Printers, papers, and trashcans - Making your office more sustainable

It's the vogue phrase of this year. Families, corporations, and now even your local grocery store are all "going green." Being green is another way of saying you want to improve your sustainability. Put more simply, it's the process of allowing less waste, and encouraging more re-use.

Here are some simple tips to make your office, with all its printers, photocopiers, reams of paper, and even those pesky trashcans more sustainable.

1) Emails are the biggest problem for offices looking to reduce waste. Many employees still prefer to print out all or important messages. Have your IT department force a signature that reads "Save the environment! Think before you print this email." You will probably see many personal and other business email addresses start using this verbiage.

2) Install paper-only recycling bins or shredding service bins next to each printer or photocopier. Remove any "normal" trash bins from these areas and move them to common rooms or kitchens.

3) There is no such thing as a trashcan at a sustainable office, nor does each desk or cubicle get their own. For a specified number of employees, three bins should be placed in close proximity. One for recyclable materials, one for compost items (food, green plates and cups, etc), and one for everything else (sticky notes, glossy paper, etc).

4) Finally, there are several new companies that sell compost ready plates, silverware, and cups. Investing in these will look great for visiting clients that want to see you're truly green, as they have the official logo on them, indicating they were manufactured from corn starch.

Along with these four tips, how green you make your office is up to you! Sponsor contests that give prizes to the employee that submits the best waste-reducing idea fro your office. With a little up-front cost and work, you'll save both money and the earth in the long run.