Being "Green" in the Office

Blogging for the Environment, October 15, 2007.

How can we be better stewards of our environment at the office? I have come up with a few ideas and would welcome any comments from any readers if they have other ideas.

• Take a bus to work, walk, bicycle or carpool if possible
• Photocopy or print double sided (post a sign by the photocopier if you need to)
• Do you really need to print it? Burning it on a CD might work just as well
• Recycle paper from the printer areas (be careful not to recycle confidential waste: either shred it or put it in secure bins)
• Ensure your office has plenty of recycle bins by each desk - as well as large recycle bins for cans, glass, newspapers and mixed waste paper
• Recycle your kitchen office garbage. If you don't have a collection system at work, perhaps a volunteer could take it home everyday and compost it
• Email telephone messages to save on paper clutter and waste
• E-cycle: participate in recycling used electronic office equipment
• If you are in a position to do so, order recycled paper for your office, buy it, or talk to your boss about the possibility of ordering it.
• Take your lunch to work in recyclable containers
• Use a "real cup" for coffee (or drinks) and avoid using "styrofoam" altogether. Also make sure you have extra cups for visitors.
• Use environmentally friendly dish soap in your office kitchen (usually someone just brings this in, or someone orders it, so this is an easy one) - Nature Clean is a good product.
• If possible recycle your toners.
• Bring batteries to recyling depots in your office or town
• When ordering catering, order "real cutlery" and plates and avoid using disposables
• Make sure the lights are off when you leave, as well as your computers (if possible, check with your IT Department)
• Make sure you have a tray nearby for pages that have a lot of white space on them. You may be able to get it bound by a Print Shop and used as message pads.
• If you have magazine subscriptions that you no longer require, cancel your subscription.
• Also, if people have left the organization, make sure you "return to sender" and let the company know to take this person off their distribution list.
• If you have the opportunity to check your bosses mail, and you notice that he throws magazines out, or gets a lot of "generic letters" from companies, check to be sure and if agreeable, ask that he or she be taken off the mailing list.
• In the winter open the blinds during the day and close them at night and do the opposite in the summer.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator when possible - it's healthier for you too.
• If in a position to suggest this, encourage people to tele-conference or videoconference instead of travelling
• Talk to other employees in the office - they may have other ideas

Submitted by Angela, Environmentally-Minded University Student