Concepts of sustainability and environmental responsibility have permeated both residential and commercial markets. What started as a grass-roots movement within the homes of socially conscious individuals has turned into an entire industry within the commercial world. Even academia has updated their degree programs to include one that trains business leaders to guide the corporations for which they work into social and environmental responsibility. Additionally, commercial building and facility managers give nods to sustainability practices through construction building projects and facility management efforts developed using specific environmental standards like Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification criteria. Here are three tips that smart businesses are employing to responsibly manage their company’s business waste.
Tip #1: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle the Most Common Office Equipment
In this modern Information Age, most businesses rely heavily upon computer equipment. While computer systems have undoubtedly increased efficiency of business processes, the resulting accumulation of hardware has become an increasing environmental impact on landfills everywhere. Corporate social responsibility managers often develop comprehensive strategies to combat this issue that include reduction, reuse and recycling elements of unwanted computer hardware. For instance, they can approach information technology (IT) managers with proposals to implement virtualization technology that would reduce the amount of hardware required when conducting transactions that rely on multiple computer operating systems.
Tip #2: Look to Residential Markets for Organized Waste Collection Methods
A low-cost, minimal effort corporate sustainability project that helps to manage the waste items produced by businesses is the installment of recycling bins that help employees separate their trash for simpler recycling efforts. These groupings of recycling bins could include compartments for paper, aluminum, plastic and even compostable food scrap materials. Facility managers can place these pre-separated waste collection centers strategically around the organization’s campus and arrange to recycle the waste items. In some cases, recycling products like aluminum can bring in extra money for an office party or other extras.
Tip #3: Save Money While Implementing Sustainable Practices
Often times sustainable business efforts equate to financially wise practices. This is the case when it comes to maintaining office print and copy equipment. Most organizations rely on printer ink to disseminate corporate information in hard copy format. To avoid excessive waste products related to printers, business managers can refill print cartridges instead of purchasing entirely new cartridges. This industry best practice allows organizations to save money while reusing multiple printer ink cartridges that over the long-term reduce the number of plastic cartridges that make it into the land fills. These sustainable business practices are becoming more common place within the corporate environment. As more employees become exposed to them, there is the potential for the development of more innovative processes related to business waste management challenges. Talk with industry specialists like General Recycling Industries Ltd. who can provide specific answers like Edmonton scrap metal prices and the affordability of recycling service rentals. Looking to the resources available to you will help you take your company and maybe your industry to better places.
References:
1. http://www.wm.com/enterprise/construction/construction-solutions/leed-certification.jsp
2. https://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/the-advantages-of-using-virtualization-technology-in-the-enterprise