Doable

There are many things that you can do to help minimise waste going to landfill. By following the principles of the waste hierarchy is a start; remember to reduce, reuse and then recycle wherever possible. Even small measures can go along way to helping make a significant difference collectively. For example, one staple weighs 0.05 grammes. If each of the UK’s estimated ten million office workers used one less staple a day, 120,000 kg (or 120 tonnes) of steel would be saved every year. A paperclip or treasury tag can be used over and over again, a staple can’t. These small changes can make a difference.

Some things to get you started:

• Avoid printing, question whether it needs to be in paper format?
• Quality check your work prior to printing, to prevent wasted copies
• Print draft copies on already used single sided paper
• Print and copy in duplex format
• Scan small documents and email where possible
• Save any single sided paper for reuse as scrap paper or notepads. Did you know that Central Printing Services offer a notepad production service for single sided paper?
• Eliminate unnecessary banner pages by speaking with DIT or registering with the mail and fax preference services
• Say no to the plastic bag and use a reusable textile one, or carry small items
• Use a lunchbox instead of disposable bags and packaging
• Cover addresses and reuse envelopes
• Use a ceramic mug rather than disposable mugs and cups
• Use paperclips which can be reused rather than staples
• Look for items which have less packaging when ordering
• Order items that are made of post-consumer waste
• Procure items that can be repaired, refilled or recharge, or that can be easily recycled at the end of their useful life
• Buy second hand stationery and books from Bookends
• Return unwanted packaging to the supplier where possible
• Recycle where you can