Waste Reduction and Reuse in the Office
Waste minimisation techniques will vary greatly in different sectors. There are
plenty of organisations that can help you with your business area, for example
Business Links offer Environment and Efficiency guidance tailored to different
sectors.
Here are some simple tips which can help you reduce the amount of waste
your office produces:
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Review documents on screen and avoid printing where possible.
If you have to print out draft documents, use a small font or the 'shrink
to fit' option available with many software packages.
Store data and reports on memory sticks etc to save on paper copies.
Use both sides of the paper when printing and photocopying. Where
possible set your printers to print double sided by default.
Photocopy A3 to A4 if possible.
Use staplefree staplers to reduce use of metal staples.
Cancel unwanted subscriptions to avoid paper accumulating.
Buy only what you need. Think of stock control and how to streamline
processes across departments.
Buy in bulk. It will reduce your packaging.
When buying equipment consider products’ durability or lifespan.
Replacing equipment less often will reduce the waste you create.
Reuse in the office:
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Refill toner and ink-jet cartridges.
Use waste paper as notepaper.
Use durable cups, mugs, glasses and cutlery rather than disposable
alternatives.
Reuse envelopes.
Ask your staff to 'think before they throw'. Someone else may want to
use it.
See our Reuse page for more information.