Reducing Waste at Work

Reduce - Although recycling is great, the best thing you can do is to reduce the amount of waste you create in the first place.

Reuse - After reducing your waste, reusing it is the next best thing. Think before you throw an item in the bin; can it be reused for any other purpose? Is it of use to anyone else? Can it be donated to a charity?

Did you know? Islington Council can put you in touch with an office recycling firm, and also provides free on-site waste reduction advice for all businesses in the borough. All you need to do is contact us and arrange a suitable time for a visit. For more information, please click on the Business Recycling link on the right of this page.

Top tips to help you throw away less

Printing

• When buying printers, photocopiers and fax machines, choose ones with options for two-sided printing.

• Only print when you really need to. For example, at meetings use alternatives such as electronic copies.

• Print double-sided where possible.

• Reuse scrap paper for notes, or print rough notes on used paper.

Posting

• Reuse envelopes for internal circulation and, if possible, with a sticker for external mail.

• Pieces of card, such as those that form the back of A4 notepads, can be saved to stiffen envelopes, for sending photographs or artwork to printers.

Stationary

• Instead of ordering yet more stationary, hold a ‘Stationary Amnesty’ and see what your colleagues have got stashed in their desks.

• Get your colleagues to donate un-used stationary – you will be surprised at how much you collect!

Cancelling magazine subscriptions

• Do you really need it? Many of us continue to receive magazines and newsletters we don’t read, or that are now online. If you don’t read it, don’t just bin it – cancel it!

Food

• If you buy your lunch from a shop, refuse a carrier bag or re-use an old one.

• Bring your own mug and cutlery into work, instead of using disposables.

• Drink tap water instead of using bottled water.