In 2020 there is a definite expectation that businesses will do their best to take care of the planet and recycle as much as possible. For some this is easy; for others, it’s much harder. It will take a little time to get a plan together as to exactly how and what should be recycled, but not all businesses consider this to be important.
The truth is, however, that this time is important. Putting the time and effort in now when it comes to determining your recycling regime will pay dividends in the long term; customers will be happier to use you if your green credentials are good, for example, plus you’ll save money on waste disposal services. So, here are some useful ways in which you can increase the amount you recycle within your business.
Collect More
There are many items that can be recycled within an office and warehouse environment. The first point you might think of is paper, bottles, and cans, but many more items can be saved from heading to landfill. These include cell phones and old computers, for example.
Check with your local recycling waste haulier (if you have one) to see what they will take as recycling material, and you might be surprised at what doesn’t actually have to go to landfill after all. Examples of what it might be possible to recycle include:
- Lightbulbs
- Electronics
- Printer cartridges
- Batteries
The more you can send to a recycling center rather than landfill, the better.
Invest
In some cases it will cost money to recycle items. You need to arrange for a collection, for example, or you need to take the items to the recycling center yourself (which takes time as well as money). In this case, if you make enough waste to warrant it, you can make an investment in your business when it comes to its recycling record, and you can buy specialist equipment that will help you to do this. If you have a lot of cardboard waste, you can invest in a cardboard recycling baler, which will help you to collect and dispose of the waste.
You can also invest in people. Again, if there is enough work to make it viable, you can hire a recycling manager who is in charge of making sure your company is doing its best when it comes to recycling.
Give A Reason
Sometimes, no matter what the rules are regarding recycling within your business, it can be hard for some employees to do their part. In this case, giving them a reason to recycle can work very well.
Many charities request for people to recycle cans, and for eyeglasses and e-waste to be sent to them so that they can make some additional money, or refurbish the items and give them to those in need. If your recycling – at least part of it – is for charity, and you remind your workers of this fact with posters around the office, it should be easier for them to comply. There will be less waste (which will therefore cost you less to dispose of) and the charities will benefit.
