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Things You Can Do to Green Your Office

A "Green Office" is a smarter and better office. It is ecological (using nontoxic, recycled, environmentally friendly products and supplies) and efficient (using as little energy and other resources as possible, and putting out the smallest amount of waste as possible).

Reducing the amount of waste your business produces helps cut waste removal and recycling costs, and cuts purchasing costs as well. Here are a few tips to help you reduce waste:

Purchase "green" products such as recycled paper and remanufactured toner cartridges. Purchase reusable products instead of disposable ones. Disposable products cost more and create more waste. Every cartridge you recycle prevents plastic from being thrown into landfills.

Always recycle all of your paper, or better yet, reuse the back of your paper as scrap paper. Reuse preprinted copies in the printer or copier for work drafts. Reuse in the fax machine for printing faxes. Collect one-sided copies to make note pads.

Reuse shipping boxes, envelopes, bags and mailers. Reuse the cardboard boxes your printer paper comes in as recycle bins under your desks and readily available near copiers, fax machines, mailboxes, and anywhere else that paper waste is generated. Reuse the envelopes, mailing packages and bag for other mailing purposes.

Donate old office equipment and office supplies that can still be used, but are no longer needed, to your local reuse facility where teachers and not-for-profit organizations can put them to good use. Donate bigger items such as office furniture to charities or second-hand stores.

Share magazines, newspapers and books with office associates before recycling them. Rather than receiving or buying multiple copies, request that your employer purchase only one copy of each publication to be shared among employees in the office.

Buy chlorine-free, high-recycled content printing, writing paper and tissue products. Use paper with post consumer content. 35% is the minimum post-consumer content recommended; but try to go for 100%!

Turn off computers, lights and other equipment at night and when not in use. Use timers for lights and equipment. Try to maximize use of natural light whenever possible. Install occupancy sensors that turn off the lights when no one is in the room.

Put photocopier to default on double sided copies and encourage all employees to make double sided copies whenever possible. Approximately two-thirds of all copiers are "duplex capable," yet the duplexing rate in the United Sates is only 15%.

If you don't have a recycling program at work, start one! Do your best to waste less, use greener products, and increase co-worker?s awareness of the impacts that individual behaviors have on conservation.

Information Sources

Co-Op America