Most businesses can save a substantial amount of money by reducing waste. In addition to lower removal costs, waste reduction measures help cut costs on raw materials, office supplies and equipment. Further, by streamlining your operations to reduce waste, you may also be able to enhance your overall efficiency, productivity and public image.

Get Started

• Learn the terminology

• Conduct a waste assessment of your operations

• Identify where the biggest cost savings can occur

• Check out this Small Business Waste Reduction Guide

Learn about Waste Reduction Measures

Waste Reduction

The most effective way to reduce waste is to generate less in the first place. Use the following links to get some helpful tips on how to green your business by reducing waste.

Overview

Learn about Waste Prevention

Waste Reduction Tips

• Get waste reduction ideas from EPA

• Exchange, sell or give away unneeded goods for reuse

• Redesign products to use less materials

• Redesign packaging to eliminate excess material

• Work with customers to design a packaging return program

• Consider developing a product take back program

• Eliminate, reuse or recycle corrugated cardboard

• Switch to reusable transport containers

• Repair broken furniture and equipment to extend its usable life

• Buy products made from recycled materials

• Use and maintain durable equipment and supplies

• Reduce waste from building construction and demolition debris

• Reduce waste from electronics

• Use less office paper by "Going Paperless with Technology"

• Purchase environmentally preferable products

• Use office supplies and materials more efficiently:

  • Use both sides of paper

  • Make double sided copies

  • Route one hard copy to several readers

  • Use e-mail or bulletin boards for sending and receiving information

• Plan and conduct environmentally aware meetings and events

• Ask to be removed from junk mailing lists by writing to:
  DMA Mail Preference Service
  PO Box 9008
  Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

Waste Reuse

Prolonging the useful life of products and packaging through reuse stops waste at the source because it delays or avoids their entry into the waste collection and disposal system.

Reuse Tips

• Use incoming corrugated boxes for outgoing shipments

• Shred or crumple waste paper for use as packing material

• Reuse office furniture and supplies, such as interoffice envelopes and file folders

• Exchange surplus and reusable materials through a commercial materials exchange

• Repair broken equipment to extend its useful life

• Donate excess building materials to local low-income housing developers

• Ask suppliers to take back pallets or switch to more durable reusable ones

• Donate leftover food to the needy

• Donate food scraps for use as animal feed

• Donate surplus items to non-profit or reuse organizations

• Donate your old computers

• Donate your old electronics

• Remanufacture your products

 Recycling

It does not matter what type of business you have or what type of facility you run - there is some amount of material you use that can be recycled. From aluminum cans, and glass and plastic bottles, to used oil and printer toner cartridges, recycling reduces the amount of waste materials that are put in landfills or incinerated while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. That's good for everybody! Ask your building management or waste handler about recycling opportunities.

Check out the following links for additional information:

• EPA: Recycling and Pollution Prevention

• EPA: Recycling

• EPA: WasteWise

Technology Specific Recycling

During your upgrade projects, and normal maintenance, you will likely have to deal with lighting and electronic waste. The disposal of some of this waste may be regulated, since both electronic and lighting waste may contain potentially harmful substances, and these products may need to be separated from your other garbage. The best way to dispose of this waste is to recycle it.

To learn more about the recycling and disposal of lighting and electronic waste visit:

• EPA: "Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Disposal Requirements for Fluorescent Light Ballasts" Fact Sheet

• EPA: "Electronics: A New Opportunity for Waste Prevention, Reuse, and Recycling" Fact Sheet

• National Electrical Manufacturers Association's Lamp Recycle.org

Develop a Waste Reduction Program

• Read the EPA Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste

• Use the Xerox Business Guide to Waste Reduction and Recycling and the accompanying workbook

Measure Your Results

• Learn why you should measure your waste reduction efforts and how to do it

Get Recognition

• Join EPA's WasteWise Program

                          

Produced in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, Business Gateway and ENERGY STAR®