Okay, so you’re sold on the green; Where do you start? Start with the “Three Rs” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Just remember, the Three R’s are in order for a reason: businesses should start with Reduce, move on to Reuse, and end with Recycle. In this way, you can make it easier for employees to go green; many companies rush to implement a recycling program, only to see it backfire.
When you’re ready to start, take a good look around you. Sit down with the employees and involve them in the process. Behavior changes are often the best thing you can do: they don’t cost a penny and they don’t create any waste (an example would be asking employees to turn off the lights when they leave a room, instead of installing sensors that turn them off). automatically). However, they require repetition and reinforcement, so adopt new practices, be patient with slow learners, and don’t be too demanding at first. Nobody likes a recycling Nazi!
reducing. The easiest places to reduce are usually energy, water, and waste. Can you use less energy? If not, can you use more efficient light bulbs or Energy Star appliances? These will save money on utility bills. To prevent the production of new waste, install new light bulbs and appliances only when the old ones have been used up. Next, take a look at reducing your water use. Many county water districts offer free audits that will tell you where you’re overusing, and some will even give you free accessories, from faucet adapters to toilet bowls! Lastly, take a look at your junk. If you use paper cups for coffee breaks, encourage employees to bring their favorite cup from home. If you’re not recycling, ask your waste disposal company what your options are; there may be more than one. The City of San Francisco offers free white paper recycling to downtown businesses. For an accounting or law firm, this could mean a 50% reduction in junk bills, just by separating the white paper from the trash! Again, save the Third R for last, but feel free to investigate while you’re Cutting Down.
Reusing. Repurposing isn’t just for paper bags and office supplies! You can reuse by copying on both sides of the paper or by purchasing ink cartridges that are refillable. This R focuses on the practice of discouraging a “disposable” mentality, so when looking for ways to reuse, ask yourself: what would you do in your business if you couldn’t throw anything away and couldn’t buy anything new? ? The best part of reusing is that it has the added benefit of reducing waste in many areas. A Toyota dealer in Dallas, for example, found a way to reuse old motor oil to heat their shop in the winter, which not only lowers their disposal fees, but lowers their utility bill as well.
recycling. The most well-known R, recycling has gotten a bit tricky since the days of “It’s good for the bottle, it’s good for the can.” Recycling something is putting it back into the waste stream in order to turn it into a raw material that can be re-manufactured into something else. The best place to start when you are ready to implement a recycling program is with your waste management company. They will know more about what is recyclable in their area. That’s how it is; Not everything is recyclable everywhere! When implementing a program, again, it’s wise to start simple: start with bottles and cans, that everyone can recognize. Go to paper, then plastic. In time, you may want to tackle “food recycling,” also known as composting.
Just like improving your health, going green requires some lifestyle changes, and the less drastic in the beginning, the easier it will be. Give your business and customers time to warm up to going green, or you may find yourself throwing in the green towel. Most importantly, don’t fall into the trap of trying to be “environmentally perfect.” Even if you can’t do everything you want to at first, set reasonable goals and do your best to achieve them. Every little bit counts, and the Earth will benefit from your efforts, no matter how small. You don’t have to be big to make a big difference!