| |
Green Office: Recycling
How To Go Green In The Workplace
|
|
 |
Green Office: Recycling
How To Go Green In The Workplace
Green has become the buzzword of the decade. It seems nearly every business is trying to make its operations more environmentally friendly. Implementing a green strategy can involve everything from the rooftop to the basement. We’ll focus our efforts on activities you as an office manager or home-office worker can do to help the environment.
A comprehensive discussion is well beyond the scope of this article. Instead, we’ll give you some suggestions you can implement today along with sources to turn to for further information. A quick internet search will turn up many more great ideas to make your office or home office more environmentally friendly.
As you think about how you can improve your workplace, consider this: The less you consume, the less you’ll have to discard. And the more you’ll save! So the first step you take should be determining which products you need less of or merely don’t need at all.
Recycling
Americans generate a lot of trash: nearly 72 million tons of paper products alone each year, according to EPA estimates. Thankfully, we’ve really jumped on the recycling bandwagon. Many states prohibit discarding common materials into landfills and augment that with strong recycling programs. But consumers understand the value of recycling, at home anyway. What about at work? And what about non-paper products? Let’s review some of your options.
Ink and toner cartridges: By one estimate, approximately 360 million ink and toner cartridges are disposed of each year. That’s a lot of plastic heading to the landfill. Some office supply stores recycle them at no charge. You may also be able to refill your ink jet cartridge. Refurbishing firms, such as Caboodle Cartridge (www.caboodle.com) give you a discount on your purchase of a new cartridge when you bring in an empty.
Electronic equipment: While the computer age has improved our lives immensely, it has added a new wrinkle to our disposal problems. Electronic equipment contains a wide range of nasty materials, including lead, mercury, and chromium. We should keep that equipment out of the landfills. Consider donating your used equipment to a non-profit organization or school. (You may be able to take a deduction; see your tax advisor.) Goodwill Industries (www.goodwill.org) accepts some computers. Contact your local store for more details.
Apple (www.apple.com) and HP (www.hp.com) offer recycling programs for electronic equipment. For customers in the United States, Apple offers a free recycling program of old computers and displays with the purchase of a new Mac. HP offers free recycling of computers, monitors, scanner, cell phones (and their batteries), and ink jet cartridges, among other items. Visit their Web sites for more details on these programs.
Finally, contact your city or county recycling office. Some municipalities accept computer equipment and peripherals. Make sure you delete all important files—but not the operating system—from your hard drive before donating. Various companies produce software, some for free, that will wipe your hard drive. You can find those quickly on the internet.
Office furniture: charitable organizations such as Goodwill and Society of St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org) accept some items. Contact your local store for more details. Also, various retail stores buy used furniture for resale. A quick internet search under “used office furniture” will turn up numerous listings. You may be able to make a few bucks on your old furniture and, like donating, keep it from ending up in the landfill.
For larger organizations, the Environmental Protection Agency offers a program to encourage reductions in the amount of waste generated. Called WasteWise, the program provides free assistance to help develop, implement, and measure waste-reduction activities. The EPA publishes a number of documents on this program, and holds regular events that offer organizations an opportunity to share ideas and learn from others’ success. Remember that anything you can do to reduce the amount of waste you generate will save you money on purchasing and disposal costs. To learn more about WasteWise, go to www.epa.gov/wastewise/about/overview.htm.
Controlling indoor air quality
A big concern here is mold. Office workers can rely on building staff to monitor the environment and correct any problems. Those who work at home are on their own. One issue that occasionally causes problems in the home is mold. In high enough concentration, it can cause allergic reactions in those sensitive to the spores. Effects can range from mild (sneezing, runny nose, and such) to severe. Mold has been known to cause asthmatic attacks in those with asthma.
Because mold is usually associated with moisture problems, you must deal with the moisture in order to control mold buildup. Severe leaks may require the help of experts. But even high humidity can aid the growth of mold. Some steps you can take include:
1. Run a dehumidifier or air conditioner during humid days. Some experts recommend you keep indoor air below 60 percent relative humidity. Inexpensive meters are available at discount and home-improvement stores.
2. Immediately wipe up condensation that appears on windows or window sills. This is a clear indication of high humidity, which you must address. (Doing so also protects the wood in your window frame.)
3. Open a window or run the fan when showering. Also, use the exhaust fan when cooking or running your dishwasher. (To save on your electric bill, let your dishes air dry.)
4. Make sure your dryer is vented outside and there are no leaks in the hose.
5. Wrap cold-water pipes with insulation to prevent condensation.
Going green is a lot easier than you may think. Even little steps you take can make a big difference to our environment and, potentially, your pocketbook.
Email This
|
|
|
|
|