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Top Tips
Rifle through your rubbish
Look at what you’re throwing away and ask yourself the following questions: Is this unnecessary wastage? Why is it in the bin? Have we got as much use out of it as we can? Can it be recycled? Can someone else make use of it? Remember, everything you throw away, you’ve already paid for so it’s up to you to make the most of it.
By rifling through your rubbish, you can identify the areas of our business that produce the most rubbish and try to find solutions to reduce it. Rethink Rubbish has the following suggestions:
In the office:
REDUCE
- Put memos on the notice board (or circulate to staff) rather than photocopying multiple copies. Better still, use e-mail, and don’t print e-mails off unless absolutely necessary.
- Proof-read on screen and print draft copies on scrap paper.
- Print on both sides of paper – it could cut the amount of paper in the office in half.
- When buying new equipment such as printers, photocopiers and faxes, choose ones with duplex options for two-sided printing.
REUSE
- Re-use envelopes for internal circulation, and if possible, with a sticker for external mail.
- Re-format and re-use old floppy disks, rather than buying new ones.
- Use scrap paper to make notes rather than new note pads.
RECYCLE
- Set up a recycling scheme in the office for scrap paper. Make sure recycling bins are placed close to people’s desks, so it’s easier to recycle paper than throw it away.
- Make use of computer and electronic recycling schemes for old equipment. For details of your nearest recycler, contact your local council or visit www.icer.org.uk or www.rei.org.uk
- By recycling used toner cartridges from printers you can also help charities. Scope, for example, receives up to £6 for a recycled toner cartridge, so every little helps. For more information visit www.scope.org.uk/recycling or call 0845 458 8822.
- Scope are one of a number of organisations who can also recycle your old mobile phones
In the kitchen:
- Use re-useable plates, cups and cutlery instead of disposable ones.
- Individual portion packs such as sugar or milk create a lot of unnecessary rubbish, so make use of a milk jug and a sugar bowl. Bulk buying can also help reduce packaging.
- Look at ways to compost waste food, either at the individual workplace, maybe by investing in a wormery, or through a local authority composting scheme. For further details about composting, visit www.compost.org.uk
- Large offices may provide can banks for recycling cans. Collectors operate nationally and would be able to collect them from your premises.
- Or set up an aluminium can recycling scheme in your kitchen or canteen. Aluminium cans are worth money, so schemes like this are a good way to raise funds for a chosen charity or worthy cause while motivating your work colleagues to think about recycling.
- If there is no real alternative to vending machines with plastic cups, look into schemes which collect them for recycling. To find out more visit www.save-a-cup.co.uk. Save-a-cup also manufactures a range of products from recycled cups, from pencils, to coasters, to business cards, so think about where you purchase your office goods too.
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You can do more than you think to help and it will make a huge difference - around 60% of your rubbish can be recycled
Alistair McGowan
Patron, Rethink Rubbish campaign
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