Waste Reduction Tips for Businesses - PUB0209

Everyone can cut the amount of waste going to landfills. The following suggestions focus on what businesses can do to cut waste.

1. Assess the waste your business generates to determine areas with room for improvement.
2. Develop a waste reduction policy and educate employees about its requirements.
3. Use direct deposit for payroll.
4. Order in bulk.
5. Buy rechargeable cartridges for printers.
6. Salvage and reuse clean manufacturing scrap.
7. Use your buying power to encourage suppliers to use less packaging or more recyclable packaging. When possible, reuse packaging material, such as boxes, bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
8. Invest in office equipment that is durable and easy to repair. Extend equipment life through proper maintenance. Sell or donate old equipment and purchase refurbished equipment. Buy copiers that copy on both sides of paper.
9. Rent equipment that you use infrequently.
10. Establish a recycling system for office paper, cardboard, etc.
11. Edit documents on the computer rather than printing drafts.
12. Store information digitally instead of on paper.
13. Reformat faxes to omit cover sheets and transmittal reports.
14. Save and reuse interoffice envelopes, manila envelopes, file folders and boxes.
15. Maintain central files rather than using multiple files.
16. Make announcements via email, central bulletin boards, chalkboards, telephone or in staff meetings rather than in memos.
17. Use office scrap paper for copying internal memos and documents or for scratch pads.
18. File journals and reports in a central location to eliminate the need for each employee to receive a copy.
19. Use reusable rags instead of paper towels or napkins.
20. Use sturdy, reusable wood pallets to ship merchandise. Repair broken wood pallets.
21. Offer corporate coffee mugs or water glasses to employees.
22. Conduct only “green” meetings, using reusable cups, glasses, plates and utensils.
23. Remove your name from mailing lists for materials you no longer want.
24. Keep your business’ mailing lists current to avoid duplication and mailings to invalid addresses.
25. Donate old magazines to hospitals, nursing homes or libraries.
26. Purchase and use only rechargeable batteries.
27. Join a waste exchange program.
28. Compost food scraps from office kitchen and employee lunches.