RUNNING A GREEN OFFICE

recycling in the office

by

HAFIZAH HASAN

THE OUTLINE

Introduction
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Effectiveness / Result
The Fact

INTRODUCTION

Computers, copiers and fax machines were introduced into offices

worldwide: to ease the working strain

These technological advances: increase strain on the environment

Today, it is hard to imagine running an office without supplies

Paper
Pencils

Pens
Envelopes

Paper Clips
Printer Ink

...the list goes on and on

The supplies are:

Expensive
Require many natural resources
Use up energy
Pollute the earth

in order to make, package, ship and dispose of

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INTRODUCTION

Reduce, reuse and recycle and you will save money in the
office

When you consider that recycling is the easiest scheme to

involve everyone in

Typical estimates: waste costs companies 4.5% of their turnover

Makes sense to implement a basic programme ASAP

Looks at the practical issues of:

Setting up successful recycling systems

How to monitor a system
Ensure long term success
Gives a list of questions to ask a recycler

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INTRODUCTION

Useful to complete a waste audit:

To identify what, where and how much waste is generated by

the organisation
Compare costs after the scheme is up and running able to
point to the financial savings

The audit should:

Identify all points at which waste is generated

Identify the origin of each type of waste
Identify the quantity and type and its environmental effects
Establish the costs of current disposal methods
Look at opportunities to reduce, recycle or reuse the waste
Set targets for reducing waste

REDUCE

To reduce paper use:

Ensure all photocopying and publications

Produced

in double sided format

On recycled paper

Question whether you need draft or hard copies

Encourage the use of email and voicemail to minimise paper use

When you do need to produce reports and newsletters

Reduce

paper use by setting the printer to no more than 1.5 line spacing
Lay out the publication with the minimum necessary white space

If you send out free reports

Consider

mailing a post card first, so people know what is available and

how they can get copies

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REDUCE

Ensure you cancel junk mail stop the insanity!

Get your name removed from unnecessary

Mailing

lists
Magazines
Publications

to reduce the amount of waste

Regularly:

Review distribution lists

Update databases

to save both money and resources

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REDUCE

Buy in bulk rather than smaller quantities:

Shipments are cheaper

Cuts down on packaging waste
Reduce natural resources used in transporting materials
When possible, go green by ordering items that are eco-friendly

Do not over order marketing and publicity materials:

Most organisation throw perfectly good material away because

They

ordered too much

It is out of date

Reduce printing and faxing by using electronic communication or

circulate a memo where possible

Discourage the printing of emails unless absolutely essential

Scan the letterhead into the computer electronic template

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REDUCE

Fax machines need to be set:

Do not produce unwanted header or report sheets

Turn off the light or shut down the computer before leaving:

Simple act saves >700 W.hr

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REUSE

Reuse paper whenever possible:

Envelopes can often be reused for internal mail:

Paper that has been printed on one side for draft or scrap
message pads

Cross off the previous name

Write the new recipient
Send the envelope off

Instead of tossing old folders in the trash

Reverse them so the tab is cleared

Simply add a new label on top of the old one

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REUSE

Start with a clear slate:

Use only compact discs labeled as CD-RW:

Reformat a disk
Delete its files to use it again
Pass it on to someone who needs it

CD-R: a recordable CD that can only record information once

CD-RW: a rewritable CD that can be recorded on, erased and
rerecorded as needed

Set up an office centre:

Employees drop off their extra items (e.g. rubber bands, paper
clips, binders and folders)
To be traded for things they need without new supplies being
packaged and shipped

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REUSE

Instead of traditional one-time use pens and pencils

Use refillable pens and mechanical pencils

The extra upfront cost: pay for itself over time
The

only purchases needed afterwards are for inexpensive ink and

lead refills

No dusty bin to empty since mechanical pencils do not

require sharpening

Wash your dishes including the caterers!

Use ceramic mugs or plates instead of using PS or styrofoam

containers
Reuse prevent
Expense

of materials
Release of ozone-depleting CFCs into the atmosphere

RECYCLE
Recycle What Cannot Be Reused

Contact authorities and local companies for recycling

Put paper recycling bins:

In all offices
Next to photocopiers and printers
Where staff often pass by

Inform all employees about the new process to go green

Make it easy for employees to recycle

Provide clear notices for what is and is not recyclable

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RECYCLE

Strictly confidential waste costs more to dispose

of, so ensure all staff know exactly what is nonconfidential

Consult and communicate and you will get

cooperation

Ensure cleaning staff:

Understand and support the recycling scheme

Know where to empty recycling bins

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RECYCLE

The idea:

To collect as much recycling material as possible

Find a reliable company to take it away

White high grade office paper is in high demand

Other recyclables:

Cardboard
Plastics
Drinks cans
CD ROMs
Ink cartridges

Computers can be reused by charities

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RECYCLE

Implement what works for the organisation and always obtain competitive
quotes

Think about where you will store materials until you have enough to be
collected

Might be worth contacting other local businesses in the area to set up a

cooperative recycling programme

A prospective recycler should be able to explain what authorisation or

licenses the company holds

Get written confirmation on competency and other written questions

Understand how your materials should be prepared (e.g. separated or mixed)

Check what the charges are and if there are any hidden costs

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RECYCLE

Use recycled paper as standard

Make someone responsible for paper purchasing

Find out:

How much is currently spent on paper

How much has a recycled content
Have targets to
Reduce

paper use
Reduce paper costs
Increase the use of recycled paper by a particular date

Aim to purchase a high-recycled content with a post-consumer waste

content >70%:

Totally chlorine free during production

Sold with an accredited environmental / green label
Emission

standards
Post-consumer waste content

EFFECTIVENESS / RESULT

Reduce and reuse as much as possible before recycling:

Reducing
Decreasing

the amount of products used on a daily, weekly,

monthly and yearly basis

Reusing
A

way to salvage an item: to reap its continued / new benefits

By reducing and reusing

Natural

resources (e.g. trees and fossil fuels) are preserved

The amount of waste that needs to be recycled or disposed of will
decrease greatly

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EFFECTIVENESS / RESULT

Recycling:

Conserves natural resources by eliminating the need to

gather more

It does use energy and emit GHGs and pollutants during

the reprocessing stage
BUT

Recycling materials keeps waste from building in landfills

or other disposal systems

THE FACTS

One tree yields

170,000 pencils
17 reams of paper

3 tons (2.68 tonnes) of wood 1 ton (0.89 tonne) of paper 5,690

pounds (2,580.94 kg) of CO2 into the atmosphere

Paper production uses more water than other

industries:

1 sheet requires >13 ounces

(368.54 g)

Since 1996: global packaging production has grown at

least 75%

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THE FACTS

Annual paper consumption:

As paper decomposes in a landfill:

Asia: >100 m tons (89 m tonnes) (the highest)

North America: 100 m tons (89 m tonnes)
Europe: 90 m tons (80.1 m tonnes)

It releases CH4: 21 times more potent a GHG than CO2

Filling:

Single inkjet printer cartridge takes 2.5 ounces

of oil
Laser printer cartridge: 25 ounces (708.73 g)

(70.87 g)

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fin
THANK
THANK YOU
YOU
hafizah.hasan@moh.gov.my
03-8883 3906
Seksyen KAS (Unit Sisa Merbahaya)