.
• Shred non-recyclable paper items for packing material.
• Enclose a note in all packages asking people to reuse packing materials.

Reduce Lunch Room Waste

Kitchens and lunch rooms can be a great place to start reducing waste.

• Avoid disposables such as styrofoam cups, plastic tableware and paper plates.
• Use cloth towels in kitchens.
• Encourage employees to reuse lunch bags.
• Purchase a water cooler as an alternative to individual bottles of water.

Environmentally Friendly Office Equipment

Using environmentally friendly office equipment and fixtures can help.

• Buy or lease durable and repairable equipment such as photocopiers, fax machines, computers, typewriters, and coffee makers.
• Consider length and coverage of warranties and service contracts when selecting products.
• Recondition or repair older office furniture, or donate to local charitable groups.
• Give or sell outdated computer systems to a computer reconditioning/repair business.
• Buy sturdy desk supplies, such as bookends, file holders and staplers.
• Use longer lasting light bulbs.
• Encourage building managers to install reusable air filters in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
• Donate old furniture and other materials to local organizations, homeless shelters or charities.

Get Everybody Involved!

Recycling and reuse in the workplace is a cooperative effort. From the CEO and ownership on down, everyone must contribute. In addition, management must support programs by allocating staff time and supporting ideas generated by employees.

Here are some tips for getting everyone involved.

• Make recycling easy by providing separate bins for trash and recyclables.
• Create a laminated list of waste recyclable items a post prominently.
• Organize swaps of unwanted items from home with co-workers or other businesses.
• Select a person to be the program manager by planning, implementing, and monitoring responsibility and authority.
• Involve employees by soliciting ideas for waste and energy reduction.
• Publicize attained goals and reward efforts using promotions and incentives.