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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Less waste means less cost for your business. When you efficiently use supplies, your bottom line improves. It makes sense to reduce waste, reuse whatever you can, and recycle the rest. When you reduce the trash, you can reduce the frequency of your trash collection service, saving you money.
For more information, contact Rainbow Disposal.
For more information, contact Rainbow Disposal.
Reduce Waste Suggestions
- Avoid using fax cover sheets
- Circulate memos, documents, reports and publications
- Design mailers which avoid the use of envelopes
- Eliminate unnecessary reports
- Make fewer copies, route copies and don't make more than you need
- Print or copy on both sides
- Proof and preview documents on screen before printing
- Reduce report size
- Remove duplicate names and out-of-date entries from mailing lists
- Set computers to automatically print 2-sided
- Use electronic mail and voice mail
Reuse Material Suggestions
- Donate magazines to local libraries, schools, hospitals, and nursing homes
- Donate old and outdated merchandise to charities rather than just throwing it in the trash, store remodeling produces construction and demolition debris in large amounts from time to time
- Purchase copiers and printers that will make 2-sided copies reliably
- Reuse boxes for shipping or storage
- Reuse envelopes by placing a label over the old address
- Reuse file folders
- Save paper that has been used on one side and reuse as draft paper in fax machines, for scratch pads, and copies (in copiers with multiple trays, one tray can be stocked with draft paper)
- Shred newspapers and reuse for packaging
- Use reusable envelopes for interoffice mail
Recycling Suggestions
- Don't buy thermal fax paper, glossy / plastic coatings, plastic windows, bright colors including goldenrod, laser printer inks, or adhesive products that can contaminate recyclable material
- If your office is small, combine your recyclables with other small offices nearby
- Paper reduction
- Print directly on envelopes rather than using labels
- Provide clearly labeled recycling bins near copiers, shipping and receiving areas, and in employee eating areas to collect white paper, mixed paper, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, as well as glass, aluminum, plastic, etc
- Provide desktop recycling containers for employees
Suggestions on How to Make Your Purchases Count
- Advertise surplus and reusable waste items through the California Materials Exchange Program (CALMAX) or a local materials exchange; call 916-255-2396 or email CALMAX for more information
- Buy fluorescent rather than incandescent bulbs
- Buy products in bulk or in concentrated form
- Buy products with no packaging, less packaging, or reusable packaging
- Have vendors take back packaging
- Invest in equipment which is high quality, durable, and recyclable
- Prior to recycling or disposing, check to see if anyone can reuse packaging
- Rent equipment that you only use occasionally
- Repack in the same cartons that transported material to your facility
- Sell or give old furniture and equipment to employees or donate to charity
- Use paper with at least 25% recycled content
Landscaping Suggestions
- Use plants that are low maintenance and generate less waste (grows slowly, doesn't need to be trimmed as often, and uses less water)
- Encourage your building's landscaper to grass cycle, compost, and mulch to reduce green waste that would be sent to the landfill or disposal
Related Information
Not sure what can be recycled? Click here for a complete list of recyclable and non-recyclable items and be sure your recyclables are empty, clean and dry before you recycle.