Businesses generate a huge amount of waste, and making sure you manage that waste properly is essential. As well as being environmentally responsible, it can also lead to savings, and it can improve your image as a business that cares for the planet.
So how should you go about separating and storing your business waste?
Set Up Recycling Bins in the Office
One of the simplest ways to get started is to set up bins around the office that can be used for recycling different materials. Most businesses get through a lot of paper, and a few strategically placed bins can encourage more staff to recycle. You could also have bins for plastic, metal and glass, and your employees could bring in their recyclable materials as well.
You may want to work with a recycling company. They can often provide the bins and handle the collection and transportation for you, and this is the most convenient option. Wrap has some good information on business collections, and you can also find out from your local council about their collection services.
Recycle Your Old Ink Cartridges
If your business is like most, you will do a lot of printing, and this means you will get through a lot of ink cartridges. Rather than throwing them away, recycle them. Ink cartridges can be refilled and reused, and even if you don’t reuse them yourself, you can still send them to be reused. If you buy your ink cartridges online at a store like Stinky Ink, once they are empty, make sure you don’t just throw them away.
Encourage Staff to Get Involved
Make sure your staff all know their responsibilities when it comes to recycling. Remind them at meetings, in emails, and put up notes next to the bins reminding employees to recycle the item if possible before throwing it into the general waste. Hold a meeting and get some ideas thrown around, and perhaps you can find one or two people want to be responsible for running your recycling scheme.
Special Types of Waste
There are some types of waste that have special requirements. Hazardous waste like chemicals can be harmful, and there are special ways to recycle this. How you store it and process it are all controlled, so find out about these
Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is another specialist area. When you do not need your computers any more, they have to be disposed of properly and you don’t want to send them to landfill. Again, there are organisations that can sort out the disposal of e-waste, so find out about these and make sure you know about the regulations.
Store Waste Properly
However you store your waste to be recycled, it should be kept safe and secure in suitable containers. When you store waste, you have to make sure it cannot leak and cause damage, and this means making sure waste is contained in a strong container.
If you are involved in manufacturing products that produces more waste, there may be specific legal requirements that you have to follow when it comes to storage.
Recycle More Effectively at Work
Every business can recycle waste at work, so think about how you could either implement or improve your recycling scheme. Once you have an effective recycling scheme up and running, make sure people know about it because this can make a positive impression on your customers by improving your brand image.
John Sollars always has one eye on the printing industry. When he finds something interesting, he likes to share it by posting online. Look for his informative articles on a variety of websites and blogs.