Workplaces produce a lot of wastes. Whether you work in an office or factory, companies often have several dumpsters full of waste ready to be collected at the end of the week. It gets even worse the bigger the business is. If you don’t want a pile of trash coming from your workplace, here are some tips for you:
Go Paperless
One of the biggest sources of waste right now is paper. Although it is biodegradable, it still takes some time to break it down. In addition, creating new paper products is very wasteful. One of the best ways to avoid having to deal with paper is by going completely paperless in the office. Thanks to modern technology, you can now do things digitally.
For example, send memos via e-mail. No need to print them out if your entire team is online. You can even have contracts signed digitally so that no paper is involved. This also helps with your ink concerns. With no printing done, your office doesn’t need any printer or printer ink.
Start Recycling
The other thing that you can do to help reduce waste in your office is to start recycling. If you can’t go fully paperless, then having general recycling bins for your waste is a great way to reduce trash in the office. Paper and plastic products can then be sent to paper and plastic recycling companies while organic wastes can be disposed of properly.
Get Rid of Disposables
One of the biggest contributors to a culture of waste is that of disposables. You might think that having disposable cups, plates, and utensils is fine, but they add up over time. Instead of having these near your water cooler or in your pantry, encourage your employees to bring their own mugs and utensils. This ensures that you don’t generate waste in that manner.
Train Employees
Reducing waste goes all the way back to your employees. You will need to teach them how to consciously reduce the waste they generate. Additionally, you will want to get them used to the idea of using recycling bins. Most people are used to the idea of just dumping their trash into one bin. With a recycling program in place, you need to encourage them to segregate their waste.
Opt for Composting
If you have a lot of organic waste, don’t just throw it away. They are biodegradable but just putting them in the landfill is a waste. Start a composting program so that your organic waste is converted into the soil for plants. You can use this for a vegetable garden or something similar.
Aim for a Zero-to-Landfill System
Your ultimate goal is to have nothing going to a landfill at all. Track your progress and make it a company event if you ever reach that goal. Keep and maintain it so that you can be proud of being a green company.
If you pay attention, there is a lot of waste that you can reduce coming out of your workspace. Whether it is a factory or an office, lowering the amount of your waste output can be a big help to the environment. The tips above should be a good start in ensuring that your company does its part in saving the environment.