Recycling offers businesses a way to avoid disposing of the waste that cannot be prevented. Many businesses are collecting bottles, cans, paper, corrugated cardboard, and other recyclable materials.
Producing recycled paper creates 74% less air pollution and 35% less water pollution than producing paper from trees. Recycling aluminum creates 95% less air pollution and 97% less water pollution than producing aluminum from ore.
Did you know that every ton of paper recycled saves seventeen full grown trees?
If your company wants to recycle, you will need to design a system to collect the recyclable materials. Sometimes a company is responsible for transporting the collected materials to the recycling facility. It might be wise to contact a waste hauler or a local recycling company who is responsible for cleaning, transporting, and other steps in the recycling chain.
You will need to buy some sturdy and attractive recycling bins for your office. Thankfully there are many fine office recycling bins available for new recycling programs today.
Most employees care about the environment and will appreciate the opportunity to work together on a project to help the environment. You may want to develop a waste reduction team consisting of members that represent different departments. Some companies can effectively reach all their employees by circulating memos or holding an informal meeting.
These messages can be conveyed in a variety of ways, such as staff meetings, employee newsletters, posters, signs, flyers, and electronic mail. Special events such as slogan contests, awards, or other recognition for waste reduction activities can be effective tools for conveying waste reduction programs.
Employees will feel a greater stake in the program if they receive frequent updates on the quantity of waste being reduced, reused, or recycled; the recycled products being purchased and the cost savings that have resulted. Another method of sustaining employee interest is to empower them to submit new ideas for increasing the efficiency of company operations.
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