In the modern world of business, environmental responsibility is no longer just an option - it’s a necessity.
Changing regulations, shifts in customer expectations, and employees' preferences to work for a company that reflects their values are all putting businesses under pressure to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
One of the most effective ways to reduce your business's environmental footprint is to implement an office recycling program.
If you haven’t yet embraced recycling in the workplace, now is the right time to do it, as regulations are soon to come into force across areas of the UK for stricter waste management practices.
So, if your business is in a position where you recognise the importance of implementing an office recycling program but are unsure where to start, this guide is for you.
In this article, we’ll walk you through seven practical steps to help you set up a successful recycling initiative in your office.
1. Conduct a waste audit
Before you start an office recycling program, a good place to start is by understanding the most common types of waste your office produces.
A waste audit involves examining your office’s waste streams to determine what types of waste are being generated and in what quantities.
By doing this, you can identify the areas where your recycling efforts will be most effective. For example, if your audit reveals that your office uses a large amount of paper, focusing on paper initiatives would have the biggest recycling benefits.
Conducting a waste audit can also provide a baseline, so you can measure the success of your recycling program over time.
2. Place office recycling bins strategically
For any recycling program to be successful, it needs the participation of all of your employees.
To help encourage employees to embrace your new approach to recycling, it’s important to think about the strategic placement of office recycling bins across your business to make it as easy and hassle-free to recycle as it is to ‘bin it.’
It’s advisable to place recycling bins in high-traffic areas where the most recyclable waste is generated, such as near printers and photocopiers and in kitchen areas. You might also place recycling bins close to employee workstations so they are even more convenient to use.
When you’re setting up your office recycling bins, it's also important to use different colours or clear labels for each bin to make it simple for employees to identify what should go where.
For example, black bins might be used for general waste, green bins for recyclable plastics and packaging, and blue bins for office paper recycling.
3. Reduce paper usage
Despite the increasingly digital nature of modern business, many office-based companies still rely heavily on paper.
Any actions that can be taken to reduce the amount of paper used by your business can reduce the need for office recycling in the first place!
A positive first step might be to look at the potential of gradually transitioning to digital documents and using electronic signatures to help reduce your paper consumption.
And in circumstances where documents still need to be printed out, consider setting your printers to default to double-sided printing to reduce the amount of paper that’s used.
Making these practical changes not only reduces waste, but can also lower the costs of paper and printing supplies.
4. Create an office recycling policy
After identifying opportunities to improve from your waste audit, the next step is to develop a clear recycling policy for your office.
Having your guidelines and processes for recycling set out in a formal company document helps employees across the business understand what’s expected of them and can encourage participation in your office recycling program.
Your recycling policy should ideally outline which materials should be recycled, how they should be separated, and where they should be placed.
Your policy's advice should be clearly worded to help prevent confusion and ensure consistency in recycling efforts across different departments within the office.
5. Provide employee training on office recycling
Once your recycling policy has been written and circulated (electronically!), it’s time to make sure your employees are fully aware and engaged in helping your business achieve its recycling goals.
Organising training sessions can help employees understand the guidelines in your policy document and get a stronger appreciation of why recycling is important for the business and the environment.
In addition to these training sessions, regular reminders through email newsletters and signs posted around the office can keep the recycling guidelines fresh in everyone’s mind.
6. Appoint a coordinator to oversee office recycling
Many office recycling programs start off well but gradually lose momentum over time.
A common reason for this is that compliance with policies isn't monitored, and nobody is assigned personal responsibility for it.
This is why assigning a dedicated recycling coordinator is an important step in achieving success with your office recycling program.
The recycling coordinator will typically make sure that the recycling policy is being followed by all areas of the business, be on hand to address any questions or concerns from employees, and actively promote the recycling efforts within the office.
By having a recycling coordinator, you can make sure your recycling program is continuously managed and improved, rather than becoming a one-time initiative that loses momentum.
7. Streamline the collection of your office recycling
In some areas of the UK, arranging the collection of your business recycling can be challenging.
For example, in London, many businesses struggle with the time and effort required to manage recycling collections - often having multiple different collection partners.
The good news is that this process can be made much easier by arranging for the collection of your recycling through your office cleaning company.
By using a single company for both cleaning and recycling, you can simplify the collection process and make a positive environmental impact without added complexity.
If you choose a green cleaning service that specialises in sustainable cleaning, they might also be able to provide valuable advice on refining your recycling policies and boosting employee participation.
Need support achieving your ESG goals? Consider green cleaning
Implementing an office recycling program is one of the most effective steps you can take to reduce your environmental impact.
By reducing waste and improving recycling, your business will help protect the environment and meet the growing expectations of customers and employees who value sustainability.
However, your approach to office cleaning can also influence your environmental footprint.
Traditional cleaning products often contain harmful chemicals that can negatively affect both the environment and employee health.
Green cleaning offers an eco-friendly alternative, using products and methods that align with your sustainability goals.
At Green FM, we specialise in green cleaning and have been cleaning offices across the London area for more than 20 years.
Our commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We often provide guidance to our clients on how to set up, maintain, and encourage participation in office recycling programs, as well as tips on how to keep the office clean between our visits.
Ready to take the next step towards a greener office?
Contact Green FM today to learn how we can help your business meet its ESG goals and create a healthier, more sustainable workplace.
