| Recycling programs have been steadily expanding | | | | and clip-on riders to turn any wastebasket into a |
| over the past few years throughout municipalities | | | | dual-purpose bin. |
| and towns as well as in industry and business. | | | | The placement of recycling containers also makes |
| However, there is still a long way to go before | | | | participating in the office program easier until it |
| everyone gets on board. For example, | | | | becomes second nature. Always place them |
| researchers estimate that 60% of the garbage | | | | where garbage is created. Placing bins for |
| that ends up in landfills could have been recycled | | | | recycling paper near every copier, fax, and printer |
| instead. In fact, a recent survey showed that | | | | is the best way to capture paper garbage. Bins |
| almost 9 out of 10 people would participate in | | | | for recycling plastic and cans work well in |
| active programs more if it were easier to do so. | | | | conference rooms and break rooms. Bins for |
| In the office, there are two ways to improve | | | | recycling cardboard are best located in the |
| those numbers. In order to encourage more | | | | shipping and receiving department. |
| participation in the office program, the right | | | | Some companies also offer customized bins for |
| recycling containers make the entire process | | | | recycling. Fiberglass bins can have a company logo |
| easier to understand and to get right. Still, some | | | | or slogan printed directly on them to really foster |
| people don't participate for a number of reasons, | | | | an inclusive environment. The personalized touch |
| so it is important to educate fellow employees on | | | | on bins for recycling creates a positive impact on |
| the benefits that we enjoy from these programs. | | | | employees. |
| Let's take a look at how the right containers and | | | | Education |
| employee education will empower the office | | | | These office programs offer immense benefits to |
| program. | | | | the environment and our quality of life. A simple |
| Making It Easy To Participate | | | | daily email or posting on a message board can |
| Understanding how to recycle is easy in the long | | | | contain some small fact about why these |
| run, but many people don't get it at first. There | | | | programs are so important and their overall |
| are a number of questions, such as what type of | | | | benefits. Use facts that focus on how much |
| material can go in which bin or what type of | | | | money, energy, and natural resources are saved |
| plastics can be recycled. Having the right kinds of | | | | along with new jobs that are created to |
| containers can answer these questions and make | | | | strengthen the economy. The EPA provides great |
| participation convenient. | | | | numbers, like how 1 ton of recycled paper saves |
| Multi-purpose recycling containers are ideal for | | | | 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic |
| sorting recyclables. There are 90-gallon units | | | | yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 |
| available with several compartments that are | | | | kilowatt-hours of electricity, which is enough |
| explicitly marked to make sorting garbage easy. | | | | energy to power the average American home |
| The larger capacity allows them to be placed in a | | | | for five months. |
| cafeteria or other large common area as a 1-step | | | | With the right bins and a focus on education, |
| solution. For each office, there are smaller, | | | | every business program can enjoy a boost in |
| convenient dual compartment recycling containers | | | | participation and effectiveness. |