If your company has been considering how to recycle, or if you have tried but it does not seem to be working, then you’ll want to make sure you have thought about these four things:
- First thing: Start simple. What is the easiest item in your office or business to recycle? Maybe you use a lot of paper that can be recycled? For an office, paper is one of the easiest items to start recycling.
- Second thing: Look at the office paper “traffic patterns”. As the paper moves from printers to offices to mailrooms, where is the paper being thrown out? Those areas are the best places to set up recycling bins. Place them right next to the printer for those pages that were misprinted. Make them convenient for sorting office “junk” mail. Even moving the wastebasket a little further away, so the paper recycling bin is more convenient can help establish the recycling habit!
- Third thing: Make sure the recycling bin is eye-catching. Depending on the workspace, employees may not immediately be able to locate the recycling bins. People often feel too busy to spend what may feel like an eternity searching for the recycling bin. Making sure it stands out will encourage recycling in the office.
- Fourth thing: Advertise! Use posters, office email; even a meeting can help raise awareness. Get the word out that your business has recycling bins. Encourage input. This can help determine what is working and what needs some changes.
Paper may be the easiest in the office, but if a business has costumers coming in throughout the day, maybe glass or can recycling is a better start. Take time to consider these four things and create a plan that works for your business.
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