How to reduce waste in your office

Be a mindful worker. Consider how much you produce in the office and as an individual. How can you reduce waste?

Recycling and cutting down on the amount we consume and throw away has never been more important. We are all conscious of what we consume and throw away at home, so why not at work? You could conduct an audit and present your findings at your next team meeting? You could also ask the team for suggestions on how you all can reduce waste. Not only will this simple exercise save your business money, you’ll feel good about doing your part in preserving our environment.

Energy

Conserving precious electricity in the office is one of the easiest ways to reduce waste. Ensure you unplug appliances when not in use, shut down PC’s at the end of the day and don’t forget to turn off your monitor. Turn off lights in the toilet and install a thermostat to conserve heat.

Paper

One of the many ways in which you can cut down on paper usage is to use both sides of the paper. You could also consider increasing your margins slightly to reduce the amount you print. Instead of printing office policies or handbooks consider file them electronically on a shared drive that everyone can access. There are a wide variety of recycled papers on the market that are almost as good as virgin paper.

Waste

Consider installing separate bins for different waste. Aside from your lockable shredding console, you should have a paper recycling bin, and bins for glass and plastics. Batteries can also be recycled. Don’t forget about your printer and toner cartridges too. These must be recycled, and most companies now offer a free return service. Your e-waste can also be recycled too. Send to a registered waste carrier to shred all components and recycle the different parts.

Consolidate orders

Order supplies like tea, coffee and sugar in bulk to cut down on the amount of packaging used and the amount of CO2 produced delivering the items. Even better, consider a more local supplier to use minimise cardboard packaging and CO2 emissions.

Re-use

Re-use items such as binders and folders. Consider recycling your ink cartridges with refillable versions. Cardboard boxes and envelopes can also be reused if in good enough condition.

With so many ways to reduce waste in your office, why not try a few today? Contact The Shredding Alliance today with all your paper and electronic shredding needs.