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10 Tips to Reduce Waste at the Office
10 Waste Reduction Tips for the Office
People spend a huge amount of their time at work, that’s why it is essential to provide environmental practices at the workplace. It is good to reduce waste at home, yet it is also vital to do the same at the office. “Incorporating eco-friendly and recycling practices into office space is a part of business ethics nowadays and should be implemented by every company,” says Vitalii Anufriiev, a CMO at ToK Essay Writing Service.
Here are 10 tips that will help to reduce waste in the place of work.
- Reduce Paper Use
One of the best options in environmentally friendly business ethics is to go paperless or, at least, reduce the usage to the minimum. Several practices can help achieve this goal, such as:
- Encourage paperless communication, add note “think before printing’ to the emails.
- Set printers for double-sided print;
- Reuse one-sided documents for drafts or notes;
- Put paper recycling bin near copy machines and printers;
- Install hand dryers instead of paper towels in bathrooms;
- Store documents in digital copies.
You can also provide all memos and policies in pdf versions for employees.
- Save Electricity
Another part of waste management is the sustainable use of energy. Consider using the services of a green energy company that works with alternative sources. Cut off electricity use by:
- Encouraging to unplug computers and office machines when they are not used;
- Unplugging vending machines on weekends;
- Changing bulbs to fluorescent one;
- Setting the thermostat to lower level on weekends and days when there are no employees at the office;
- Putting automatic light switches in bathrooms or other not constantly used areas;
- Buying laptops instead of a PC as they use less energy.
- Provide Recycling Station
People recycle when it is easy and convenient, so it is effective to create a recycling point in an office space. Put bins for major waste products, like glass, plastic, organic waste, and paper. They should be easy to access and maintain. The money from recycling can be used for office needs.
- Minimize Plastic
Encourage employees to change to reusable bottles. You can also create ones with a corporate logo and hand them out to employees. Use a water filter in the kitchen for drinking water. Another good idea is to buy cutlery and real dishes to get rid of plastic utensils and paper plates.
- Ban Paper Cups
An average, an office worker uses 500 paper cups per year. It is an immense number if you consider how many people work in an office space. Ban paper cups and provide traditional cups instead. Employees can bring their own cups from home or use corporate ones with a logo.
- Buy Supplies Wisely
All the office supplies, whether it is kitchen or cleaning items, should be bought in bulks. First of all, it is more affordable. Secondly, it provides less packaging. One can also contact providers to ask about reducing the amount of packaging.
- Create an Eco Program for Employees
It is essential to give people motivation to recycle and reduce pollution. Create a corporate program that offers bonuses for such options as walking or biking to work instead of driving. One can also set recycling goals and competitions to win it. The more waste a person recycles, the more chances to win the prize.
- Recycle Electronic Devices
Put in bins for old batteries, phones or other devices. If they are working, you can create a hub for exchanging among employees. Those devices, that do not work should be handed to specific recycling programs.
- Consider Buying Local
Ordering local and organic supplies and products will decrease pollution from transportation. It also supports local providers that offer eco-friendly services. It might not be as cheap at first, but it is cost-effective and ethical in the long run.
- Motivate Employees to Bring Lunch
Ordered and bought on place lunches create a lot of organic food waste. There is also a lot of packaging that can be avoided. And preparing food at home is more affordable for a family budget. Encourage employees to bring food from home by showing an example, offering bonuses or sending out a memo about it via email.
In Summary
There are various possibilities to reduce waste at home or make the workspace more eco-friendly and sustainable. The best part is that all of them are going to pay themselves off in a short time. They can cut down electricity bills and water and paper usage and provide additional costs from recycling. Buying organic supplies in big amounts is also cost-effective. Another benefit is engaging employees in these practices through motivation, competition, and bonus programs.
Author’s bio:
Vasyl Kafidoff is a writer at WritingMetier. His areas of professional interest include education, technology, and sustainable business practices. He is an advocate for recycling and other types of waste and pollution reduction.