Reduce, Reuse, Recycle at Work
We must bring the philosophy of "reduce, reuse, recycle" with us to work. While businesses in the region are ahead of the nation with high rates of recycling, they do make about half of our trash, so if we are going to reduce our region's waste, businesses must play a critical role. By reducing waste, we can save natural resources and energy, prevent pollution and help extend the life of our landfills.
The first step is to reduce, and the simplest place to look is at your paper use. Strikingly 25% of the garbage that businesses throw away - more than 120,000 tons annually - is common paper that is fully recyclable.
Even in the "digital age" we consume enormous amounts of paper, or mashed bleached tree pulp, most of which is used once or twice and then tossed or recycled. The greenest paper is no paper at all, so keep things digital whenever possible. The more you do online, the less you need paper. Keep files on computers instead of in file cabinets, cutting down on clutter and improves organization of information. Try to review documents onscreen and don't print until you have the final version. When you do print, print double-sided. Use misprints or old documents for scratch paper and put paper recycling bins for paper at every desk and by the printer. Close the loop by buying post-consumer recycled paper, it takes 60-70% less energy to produce than paper from virgin tree pulp.
Coffee cups and one-time use take out containers fill up office trash bins fast. So go buy a coffee mug and start bringing lunch to work in reusable containers. If you cannot stop craving the neighborhood joint's food, ask your co-workers to place a large order (more efficient than many separate ones), or consider walking there and eating at the restaurant instead of trucking waste back to the office.
If your work isn't recycling, encourage them to change. In both the Portland Metro region and SW Washington garbage haulers must provide recycling services when requested. The same common items that are picked up at your curb at home can be recycled in the office. Once you have talked to your hauler and set up bins, spread the word. Most people would much rather recycle items than thrown them away; they just need to know how. Put up posters by the bins, clearly labeling where items should go then send an e-mail and share the news at a staff meeting. If you want hands-on-help evaluating your businesses waste and finding even more solutions, don't hesitate to call Metro in Portland, 503-234-3000, and in SW Washington, Clark-County Public Works, 360-397-6118. They provide free consultation and depending on your business, construction for example, there might be much more you can do.
