Office Recycling Programs
By: Mick, September 10th, 2007
Most offices have policies or practices in place that encourage or require recycling. But because so few offices see any tangible or immediate benefits from these efforts, they are often lackadaisical and they tend to fade in importance as the grind of daily work responsibilities wears along. More progressive offices, with a greater emphasis on “green,” have been leading the way in the slow evolution away from the inefficient wastefulness of the traditional office environment.
At this point, many of us are still learning and re-learning ways that we can cut waste in our office. I found these Office Recycling Program Guidelines that seem to be a great way to organize and manage a truly effective office recycling program.
Over the years, I’ve worked in a few different offices and I was one of the bosses in most of them. We always made some effort to recycle, but it often fell more into the category of a very low priority. It never became ingrained in my routine to simply recycle everything that could be recycled. That process is like any other habit-forming endeavor - it only requires a little effort and a little time.
Tags: eliminating office waste, green offices, office recycling programs, reduce global warming
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September 10th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
It’s funny - I had to request a white paper recycle bin for myself, and I asked for one for everyone in my department. And the company said they only wanted to pass out one per department - because why? I got no answer. This makes no sense to me! I told them no one will use the recycle bin at my desk. (Time has told, they don’t.)
One cardboard recycle bin per desk seems a minimal investment in recycling - and it could be re-made with post-consumer cardboard out of one day’s worth of white paper!
September 10th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for the comment. In an office of only four people, we were generating enough paper waste per week to make it difficult for me (designated trash carrier) to get it outside in one trip. Fortunately, we were actually recycling it, but it’s a good indication of just how fast recyclable waste can accumulate and the impact we can have by investing the minimal effort to re-use those resources.