Office Recycling

[delila]

We throw away soooo much paper here!
I was wondering if anyone could help me figure out how to implement recycling into our office? The problem is that the building we're leasing from doesn't have anything already in place (as far as a service that will come pick up the recyclables.)
Another issue is that the people here might not be as passionate about the environment as we all are so it has to be very easy for them or they won't do it.
Thank you in advance for all your great advice!

[maxkone]

It's amazing how much paper a business can throw away. I work for a small company, but we go through so much paper (especially from our large format plotters), that I decided to do something about it myself. We have one of those Paper Retriever recycling bins in a parking lot across from the office, so I convinced the bosses to buy just a simple plastic recycling tub that I could carry across the street every week or so and dump the paper into the bin. A quick office-wide email later, everyone was putting their trash paper into my little blue bin. Sure, it gets heavy sometimes, but I don't mind doing it. Becuase I know it's the right thing to do...and it's better than doing nothing.

You can find out more about the Paper Retriever bins here (http://www.paperretriever.com/) and see if they're in an area near you.

[SkywlkrSnd]

It's amazing how much paper a business can throw away. I work for a small company, but we go through so much paper (especially from our large format plotters), that I decided to do something about it myself. We have one of those Paper Retriever recycling bins in a parking lot across from the office, so I convinced the bosses to buy just a simple plastic recycling tub that I could carry across the street every week or so and dump the paper into the bin. A quick office-wide email later, everyone was putting their trash paper into my little blue bin. Sure, it gets heavy sometimes, but I don't mind doing it. Becuase I know it's the right thing to do...and it's better than doing nothing.

You can find out more about the Paper Retriever bins here (http://www.paperretriever.com/) and see if they're in an area near you.
Way to take it upon yourself to do something! I've seen those Paper Retriever bins around town. I thought I heard somewhere that a lot of times each of the bins are sponsored by a school or non-profit, and they can use it as a fund-raiser of sorts...and get rewarded based on how much paper is in their bin.

But for large businesses that go through large quantities of paper, you'd probably have to pay someone to come get it. You can use a service like Shred-it (http://www.shredit.com/) to put those bins throughout your office, then they come and get them on a schedule. Granted, their primary business is document destruction and that's what you'll pay for, but the paper ends up getting sent to a recycling facility.

[kashmir]

I have a very efficient form for any business that is interested in saving money on their current waste cost by recycling. For some companies the waste audit can help them save thousands of dollars per year, because 1/2 to 3/4 depending on the type of business of their current waste is recyclable materials. The cost for recycling receptacles & recycling pick-up or drop-off service is minimal compared to the cost of garbage service.

[BranislavaCille]

I agree that the best way of doing it is by recycling. Either sold it to a school based recycling or community. If you are creative enough, you can make a lot of things, from decorative figurines, small size baskets to bags.

[ribonzz]

Office recycling? Well that's a good idea, Office papers should be recycled due to the fact that offices use a lot of papers that will be dump to the trash.

[IrenaSanya]

An office is an architectural and design phenomenon and a social phenomenon, whether it is a tiny office such as a bench in the corner of a Mom and Pop shop of extremely small size

[siryellow1]

Also encourage the use of recycled, chlorine-free paper in your office as that can have a profound impact as well.

Second, think about what can be done digitally to reduce the amount of paper the office uses.

Also, if there are cups at the water cooler... give everyone at the office their own mug so no more waste gets created on a daily basis!

[PETER.PHIL]

The National Office Paper Recycling Project is a joint effort by private companies and public interest groups to promote a national office paper recycling strategy. The goal of the project is to maximize the recycling of office waste paper and to minimize its disposal.