Office Recycling Tips

Office recycling tips here are based on a cultural swing we see in many of our own homes already. We use less. Concentrated laundry detergent takes up less space. That is to say, we REDUCE. We REUSE. We have a favorite brand of sponge because it makes such colossal sense in a kitchen. And sometimes we RECYCLE. We assessed what we were throwing away. We’ve taken on new habits. We use compost bins to enrichen our organic garden.

Some municipalities pick up our aluminum; plastic and cardboard from our homes that we put in recycle containers. In 2006, the US recycled more than half (51 percent or 44 million tons) of all the paper that Americans used. That recovered paper goes back into new products we use everyday - like newspapers, corrugated containers, grocery sacks, cereal boxes, and office paper.

This quiet pattern of life follows us to work. There, we have the opportunity to use our best home practices in the workplace. Use these home practices as your own set of office recycling tips.

Assess what you throw away
Target specific materials for recycling
Talk to local Waste Management
If the recycler is not able to accept the materials you want to recycle, contact a local recycling center.
Smaller companies may also want to consider drop-off recycling.

Interested in starting an office recycling program? Learn more about how you can involve your office in paper recycling from PaperRecycles.org

The State Planning Office Waste Management and Recyling Program in Maine offers up these nine pragmatic steps.

STEP 1. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO RECYCLE Top level management must support the recycling program.
STEP 2. APPOINT A RECYCLING COORDINATOR Once operational, the program will be largely self-sustaining.
STEP 3. CARRY OUT A WASTE PAPER AUDIT Estimate your recyclable paper generation at 0.5 lbs. to 1.0 lbs. per employee per day.
STEP 4. RESEARCH MARKETS FOR YOUR RECYCLABLE PAPER Make sure that you will have a place to take your recyclable paper before starting your program.
STEP 5. DECIDE WHAT TYPES OF PAPER TO COLLECT Focus on the higher value papers and those which make up the bulk of your waste paper stream.
STEP 6. ESTABLISH AN EFFICIENT COLLECTION SYSTEM Provide employees with a recycling container for their paper and a waste basket for non-recyclable materials.
STEP 7. EDUCATE YOUR EMPLOYEES Create incentives for your employees to recycle. Remember to always make it clear that the program has the support of senior management.
STEP 8. KICK OFF YOUR RECYCLING PROGRAM This is the simplest step in implementing your program — just pick a date, have a celebration and start recycling.
STEP 9. MAINTAIN YOUR RECYCLING PROGRAM Keep a record of what and how much office paper you are recycling to use to evaluate your program and provide feedback to employees.

For more information, please visit: www.recyclemaine.com

Give a gift of recycled office paper here: Eco-Friendly Paper

Give a paper recycling bin here: Recycled and Recycling

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