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Greening the Workplace: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Greening the office is a great way to improve your personal sustainability as well as engage and educate your colleagues. This guide is based on the UCLA Center for the Study of Women green office practices. Implementing these practices can really save money as well as save the environment.

REDUCE

Paper:

  • Organize and maintain files electronically to minimize paper printouts and waste
  • Use 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper- Boise Aspen 100 Multi-Use Paper 8-1/2" x 11" Model No. 054922
  • Select print preview before printing emails and web pages to see whether to print the final page
  • Print double sided, reduce font size, and decrease margins to fit on less pages

Energy:

  • Turn off all lights and power strips at the end of each day
  • Use motion detectors for overhead lights
  • Use natural light and shades to regulate light and temperature
  • Purchase EnergyStar appliances and machines
  • Encourage guest speakers to take the Flyaway bus and public transportation
  • Staff commute to campus by bike, bus, carpool or vanpool
  • Lobbied to get a shade tree planted outside our office

Products:

  • Use compostable utensils, plates, and cups (worldcentric.org)
  • Use 100% recycled napkins and paper towels
  • Use large Arrowhead 2.5 gallon jugs instead of individual bottles at events
  • Donate old furniture to non-profit group, LA Shares
  • Use non-toxic, environmentally safe cleaner.  HERE are some products offered through Bruinbuy
  • Consolidate orders to reduce delivery trips and packaging
  • Order Forest Stewardship Coucil certified office furniture
  • Buy products that contain post-consumer recycled material.  HERE are some products offered through Bruinbuy.

REUSE

Paper:

  • Use scrap paper for rough drafts or working copies of documents
  • Use scrap paper for note taking
  • Use mugs or glasses for beverages instead of disposable cups

RECYCLE

  • White paper
  • Mixed paper and cardboard
  • Plastic, glass, aluminum
  • Electronics, CDs and hazardous materials. Click here for on-campus electronics recycling info and other ways to green your electronics.

Published: Monday, May 05, 2008