Offices 1. Letterhead: experiment with a heavier grade and start writing business letters on both sides of it. 2. Make two-sided photocopies. 3. Use both sides of paper for inter-office communication. 4. For notepaper: use photocopy rejects, used envelopes, old memos, etc. 5. Reuse materials, such as file folders, inter-office envelopes, boxes, and paper. 6. Share reports and periodicals instead of duplicating or buying multiple copies. 7. Circulate and post memos rather than making a copy for every employee. 8. Use electronic mail where possible instead of paper. 9. Create a central filing system instead of maintaining duplicate personal files. 10. Recharge and reuse laser printer cartridges, and re-ink printer ribbons. 11. Remove your company name from unwanted mailing lists. Write to: Mail Preference Service Direct Market Association 5 East 43rd Street New York, NY 10017-4610 12. Provide a ceramic or heavy (recycled) plastic mug for each employee, rather than paper or Styrofoam disposables. 13. Give away old magazines and newspapers to hospitals and clinics. 14. Use cloth towels rather than paper. 15. Use recycled paper or permanent metal mesh coffee filters rather than virgin white paper. 16. Contact a recycling company in your area to pick up office paper. Food Services 1. Use linen towels, tablecloths, and napkins instead of disposable products. 2. Use soft-drink dispensers, kegs, and bulk containers where appropriate rather than individual bottles or cans. Serve in reusable glasses. 3. Provide separate containers for recyclables (steel, aluminum, glass, plastic), composting (if appropriate), and garbage. 4. Invest, where appropriate, in a low-temp, water-miser dishwasher, switch to reusable dishware and flatware, and phase out disposables. 5. Examine waste or portion control packs versus bulk food purchases in such items as condiments, cereals, drinks, and toppings. If portion control economies are better, ask your supplier or write to the manufacturer about getting the packs in materials that can be recycled, such as #1, #2, or #4 plastic. 6. Use Pre-prepped foods wherever possible to reduce packaging and organic waste. 7. Send all oil and grease to a fat renderer. Shipping and Receiving 1. Work out a system for reusing packing material or returning them to the supplier. 2. Return cardboard boxes to distributors for credit. 3. Order products in bulk. 4. Return or repair pallets, and where possible, use pallets made of recyclable materials. 5. For internal shipping — to branch offices, stores, and warehouses –replace cardboard boxes with durable multi-use boxes. 6. Ask your suppliers to use recyclable and biodegradable packing materials for all shipments. Reuse Checklist __ Contact your suppliers and customers to discuss materials and packaging you can agree to reuse, trade, or both. __ Use blank side of used paper for notes and rough drafts. __ Make two-sided photocopies. __ Reuse durable packaging from manufacturers and suppliers __ Track equipment usage, and rent or borrow rather than buy items and equipment you rarely use. __ Start an in-house materials exchange program to advertise surplus items for your employees. __ Start a materials exchange network with businesses in your building, complex, or neighborhood, and participate with related industries and state agencies. __ Donate used office equipment to charitable organizations–contact each first to learn what they will accept. __ Buy durable goods you can repair and continue using.
