5 tips for implementing a recycling strategy at work

With the plastic carrier bag tax in full swing here in England, I’ve been thinking about recycling recently.

We do what we can at home to recycle as much as we can, and I’m fortunate that I work from home too. So I can be pretty much in control of what goes into my bin.

But what if you work in an office or factory where you don’t get to make the decisions.

How influential can you be on promoting recycling in the work place?

Well the first thing to remember is that all businesses want to increase their bottom line and done properly, recycling can save the workplace money – so that’s a great place to start!

Once the decision maker has pound signs infront of their eyes and is listening, your job is to make recycling a no-brainer so s/he can’t wait to implement a recycling strategy.

Know what you’re dealing with

The first piece of information you need is what, specifically, are you dealing with? This will involve some kind of waste audit which can be as simple or complex as you like. You can carry this out yourself or call a professional in for help.

Decide on the first waste stream

As with any other habit in life, baby steps ensure success. Pick just one area to focus on – perhaps paper for an office, food waste for a restaurant or textiles waste for a fabric store.

Ban the bin!

I used to work in an office where everyone had an individual bin under their desk. By removing these and installing recycling areas you reduce the risk of things being thrown into landfill. And as sitting is the new smoking it will keep staff healthier if they have to take a short walk to recycle things throughout the day!

Make sure staff are informed

It’s much easier if everyone knows what they are doing, so regular meetings to keep track of progress and clear signage is key. You can download free posters from WRAP.

Compact it

Many workplaces are short on space so be innovative with storing your recycling. For example, the CafeCrush from Unisan means you can reduce waste volume by 90%, reducing the amount of times the materials need collecting and therefore reducing bills with your waste contractor.

Have you ever successfully implemented a recycling programme in your workplace? What tips could you share?