by Shaheen Darr

Created on: August 13, 2010   Last Updated: August 20, 2010

Recycling converts discarded waste materials into reusable products so that earth’s resources can be conserved and the space used in landfill sites is reduced. There are many ways offices can become more environmentally friendly and contribute towards reducing and recycling their wastes so that the toxic gases and chemicals being released into the atmosphere are cut down.

Paper: Recycled paper should be used for general office use such as photocopying or for printing purposes. Rather than using new sheets of paper for scrap work, use the back of sheets that have been printed on one side and where possible, both sides of a sheet can be printed on. Paper reduction policy between departments should also be encouraged especially when communication is done through faxes or printed documents. A bulletin board can be used instead, to relay general information relevant to all departments. Check documents for accuracy to avoid reprinting unnecessarily and if possible use a smaller size paper or reduce font size to fit more information onto fewer sheets.

Email:  Use the email option to share information between employees rather than printing or faxing hard copies of documents. This is also particularly useful when many pages of a report or a training manual have to be distributed amongst staff members. Similarly, for accounts departments it is a better option to email copies of invoices or monthly statements to customers rather than mailing or faxing them.  This is not only a faster but also more efficient way of sharing information with the delivery reports, as proof that a document has been sent. Rather than storing large amounts of hard copies of documents start storing office data on the computer. Backing up data is essential in such cases, copies of which should be stored offsite for added security.

Equipment:  Purchase or lease office equipment that has energy saving features or that has been or manufactured using recycled materials and look at repairing equipment before having it replaced. Some manufacturers have “take back recycling” programs, which can be requested at the time of purchase of the equipment. These make it easier for offices to dispose of old equipment in an environmentally friendly way. Switch off all your electronic equipment at the end of the day and use energy efficient lights to conserve energy and to reduce the effects of global warming on the environment.

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