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Like trash from home, the majority of waste generated at work can be recycled, reused, or drastically reduced with some advanced planning and research. Here are some strategies that can help your organization reduce waste and save money.
Small changes make a difference Many workplaces recognize the cost-savings of reducing or recycling common waste items such as paper, product packaging, and distribution materials. But low- or no-cost reuse and recycling opportunities exist for other frequently used items, including toner cartridges, batteries, diskettes, and CDs. Return used toner cartridges and other products for reuse/refurbishing to the manufacturer or supplier. Most major toner cartridge manufacturers supply information within the product packaging about how to return cartridges, as well as mailing labels and packing materials. Switching to refurbished toner cartridges costs 30 to 50 percent less than new cartridges, and tests indicate that they produce more copies at a lower price per copy. Visit measurement tools to see the costs savings of using refurbished toner cartridges. Switching from single-use to rechargeable batteries can save money and reduce the volume of potentially harmful elements entering the waste stream. Whichever batteries you choose to use, make sure to talk to your vendor about how to properly dispose or recycle your spent batteries. Recycle diskettes & CDs. Visit vendors and recyclers to find companies that recycle diskettes and CDs, as well as other non-mandated materials.
Many cleaning and maintenance activities expose employees to products such as disinfectants, metal polish, paints, solvents, and pesticides that are toxic, flammable, or harmful to worker health if used improperly. To reduce employer liability and enhance worker safety, re-examine guidelines for safe usage of these products in your workplace. Read labels carefully. Consider a review of janitorial and facility maintenance products. The words CAUTION or WARNING indicate a hazardous substance; if you see the word DANGER, the product is flammable, corrosive, or toxic. Use and discard properly. Improper use or long-term exposure to some of these products can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, or allergic reactions. These same products may have wider environmental or regulatory impacts if discarded down the drain or released improperly into the air. Discarding such products down the drain may affect water quality and aquatic life, while releasing certain products into the air can contribute to ozone depletion. Educate employees about possible hazards. Under New York State Labor Law, manufacturers are required to submit a Material Safety Data Sheet for any product containing a toxic substance. Make sure your employees are familiar with the properties of the products they use. See reducing workplace toxics in waste less at agencies & schools for details on the potential hazards of, and safer alternatives for, automotive, custodial, paint, pesticide, and other products commonly used in the workplace. Whether you bring your lunch or buy it, there are numerous ways for you, or your office cafeteria to reduce waste. Use reusable containers. If you bring your lunch, you probably use reusable food storage containers, but have you considered bringing your own mug or thermos? This may seem like an insignificant act, but consider the amount of waste that could be eliminated if thousands or millions of fellow New Yorkers did the same. Encourage your cafeteria or food vendor to use reusable items. If your building has a cafeteria or food vendor, do they offer the option of reusable plates and utensils? Is there a condiment station with refillable containers for cream, sugar, ketchup, salad dressings, and salt and pepper? If not, talk to someone responsible for food services to see if these suggestions can be implemented. Visit measurement tools to see the cost savings of switching to reusables. Donate leftover food. What happens to the leftover, edible food at the end of the workday? An estimated 50 million pounds of food is thrown away each year by NYC restaurants, businesses, and other food establishments. Encourage your work cafeteria or food vendor to donate edible food to City Harvest or the Food Bank for New York City. The donation may be tax deductible.
The following programs are sponsored in-part by the NYC Department of Sanitation, and can help you donate, access, or sell second-hand items: New York WasteMatch is a citywide materials exchange program that brokers transactions involving high-quality secondary and surplus materials and equipment. Your business may generate waste materials that could be used by another business. For more information on this and other industrial waste exchange programs, visit waste exchanges. Materials for the Arts accepts furniture, materials, fabric, paint, paper, and industrial by-products and makes them available, free of charge, to public schools and nonprofit cultural and arts organizations. To learn more about this program and other donation opportunities throughout New York City, visit new homes for old stuff. Advertise your accomplishments If your company has successfully prevented waste in the workplace, let your customers and employees know about it. How your company is run is of interest not only to investors, but also to a growing number of current and potential environmentally aware customers. Examples of how to actively promote your business’s environmental or waste reduction accomplishments include: Press releases, statements in annual reports, and in-house signs and literature for customers and employees. Examples of initiatives to publicize include: recycling or product take-back campaigns; environmentally preferable purchasing policies, creating safer or "greener" workplaces; incorporating "green building" methods during renovation or construction, supporting local environmental programs; and using alternative or renewable energy sources. Practice what you preach by recycling. Make sure all recycling containers are properly labeled and visible, and follow up with maintenance staff to ensure that items designated for recycling are actually being recycled. Besides setting an environmentally responsible example for your customers and employees, recycling can reduce your solid waste costs, and even generate revenue. Advertise recycled content. Recycling has become an everyday activity for most people in the United States. In an effort to support recycling markets, many consumers have taken an interest in purchasing items made from recycled content. Government agencies across the country have also been mandated to purchase items with recycled content when using specific funds, or when purchasing certain types of products. Letting people know that you are working to “close the loop” through the manufacture or purchase of recycled-content products can enhance your organization’s image and expand your customer base. Receive recognition for your waste reduction and pollution prevention efforts. Contact the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Pollution Prevention Unit regarding their NYS Environmental Excellence Awards and the New York Environmental Leaders Program. Also consider contacting the USEPA’s WasteWise program for assistance with waste reduction, and information about their national awards programs.
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Reduce toxics in the workplace
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