With the ever-increasing awareness of the environment upon us, the benefits of recycling office paper are fairly obvious. To begin with, we usually use high-grade paper in our office environments, so it makes much more sense to (at the very least) recycle them instead of disposing them in the garbage. Statistically speaking, we can recycle up to 77% of these types of papers – an astonishing number, considering how much is typically thrown away. Another shocking number? The average business office employee can produce up to a pound and a half of paper waste a day. Even worse, finance offices generate waste paper from two to three pounds per employee daily!

So, what can your office do to reduce waste and do its part? First, take a look at what you’re consuming – use recycled paper or eco-friendly paper whenever possible, which will also save your company's budget (particularly when purchased in bulk).

When you do have to dispose of a document, shred it – paper shredders are a cost-effective way to recycle important documents, with the valuable benefit of reducing identity theft. There are several advantages of shredding paper for reuse. First, when used as alternative to Styrofoam peanuts, packaging costs are decreased (not to mention you’re using an eco-friendly packing media vs. a synthetic product such as Styrofoam, which doesn’t break down and is ecologically harmful). Additionally, shredded paper can also be composted (organically broken down) as opposed to being dumped in landfills, further benefiting our environment.

Additionally, removing office paper and cardboard from the garbage can reduce waste collection fees by 50% – besides incurring a penalty, by not recycling, you’re unnecessarily (and quickly) filling up our landfills! To break it down, one ton of recycled paper is equivalent to 6.7 cubic yards of saved landfill space – when you look at it from this perspective, it’s easy to realize how our actions can prolong the service of our present landfill sites. Whether your paper supplies are plain white paper, copier paper, office paper, inkjet paper, or letter paper, they are all easily recycled – if you require more details on how to recycle or how to instill the proper recycling methods in your place of business, visit your state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) or Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Go Green

Recycling can begin as soon as your employees are adequately informed and educated concerning proper recycling policies. Make sure that all employees know about the recycling program within your company. Recycling systems as basic as monitoring paper use and separating white paper from colored paper are widely-practiced routines in most offices.

I recommend: Placing clearly-labeled recycling receptacles throughout your office is a simple yet effective recycling method. Be sure, however, that the bins are placed in high-traffic accumulation areas such as the computer rooms, copier stations and records/billing sections. If you are creating a recycling station(s), be sure to install in an accessible and visible area so people will actually utilize them.

Discuss, Inform & Train

Although it is important to enforce company recycling policies across the board, you may want to consult in further detail with employees who will be primarily responsible for maintaining the recycling area. You may want to ask your employees the best location for positioning recycling bins or stations.

I recommend: Reiterate the value of shredding documents and separating white papers (such as bond paper, copier paper, paper supplies, office paper, inkjet paper, and letter paper) from other paper products such as cardboard and newspapers. This way, even if your office does not reuse the paper but sells it to recycling shops, it will fetch a higher price, since white paper costs more. It's also important to inform your maintenance crew – after all, you wouldn't want to undo your employees' recycling efforts by having an uninformed janitor haul your papers and dump them with food garbage. Therefore, it’s highly advisable to train your crew carefully with regard to your recycling program.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

· Recycle and Save: Know the value of your paper products - many times, recycled bond paper, copier paper, paper supplies, office paper, inkjet paper, and letter paper materials can bring you good money.

· Keep Records: Maintain an accurate log or record book - it's important to record the amount or weight of office paper that is produced and utilized by your company on an annual basis. This way, you can keep track of your paper wastes and evaluate if your recycling paper program is actually working at maximum capacity to reduce paper use and waste in your office. In addition, by keeping a record and receipts, you'll be sure to receive proper compensation by the recycling companies you're working with.

· Break It Down: Since old corrugated cardboard (OCC) is bulky and takes up a lot of space in dumpsters--especially if unflattened--businesses that generate large volumes of OCC may find it cost effective to bale or compact the material. And, depending upon the market, businesses make actually make a profit on the sale of collected OCC. At the very least, businesses may eliminate disposal fees by preparing it for hauler pickups or delivering it (drop off) to a recycling facility. OCC is a bulky, highly recyclable waste. Keeping this material out of the waste stream will mean saving landfill space in areas where disposed materials are land filled and reducing pollution through avoided incineration where waste is incinerated. By doing your part, you'll be saving money and our environment's future.