March 3, 2008—Envirowise challenged the UK’s 25 million office workers to replace individual trash cans in the workplace with just one—and watch the waste pile up.
Envirowise’s “One Bin Day” campaign took place February 21, but the organization challenges offices to continue the same strategy to make employees aware of what they use and throw away, and to rethink the way they use materials and handle waste.
Paper is an obvious focus of the campaign: Office workers can go through 50 sheets of paper a day, with several studies suggesting that much of this is wasted printing that goes straight into the trash. Overall, this reportedly contributes to 80.6 million tons of printing and writing paper entering the waste stream each year in the UK—24% of total UK waste.
According to Envirowise, approximately 70% of office waste is recyclable, but on average only 7.5% reaches a recycling facility. Bad waste practices are reportedly costing UK industry at least 15 billion each year.
Envirowise offers a range of simple steps to reduce office waste, including:
- Set the office printer to print on both sides of the paper by default.
- Use electronic communication where possible to reduce printing and faxing.
- Don’t print out e-mails unless absolutely necessary–add “think before you print” to the bottom of e-mail signatures as a prompt.
- Collect all paper that has been printed on one side and re-use it for printing in draft or for scrap message pads.
- Re-use envelopes wherever possible, especially for sending information internally.
- Place recycling bins in all offices
- Ensure that vending machines allow the use of china mugs rather than plastic vending cups.
- Avoid purchasing disposable catering products.
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For more about One Bin Day or for more tips on how to conserve paper, water, energy, electronics, and more around the office, visit the Envirowise Web site.
