Engage and motivate your coworkers to buy green products and help reduce waste. Learn more about how your office can go green!
Waste Reduction and Recycling
Quick Tips:
• Recycle office paper, newspapers, beverage containers, electronic equipment and batteries.
Check with your local recycling facility to see what materials they accept.
• Consider using safer alternatives to common and potentially hazardous chemicals used in
products and processes.
• For businesses, there may be federal and/or state regulations on the disposal of electronics
and mercury-containing lamps.
• To help reduce waste, use two-sided printing and copying, buy supplies made with recycled
content, and recycle used printer cartridges.
• Before replacing a computer that no longer fits your needs, investigate enhancing the
computer's capacity by installing a hard disk drive, chip, or memory- expansion card. Such
modifications can be made with little know-how using the help of the manufacturer or
a do-it-yourself guide.
• When purchasing new electronics, consider a leasing program that includes proper reuse
and recycling.
• After office festivities, put leftovers in recyclable containers, and share them with family,
friends, or others. Donate whole, untouched leftovers from parties to a local food bank
or homeless shelter.
Buying Green
Quick Tips:
• Buy office supplies in bulk or multi-packs to reduce packaging waste. You can also buy
items with packaging that can be reused or recycled.
• Buy energy-efficient items in the office with the ENERGY STAR® logo or items that are
EPEAT-registered when buying electronics such as computers.
• Consider the durability of a product before you buy it. Cheaper, less durable items often
wear out quickly, creating waste and costing you money. Look for items that embody
the concept of reuse.
(via http://www.epa.gov/waste/wycd/atwork.htm)