Waste Reduction Week
October 18 - 24, 2010

 Wednesday, October 20 — Work 

• Set up a green team of diverse staff who will investigate, document and motivate change in your business. Your green team should develop a waste reduction policy outlining the direction and specific commitment for improvements. Request that your suppliers comply with purchasing policies created by your green team. For help locating environmentally preferable products, services and companies committed to lessening the environmental impact of purchasing decisions, click here:. More info...
• Conduct a waste assessment or audit and develop strategies to meet international waste standards such as ISO 14000. For instructions, visit the resources section of WRW in Canada web site or ISO's website.
• Cut down on paper use by networking computers and sharing files electronically. Use e-mail and voice-mail. Buy paper products with post-consumer recycled content. Do double-sided photocopying and encourage staff to use one-sided paper for scrap paper notepads. Recycle office paper and corrugated containers. Use routing slips or bulletin boards instead of multiple copies of reports. Ask to be removed from junk mailing lists. Visit the Canadian Marketing Association to get off unwanted mailing lists. Give old paper stock to schools, community groups and non-profit organizations.
• Switch to energy-efficient fluorescent or halogen lights. Turn off all unnecessary lights, computers and equipment after hours. Install a thermostat system to turn down heating and minimize air-conditioning during off-hours. Install motion sensors. Buy energy efficient appliances. Plant windbreaks and shade trees around your business.
• Buy locally—it avoids the need for protective packaging and costly transportation. Support businesses that utilize recycled and other environmentally-friendly materials.
• Recycle laser printer toner cartridges and copier machine developer.
• Reduce packaging waste.
• Target Zero Canada has documented the efforts of companies that have reduced their waste to almost nothing. Visit their website to find out how they did it—and then help spread the word!

Waste Reduction Week is sponsored in part by:

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