Making money to sustain or grow existing assets and minimize losses is a central goal for all businesses. Saving money is one reliable means to positively affect your bottom line, and in an increasingly eco-conscious world, recycling is a highly accessible and effective way for your business to save money and get a step closer to meeting its financial goals. You can take a big step forward by simply setting out recycling bins throughout the workplace. It just so happens that most recycling programs are easy enough to follow, provided you have the right information and tools in place before taking the company-wide environmentally conscious leap.
Recycle Ink and Toner
Take advantage of ink and toner rewards programs that allow you to earn redeemable points toward future purchases. Doing so helps saves money on later purchases of ink, toner and various other office products while preventing landfills from becoming congested with ink and toner cartridges that reportedly require up to 1,000 years to decompose. [1] The latter affects both the environment and your business, because consumers increasingly care about environmentally conscious businesses and support businesses that make greener choices. To expedite the collection of used ink and toner around the office, set up designated recycling bins that employees can simply drop electronic consumables into as required.
Buy Recycled Paper and Recycle Used Paper
Buying recycled paper and recycling the used paper you have on hand helps saves trees and money while also helping to conserve energy and water, in addition to supporting efforts to reduce pollution. [2] It also reduces business waste, which helps maintain your company's commercial efficiency. When you conserve resources, you have more to dispose of in key areas over the long haul. If you must complete in-house print jobs, use old letterhead for in-house memos and tear up used memos to make scrap paper. Consider dedicated wastepaper baskets at each desk just for collecting and recycling used paper.
Go Biodegradable Whenever Possible
Embracing greener options is an effective way to distinguish yourself from competitors.[3] It's why Newsweek magazine compiles a much publicized annual list of the greenest companies. Green companies get attention, including patronage from like-minded consumers. Incorporate greener features into your business culture from the inside out with biodegradable products, such as cleaners. Biodegradable products reduce exposure to harsh chemicals and are generally safer for you, employees, customers and the environment.
Educate Employees and the Public About Recycling
The success of any recycling program hinges upon levels of awareness and agreement between concerned parties. Recycling is the law in many cities, but recycling infrastructure is as diverse as each urban or civic locality. In some places a handful of non-recyclable items in a recycle bin renders the entire bin unrecyclable to the carrier.[4]
Set up informational hubs within common areas that teach employees about internal and external recycling and what items to put where. Then be sure to have marked recycling containers ready to receive corresponding items.
Shed New Light With CFL and LED Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
The primary goal of recycling is to reduce the expenditure of energy and resources. Purchasing energy-efficient light bulbs for your compact fluorescent lamp isn't a form of recycling per se, but it's a greener choice than standard incandescent bulbs that saves up to $200 per bulb over time. Give some thought to changing your light bulbs from standard to CFL or LED, and watch your overhead take a wonderful dip for the better.
Recycling can save money and valuable resources for your business. Reinvest these conserved assets to grow your business or fund new endeavors that will eventually expand or enrich your business and company culture. Key ingredients in recycling programs are education and proper tools, such as recycling bins and recycled products as well as information about incentive-based recycling like ink and toner rewards programs.
Similar to recycling, energy-efficient products such as CFL and LED light bulbs conserve energy and resources that count toward your bottom line and business goals. Adding green value to your company's culture and image also scores favorable attention from the public, which puts more power and resources into your pocket by the end of the year.
1. http://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/green/10-ways-going-green-saves-your-business-money/#sm.0001819ycifmde7sx8q1krvakc7dq
2. http://www2.humboldt.edu/paperpolicy/benefits.html
3. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2013/02/07/10-ways-to-green-your-business-and-save-money/#34bf41c85c9e
4. http://www.starbucks.com/responsibility/environment/recycling
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