How can we recycle paper at the office where I work?
I work in an accounting office and as you can imagine, 98% of our trash is all paper. There are several other offices in the area where ours is located so I would have assumed there would be some of kind of recycling bin… but there isn’t. Is this something I would have to bring up with the management of the building so we could begin getting these services? I live in San Diego (Southern California). Any kind of direction would help.
I should have mention we shred everything. While I love the idea of using both sides or saving paper for note-pads, the information we have is high-sensitive material and almost 100% of the time needs to be shredded.
everyone cares about a bottom line….
partnerships with other companies is probably the easiest way to go. See if there are any paper using factories around, for instance protor and gamble uses tons of dust to make baby wipes alone, you might be able to hook up a deal so that your company can pay less for their dumping, and/ or get paid to give those companies paper pulp:) you could shred it really good and give it to high schools to use for floats in their homecoming parades.
I would call your recycling company first, to see if they would provide their services to your office buildings. Then go to management with the facts & how it can be done. It wouldn’t hurt to get online & find out some percentages…Let them know how much paper goes to waste, and the benefits of recycling it…Just a thought…my $.02
Good luck & God bless…Keep up the good work
Get ahold of your local recycling company and see what kind of services they could offer. Then talk to management about the options and see if you can get the nearby offices to participate.
IN OUR OFFICE WE PUT ALL THE PAPER BACK IN BOXES UNUSED SIDE UP, AFTER 2 OR 3 BOXES ARE FILLED WE HAVE A LOCAL PRINTER GUY WHO PUTS THE RUBBER GLUE STUFF ON THE TOPS AND CUTS THEM FOR US IN DIFFERENT SIZES FOR SCRATCH PADS COST 10.00 AND MAKES MORE SCRAP PADS THEN YOU CAN EVER USE IN YEAR
We have boxes under each desk, besides the waste basket, for paper only and one very large container for paper in the mail room. Each week or so, depending on the amount of paper, it is taken to a recycling center and we get some $$ for it. The money is spent to give the staff a nice lunch once a month for their continuing efforts at conservation.
I would suggest the following because it does somehow work here where I work.
1) create a bin where blank sheets can be placed so that later on you can cut eh sheets in four and staple them and create small writing pads or note paper. The paper I am referring to can be from the fax or copier that many times due to error come out but you can’t re-use.
2) Have two trash cans one for regular trash and one for paper only. Also contact the recycling company and set up an appointment for them to come an pick up the trash once a week or more if you have that much trash paper.
Definitely take the matter to your Boss who might in-turn let their Boss know. Having a recycling program is of major importance. I thought every company had a mandatory policy so it is surprising to hear yours doesn’t. I would definitely bring this to the attention of my Boss. In my company, there is a weekly service that comes in and collects all the paper for recycling. They also go around to the nearby companies in the area. Goodluck! Hope your company starts this service soon! It is great that you are so aware and are wanting to do something about it.
bag the shredded paper and offer it free to staff and clients for home composting. It would make great paper for any handy crafty person. it also makes great nesting material for chooks.
First I when you recycle shredded paper you want to stick it in a separate bag from unshreded paper.
Now, call you local recycling company and usually they will give your company a couple bins and they will come and pick them up from you office and if there is enough paper they will usually pay you guys some money. So, I would suggest calling your cities recycling company.
Well in this case I would say money talks.
More then likely the building gets charged for the amount of garbage that needs to be picked up. I would go to the building manager and see if they have considered it. If not offer to help set up the service.
I know the school were we set up a recycling program it started to be fiscally better for them to recycle. They produced enough paper and other recycling waste to make so that the recycling co. Picked up the recycle bins for free. That cut the fees that the school had to pay for garbage disposal.
If they have considered and decided not to find out why then do some research and find out if you can set up a program that will make it cost effective for you. Where you work in an accounting firm see if you can get some of your co-workers to get on board with you and crunch some numbers for you.
Get permission to investigate how to go about doing it. Could start by yourself (after getting permission).
Yes..you should get in contact with your local city council and bring up the topic of this issue and explain how it can be very beneficial.
shredded paper can be baled and sold as pet bedding ( i know people who use it for their horses.
Consult the local city council for recycle bins or bring in one of your own.
There are agencies that will come out and shred documents for you on the premisis. They pull up in their trucks, haul your documents out, shred them and then give you the option of doing what you like with them.
I did this when I was working at an office 17 years ago that didn’t have any idea of recycling. The San Francisco waste management company was very helpful and scheduled a day/time for pick ups. I’m sure if the shredding company didn’t take the stuff to be recycled, you could easily arrange with your local waste management to have them pick up bags of shredded paper.
Good luck to you on this, and kudos for thinking about the environment!