General Workplace

Texas faces shrinking numbers of landfills and waste disposal costs that have risen sharply. Waste from the workplace often makes up over half of municipal solid waste. Recycling and waste reduction in the workplace are important tools to help minimize landfill space, to save resources and to hold down your disposal costs.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has developed an environmental partnership program called CLEAN TEXAS to reduce waste and pollution problems in our state. The TCEQ has compiled these tips to help you help take care of Texas.

Paper Use

• Copy two-sided when possible and set laser printers for duplexing.
• Use half-page memo forms when possible to reduce paper usage.
• Optimize print runs for literature and letterhead to avoid outdated material.
• Have a central file system to reduce duplication.
• Use electronic mail or route slips for interoffice communication.
• Use erasable markerboards or bulletin boards in communal areas for office communication.
• Share magazine subscriptions and newspapers. Pass used magazines/newspapers on to schools, libraries, retirement homes.
• Reuse scrap paper. Use both sides of paper for writing notes before recycling.
• Use recycled-content paper for your copier, letterhead, business cards, forms, etc. Print or display the "chasing arrows" logo signifying recycled-content printed on the paper; your customers will notice and appreciate it.
• Whenever possible, use white paper for legal pads, phone message pads, promotional material, etc., instead of colored paper which is not as recyclable.
• Recycle your office paper.

Office Supplies

• Ask your suppliers to reduce their packaging.
• Purchase refillable cartridge pens and mechanical pencils instead of disposable ones.
• Use rechargeable batteries in beepers, flashlights, etc.
• Recover and reuse window envelopes used for employee payroll checks.
• Reuse folders and binders, or donate them to schools.
• Recharge toner cartridges and reload printer ribbons to extend use.
• Recycle cardboard boxes from shipments, or arrange for your supplier to reuse them.

Durable Goods

• Use ceramic or plastic mugs for employees’ drinks instead of disposables.
• Purchase high-quality, durable equipment with good service contracts.
• Acquire a copier with a duplex function that copies on both sides of the paper.
• Buy a plain-paper fax machine instead of one that uses thermal fax paper which is not as recyclable.
• Use recycled paper for the fax machine. Decrease the size of the cover sheets; use self-stick ones, or use a rubber stamp with message lines.
• Instead of throwing away broken equipment, have it repaired, or sell or donate it to someone who can repair it or use it for parts.

Food Service

• Use durable, permanent tableware instead of disposables.
• Minimize the use of straws.
• Offer fountain beverages in glasses, not disposable cups.
• Buy bulk food and condiments to use in refillable containers instead of single serving packages.
• Use aluminum can vending machines instead of paper or plastic cup dispensing machines.
• Locate a recycling container near the machine to collect the aluminum cans.
• Before disposing of recyclable plastic containers, remove lids to facilitate recycling.
• Recycle glass, aluminum and cardboard that is used in food preparation.

Packaging

• Redesign shipping containers to be reusable, or to function as well with less material.
• Put a note in packages to encourage customers to reuse packing material.
• Reuse paper, boxes, packaging peanuts, and bubble wrap to ship packages, or pass on such materials to shipping centers, mailing centers, etc., after your usage.
• Buy end rolls from local printers or newspapers for use as packing material. (They are the final few feet of a printer’s roll of paper which can’t be used.)

Bulk Mail

• Keep mailing lists updated to reduce wasted mail.
• When possible, fold and staple the paper instead of using an envelope.
• Have mailings printed on recycled-content paper and note it with the "chasing arrows" logo.

Miscellaneous

• Use cloth towel machines or air dryers in bathrooms rather than disposable paper towels. If you are using paper towels, buy recycled-content ones. Toilet tissue is also available with recycled-content paper.
• Replace regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones. They use one-quarter of the energy of regular bulbs and last much longer, producing less waste.
• Install reflectors in the fluorescent bulb fixtures, which can give you the same amount of light with fewer bulbs. They are available in commercial lighting stores.
• Use long-life, compact fluorescent bulbs in exit signs.
• For catered events, use washable utensils, tableware and napkins.
• Look for disposable items that appear in large quantities in your trash. If possible, replace them with reusable or recyclable materials.
• Donate used furnishings, carpet, equipment, production overruns/irregulars or discontinued items to non-profit organizations.
• Manufacture, distribute, and buy products in returnable, recyclable, and recycled-content packaging.