How to Recycle for a Greener Workplace

Paper Waste in Offices

We all know that recycling is good for the environment. And most people use recycling bins at home. However, offices still continue to fall short when it comes to recycling efforts.

According to this article from The Paperless Project, people who work in offices “use a staggering 10,000 sheets of copy paper every year”. In addition, “45% of the paper printed in offices ends up trashed by the end of the day”. Reminding employees to store documents electronically instead of printing and sending clients paperless invoices are a few ways to cut down on paper use. However, we cannot eliminate the use of paper completely. So it is worth considering a few simple solutions in the workplace to encourage recycling.

The placement of each recycling bin is key. Busy employees may not take the time to walk to a centralized location to deposit unwanted paper. Consider having small recycle bins next to each trash can. Have the maintenance company empty these into the proper receptacles just as they do the trash.

Recycling Bins for Unwanted Electronics

Another thing to think about is recycling electronics. All companies want to keep up with technology. For a large business, this could add up to thousands of unwanted computer screens, laptops and cell phones every year. Many companies, including Apple and Gazelle, will buy back your unwanted devices. Ensure your IT department is aware of these options and set up a recycling bin for electronics.

If all offices made these simple changes, think about how much waste this would reduce in landfills and the oceans. Set the example and make your office a greener place to work.