Reducing Waste in the Workplace

Americans generate approximately 258 million tons of waste a year. And nearly two thirds of that ends up in landfills. At home, it’s easy to see how much trash you pull to the curb every week, but what about at work? Maybe it’s time to take a closer look at your company’s sustainability plan and consider what could be done to reduce waste and, in turn, reduce waste costs.

The first step is to analyze your current waste processes:

• What are your largest sources of waste?
• How full are the dumpsters, compactors and recycling containers at pick-up?
• Do you have recycling containers and, if so, how accessible are they?
• Where are you losing money?

Then, consider what you could change. Here are a few examples:

Packaging Waste

Too often, businesses go overboard on the packaging. There’s a box. Within another box and cardboard dividers inside. Rethinking processes to avoid over-packaging and using lighter-weight, recycled materials can make a huge difference in mass production. Make an effort to eliminate single-use containers and reuse packing items such as boxes, packing bubble wrap, and wooden pallets. You can also request that your vendor’s ship products in returnable containers or minimal packaging.