From soft drink cans and post-it notes to take away lunch boxes and water bottles, businesses create a considerable amount of rubbish each day and too much of it ends up in landfills. That is why many businesses throughout Australia have launched workplace recycling programs. By following a few simple steps, you can start one too:
Step 1: Get organizational buy-inAnyone can start a recycling program, but it’s important to get buy-in from management and staff to create a sense of team and shared enthusiasm around the initiative. Step 2: Find a recycling coordinator Someone needs to be the captain of your recycling ship to get supplies, post signage and coordinate all internal and external efforts. Consider choosing someone who is passionate about environmental issues, a good communicator, and has the time to commit. Step 3: Gauge your potential. Goals help you focus. To get started, you should estimate your waste reduction potential by doing an inventory of current waste, including the volume and material of waste. This helps you identify what your waste consists of and major areas where you can improve.Step 4: Contact your recycling providerNow it’s time to contact your local recycling provider to obtain appropriate bins and signage for your program and negotiate fees and pick-up times. Step 5: Set up your stations You’re ready to put the bins out in the workplace. Be sure to identify convenient areas for coworkers to recycle, such as in the kitchen, near vending machines and possibly closest to the biggest office targets! Step 6: Educate The last step in a recycling program is to educate your coworkers. This can be as simple as posting signs near the recycling bins as to what is recyclable and what isn’t, but you can also make it more fun by having office challenges and company sponsored lunch and learns. Happy Recycling!Image: Gualtiero Boffi/Shutterstock