Going green is becoming a priority with many companies all over the country, but many don’t know how to start changing for the better. Here are a few easy steps to start going green in the office. One:Go paperless, for real. Still printing out papers with memos, pieces for editing, or phone messages? Take a minute to make sure you know how to use office email, make an office contact list, and start moving into the internet universe. Give your secretary a computer if he or she doesn’t already have one, and start having them transcribe phone messages via email instead of hand writing them. Another great waste of paper for many workplaces is paychecks, or, more specifically, paystubs. If you have employees with direct deposit, ask your paycheck provider if they have the option of opting out of receiving a pay stub. I know I hate getting a paystub that I don’t even look at, so why waste the paper? Two:Get your commute straight. I know that sometimes carpooling sounds rough; leaving your own car means losing part of your daily freedom, and carrying others around may mean a little mess in your car. I recommend trying to carpool with people you feel comfortable with, or perhaps taking a look into your other options. If you live in an area with public transportation, take advantage of it. Chances are, you can get passes, and end up spending less per month on transportation than you do on gas. And even better than public transportation, if you live close enough to work, by all means think about walking or biking to work. Let’s face it, most of us could use a little more exercise. Three:Invest in some office dishes. Quit using plastic utensils, plates, cups. They’re made for one use and they last forever in a landfill. If you’ve got a sink in your break room, just grab some cheap dishes, and encourage your employees to bring their own to use. You might not be thinking about how much plastic ware the company actually uses, but probably the majority of your employees use them to eat lunch every day. Four:Create a recycling center within your office. It doesn’t have to be big, maybe just a few bins marked for recycling around the office and break room. Don’t want to pay to have your recycling picked up? Check if any of your employees pays for it already. Chances are, if they have it picked up at their house, they’ll be willing to take what recycling your office has. These employees have already prioritized the environment in their lives. Even though you probably cannot eliminate waste all together, try to make everything you use recyclable. You can find disposable dishes and utensils that are biodegradable, and Environmental Preservation Solutions can help you to find other green office products. Five:Make a plan. Transitioning to a green workplace could be a long process for your company. It’s tough to make habits when you’re already established in your techniques. Take some time to write up a list of steps you plan to take to make the change. Start small, and move to bigger accomplishments like solar panels. Environmental Preservation Solutions can help you take the steps to plan, and to implement your green transition!
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