Recycling at Work 101

Photo by webwebwork.

While taking the first day tour of my new office 2 years ago, I immediately noticed the space was sans recycling bin. Hang with me for a day and you’ll notice I recycle everything I can, even the toilet paper rolls. I’ve been known to walk out of my hotel room carrying the recyclables if they don’t offer a separate bin in my room! So, you can probably guess what I did on day 2 at the new office. Here’s a guide to starting a recycling program at your own office or practice:

1. Nominate yourself head of the recycling crew and put a smile on your face. Ignore any eye-rolling as you may encounter “resisters.” Don’t worry, they’ll catch on. Helping is a contagious act and helping behavior to benefit the group will increase your sense of belonging and accomplishment.

2. Give everyone an opportunity to recycle. Obtain and strategically place boxes or bins in several locations so that each person in the office has the opportunity to recycle. Key locations are the copy and fax area along with the kitchen and break rooms. Tip: Show fellow employees the personal smaller box you keep below your desk to be taken to the larger bins at the end of the day or week.

3. Label each bin by placing signs for all to see. How you decide to disperse the bins will help you decide what goes where. Some cities require recycling separation. This would require you to make a separate bin for paper, cans and bottles, plastic, and cardboard paper. Remember, recycling is supposed to be easy, so help everyone out by making labels to ensure the correct items correspond to the bins. Tip: You can quickly go online to see what your city or waste management department requires by visiting your local chamber of commerce.

4. Reuse bin. Want to be a shining example of how your company can start saving on the supply end? Place two bins in the copy and fax area. One labeled “double sided paper only” and the other labeled “one sided paper only.” At the end of the week, grab two co-workers excited about recycling and make recycled note-pads. All you’ll need is 15 minutes and the office paper cutter. Cut the remaining one-sided sheets into 4 or 6 squares and voila, note-pads to replace sticky notes. To encourage their use the first week, kindly hand out to other employees and leave a small box with extras located in the copy and fax area.

More tips:

Have a friendly chat with the maintenance or house-keeping crew. Ask them not to empty your garbage unless there is food or it’s full to the top. You can also arrange a simple system similar to the “bra on the hotel room door trick.” If it’s ready to be taken away then tie the bag closed before leaving the office. If it still has room, simply leave it un-tied.

After you’ve put it all in place, I’ll let you borrow my soapbox so you can let everyone know what’s up with recycling in the office! Keep it simple and cheerful, show everyone how easy it is, let them know you’ve labeled everything, and then welcome any questions.

To increase the effectiveness of your plan, encourage fellow employees to only place food and perishable items in the receptacles located within the dining and kitchen areas. It’s okay to eat at your desk still, just walk it over to the other room once finished.

At the end of the first week, take a look in your regular garbage can. If it’s only half full you’re doing a great job! Just to double check, look into your garbage and fish out any plastic or other potentially recyclable items!

Most cities allow and encourage you to recycle the following:

• newspapers
• printed papers
• sticky note paper
• labels
• plastic bottles and containers (see which numbers your city accepts)
• plastic lids from coffee cups
• cardboard coffee cups
• cardboard insulator surrounding coffee cups
• coffee tray/holders
• plastic utensils
• toilet and paper towel rolls
• pizza boxes
• paper bags
• glass bottles and broken glass
• aluminum cans

Feeling crafty?

Recycle your old mailing boxes into next year’s office planner!

Does your company recycle their ink cartridges, computers, and cellular phones?

Most major manufacturers offer complimentary recycling packages that arrive with your new cartridges and mobile phones.  Just fill up the recycling bag with your old cartridges and mail the package on them! Staples offers a cool program called Staples Soul to recycle your technological relics.

When we associate positive future value with our actions, you can see how the possibilities become limitless! So make your best effort and see how the effects will be successfully contagious!

Christine M. Dionese, L.Ac is the owner of Integrative Approach to Healing, a NY and CA based active therapies and consulting practice specializing in Chinese and Functional Medicine. Visit her wellness and lifestyle blog.