-
Establish a company-wide
double-sided copying policy, and
be sure future copiers purchased
by your company have
double-sided capability.
-
Reuse envelopes or use two-way (“send-’n-return”)
envelopes.
-
Keep mailing lists current to
avoid duplication
-
Make scratch pads from used
paper
-
Circulate (rather than copy)
memos, documents, periodicals,
and reports.
-
Reduce the amount of advertising
mail you receive by writing to
the Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service, P.O.
Box
9008, Farmingdale, NY
11735-9008, and ask that your
business be eliminated from mail
lists.
-
Use outdated letterhead for
in-house memos
-
Put company bulletins on voice
or Waste_Recycling_Articles.htm mail or post on a
central bulletin board.
-
Save documents on hard drives or
floppy disks instead of making
paper copies.
-
Use central files to reduce the
number of hard copies your
company retains.
-
Proof documents on the computer
screen before printing.
-
Eliminate unnecessary reports.
-
Donate old magazines and
journals to hospitals, clinics,
or libraries.
-
Order merchandise in bulk.
-
Purchase products with minimal
packaging and/or in concentrated
form.
-
Work with suppliers to minimize
the packaging used to protect
their products
-
Establish a system for returning
cardboard boxes and foam peanuts
to suppliers for reuse
-
Request that deliveries be
shipped in returnable and/or
recyclable containers.
-
Minimize the packaging used for
your products
-
Use reusable and/or recyclable
containers for shipping your
products
-
Repair and reuse pallets or
return them to your supplier
-
Reuse newspaper and shredded
paper for packaging
-
Reuse foam packing peanuts,
bubble wrap, and cardboard
boxes, or donate to another
organization
-
Rent equipment that is used only
occasionally
-
Reuse worn out tires for
landscaping, swings, etc.
-
Purchase remanufactured office
equipment
-
Establish a regular maintenance
routine to prolong the life of
equipment like copiers,
computers, and heavy tools.
-
Use rechargeable batteries where
practical
-
Install reusable furnace and air
conditioner filters
-
Reclaim usable parts from old
equipment
-
Recharge fax and printer
cartridges or return them to the
supplier for remanufacture
-
Sell or give old furniture and
equipment to other businesses,
local charitable organizations,
or employees.
-
Implement an improved inventory
system (such as systems based on
optical scanners) to provide
more precise control over
supplies
-
Avoid ordering excess supplies
that may never be used.
-
Advertise surplus and reusable
waste items through a materials
exchange.
-
Set up an area in your business
for employees to exchange used
items.
-
Donate surplus produce to food
banks, if still edible
-
Substitute less toxic or
nontoxic products for products
such as inks, paints, and
cleaning solvents.
-
Use products that promote waste
reduction (products that are
more durable, of higher quality,
recyclable, reusable).
-
Where appropriate, order
supplies in bulk to reduce
excess packaging.