One of the best ways to reduce waste in the workplace is to reduce the amount of waste that is generated to begin with. Below are several tips for different ways to reduce, reuse and recycle when purchasing, packaging, publishing, equipment purchasing and landscaping among others.

This list was adapted from: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - It's Good Business, A Guide for California Businesses. California Integrated Waste Management Board Publication #500-94-004.

 Purchasing

• Establish purchasing guidelines to encourage waste prevention
• Consider length of warranty and availability of repair services when purchasing equipment
• Use optical scanners for more precise inventory maintenance and/or supply ordering
• Order supplies in bulk to reduce excess packaging
• Order supplies via voice mail, e-mail or the internet to save paper
• Substitute less toxic materials for toxic materials (e.g. vegetable inks, water based glue, markers and paints)
• Request that deliveries be shipped in returnable containers
• Buy products with recycled content

Packaging

• Eliminate unneeded packaging or layers of packaging
• Use lightweight packaging
• Use reusable boxes and mail bags for shipping to branch offices, stores and warehouses
• Reuse packaging (e.g. foam peanuts, bubble wrap and cardboard boxes)
• Return, reuse and or/repair wooden pallets and spools
• Order packages with minimum packaging and in bulk

Writing/Printing - Paper

• Make double-sided copies whenever possible
• Reuse envelopes or use two-way envelopes
• Circulate memos. documents, periodicals and reports instead of printing individual copies
• Use e-mail or voice mail or put messages on a central bulletin board
• Make scratch pads from used paper
• Use outdated letterhead for internal memos
• Eliminate unnecessary forms, double-side forms, or create half-page forms
• Use narrow-ruled notebooks
• Save documents on the computers instead of printing hard copies
• Use smaller font, margins when printing
• Proof items on the computer before printing
• Print draft on recycled paper
• Use same draft of an item for multiple reviewers
• Accept final copies with hand-written notes
• Donate old magazines and newspapers to hospitals, clinics or libraries
• Keep mailing lists current
• Call or mail postcards directly to sender asking that your business be removed from mailing lists
• Reduce advertising mail by writing to: Direct Marketing Assoc, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 3861, NY NY 10163-3861

Over-stocked, Exchangeable Items

• Set up an area for employees to exchange used items
• Advertise surplus and reusable waste items through a commercial waste exchange. CALMAX is a materials exchange network in California and services are available at no cost to users. Call 916-255-2369 for a free catalog and materials listing form

Equipment

• Use remanufactured office equipment
• Rent equipment that is used only occasionally
• Invest in high quality, durable equipment that prevents waste
• Install reusable heating, ventilation and air conditioning filters
• Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent lights
• Use rechargeable batteries whenever possible
• Institute maintenance practice to prolong life of copiers, printers, computers, etc.
• Reclaim reusable parts from old equipment
• Use recharged or rebuilt faxes and printer cartridges
• Sell or give old furniture and equipment to employees or donate to charity
• Find uses for old tires (swings, landscaping, etc.)
• Rotate tire and keep them properly filled to maintain tire integrity

Landscaping Organics

• Use a mulching mower or retrofit your mower and leave grass clippings in lawn (grass cycling)
• Compost grass clippings and leaves or ask your landscaper to send trimmings to a composting facility
• Use compost as a topsoil amendment or request your landscaper contractor to use it
• Choose a landscape design that needs low maintenance and generates little waste
• By a chipper and turn tree and shrub clippings into mulch

Food and Personal Services

• Use cloth towels, tablecloths and napkins, as well as reusable dished, flatware and glasses
• Encourage employees to bring their own flatware, silverware and glasses
• Buy company mugs and stop providing disposable cups
• Encourage customers to take extra food and/or offer smaller portions
• Arrange for food banks to pick up unused food
• Sell or give food scraps to farmers who can process it for feed (check with local health and/or agricultural agencies)
• Use reusable coffee filters or unbleached disposable filters
• Reuse trash can liners or eliminate whenever possible
• Consider using small cloth towels, hot air dryers, large paper rolls in rest rooms or buy smaller/lighter sized towels
• Provide condiments in bulk dispensers

Consumer Choices

• Encourage customers to bring their own bag(s)
• Offer customers a rebate when they reuse grocery bags, containers, mugs and cups
• Offer customers waste reduction choices such as:
  • Items in bulk or concentrate
  • Solar-powered items such as calculators
  • Flashlights
  • Durable merchandise
  • Repairable merchandise, and;
  • Items in refillable containers
• Encourage customers to return reusable items such as metal hangers to dry cleaner
• Promote waste prevention through advertising

Download Business Recycling Ordinance Information Booklet to learn more about the business recycling program requirements. For more information about Business Recycling, email SWABusinessRecycling@SacCounty.net.