Quick Tips:

• Recycle office paper, newspapers, beverage containers, electronic equipment and batteries. Check with your local recycling facility to see what materials they accept.
• Consider using safer alternatives to common and potentially hazardous chemicals used in products and processes.
• For businesses, there may be federal and/or state regulations on the disposal of electronics and mercury-containing lamps.
• To help reduce waste, use two-sided printing and copying, buy supplies made with recycled content, and recycle used printer cartridges.
• Before replacing a computer that no longer fits your needs, investigate enhancing the computer's capacity by installing a hard disk drive, chip, or memory-expansion card. Such modifications can be made with little know-how using the help of the manufacturer or a do-it-yourself guide.
• When purchasing new electronics, consider a leasing program that includes proper reuse and recycling.
• After office festivities, put leftovers in recyclable containers, and share them with family, friends, or others. Donate whole, untouched leftovers from parties to a local food bank or homeless shelter.

Quick Tips:

• Buy office supplies in bulk or multi-packs to reduce packaging waste. You can also buy items with packaging that can be reused or recycled.
• Buy energy-efficient items in the office with the ENERGY STAR® logo or items that are EPEAT-registered when buying electronics such as computers.
• Consider the durability of a product before you buy it. Cheaper, less durable items often wear out quickly, creating waste and costing you money. Look for items that embody the concept of reuse.