Here
are some increasingly popular ways to reduce
waste and save money for many businesses and
organizations:
Use solar-powered calculators and
battery rechargers. Solar-powered
calculators eliminate the need for batteries.
Solar-powered rechargers use sunlight, not
electricity, to recharge batteries.
Use reusable calendars. Hard-surfaced,
perpetual calendars can be wiped
clean and reused year after year.
By using water-based markers, you can avoid
petroleum-based markers.
Use bulletin boards. Rather
than routing memos, post information on bulletin
boards or use e-mail.
Use refillable pens, pencils and tape
dispensers. According to the Minnesota
Office of Environmental Assistance, Americans
throw out 1.6 billion single-use pens each
year. Refillable pens and mechanical pencils
often don't cost more over the long term,
and their use prevents unnecessary waste.
Use two-way envelopes. If
your office conducts a large amount of regular
correspondence with other facilities, use
two-way envelopes. These envelopes can be
sent back and forth dozens of times before
being recycled. Also, for billing, use convenient
send-and-return envelopes. They look like
standard envelopes, but after a slight twist
they can be used again.
Get the most out of your office paper.
Buy paper with a percentage of recycled post-consumer
content. Reuse single-sided paper. Place a
box next to the photocopier for stacking single-sided
photocopy paper "waste". Cut paper
by using a paper cutter and bind together
with binding glue to make "waste"
paper into notepads. The glue is not absolutely
necessary. Employees can stack quarter sheets
beside their phone for notepaper. To save
paper, remember to print on both sides.
Reuse file folders and binders.
Applying new labels extends the usefulness
of file folders and binders.
Refurbish office furniture and equipment.
Many organizations and businesses are reusing
office furniture instead of buying new furniture.
Some office furniture retail businesses may
have a maintenance person that is specialized
in repairing used office furniture.
Computers, printers and copiers are also repairable.
There are retail businesses that recondition/repair
and then sell them.
Change to cotton towel dispensers
or automatic hand dryers. Instead
of having paper towel dispensers, change to
either cotton towel dispensers or automatic
hand dryers to reduce waste, create tidier
restrooms and save money.
In the employees lounge/breakroom
create a space for employees to
keep their reusable mugs instead of
having available single-use cups.
This creates less waste and saves money for
the business or organization.
Reuse printer toner cartridges. Remanufactured
cartridges can cut costs 50% yearly. Some
printer toner remanufacturers use higher-quality
replacement parts than those that are originally
installed. Otter Tail County sponsors a
printer cartridge recycling program for deskjet
printers. Here is how to participate:
There are free special mailing bags
available from the Otter Tail County
Solid Waste Department for deskjet
cartridges. Postage is free.
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