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Do a Waste
Audit
Be aware what your office or workplace consumes and throws away. Most of us are
pretty busy at work, if you can’t do everything “green” (and believe me, most
people can’t) just do the things that are going to have the most impact. If
your office generates a lot of waste paper, find ways to reduce this waste
stream and recycle the rest. If your office throws away a lot of beverage
containers, start a recycling program. When everyone does a little, it ends up
helping a lot.
Use
Less Energy
If your office has a lot of windows, leave the
lights off and use the natural lighting nature provides. There's no reason to
ignore a free light source and your company’s electric bill will be lower. Tell
the boss that you’re saving him/her money, they like that. Here are some other
tips to use less energy:
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Turn off lights when not in
use.
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Shut down computers at the
end of the day.
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Turn off printers,
scanners, and other peripheral devices that are only used occasionally.
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Buy Energy Star rated
products if possible
Go Digital
Everyone has a computer
these days, so go electronic and ditch the paper, save for that birthday card
for Grandma Florina’s 90th birthday. Other ways you can march into
the 21st century are:
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Resist the temptation to
print everything
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Keep electronic files
instead of paper files, if possible
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Send email instead of
letters when possible
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Eliminate blank pages from
documents before printing
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Email electronics documents
when sharing or reviewing.
Ditch the Disposables
Try to steer clear of
disposable products whenever possible.
When Possible Buy Recycled Content Products
Close the recycling loop
by purchasing products made with recycled content. Easy ways to close the loop
include:
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Buy recycled
content copy paper with at least 30% recycled content
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Buy paper
towels, napkins that contain recycled content
Reuse shipping and Packing Materials
Don’t throw away shipping boxes, padded envelopes,
packing peanuts or bubble wrap! Save them for reuse or recycling. If you
cannot use them, find someone who can. Many stores that offer shipping services
will accept packing materials and boxes from the public for reuse, after all it
saves them money
Carpool
Share rides to work, home and when going to lunch.
Bike to Work
People who bike to work are supergreen!
Use Natural Materials Whenever Possible
Use biodegradable soaps and recycled paper or cloth towels in the bathroom and
kitchen, and provide biodegradable cleaners for the custodial staff.
Bring your Lunch
Bring lunch to work in reusable containers and use washable utensils instead of
disposable ones. By making yourself healthy meals and snacks, you are more
likely to eat them and not as likely to grab a burger at the fast food joint
down the street.
Get Others in on the Act
Share tips around the office. Always have a good attitude about recycling and
never scold others for improper disposal. Coach them in a positive way and
remember sometimes it takes a while to change behavior.
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