Business Sustainability

Reducing waste is simple when you look at it from a waste hierarchy perspective. Waste avoidance is the key, followed by reuse, then recycling (which requires more energy to break down a product and turn it into something else), recovery (ie: composting) and as a last resort, disposal.

Start by looking at what you purchase and then consider ways to reduce the waste associated with each purchase. Remember, you pay twice for waste – when you purchase it and when you dispose of it. Refuse plastic bags and take-away containers, reuse or refill items like ink cartridges and ask suppliers to reduce packaging. And stop printing out all those emails!

Need extra office furniture? There are several secondhand office furniture suppliers on the Central Coast – many of their items are like new and you can ask them to keep an eye out for particular items or styles to match what you already have. They deliver to your office and also purchase your redundant furniture.

When purchasing electrical equipment, consider its energy efficiency (wasted energy is a waste product too), ability to switch off when not in use and its packaging. Purchase printers that can print on both sides and with re-fillable ink cartridges.
Old computers, monitors, printers and phones, paper and cardboard, metals and expanded polystyrene packaging can all be picked up for reuse or recycling.

Have you considered purchasing recycled products? There are now many cost-effective products available locally. These include office paper, envelopes, note pads, pens, pencils and packaging. Many company brochures are now made from recycled paper stock and you wouldn’t know the difference. A new product from Xanita is a recycled, post-consumer paper board used to construct product displays, shop fittings and office partitions.

For further information contact:
• Recycling Contractors - www.recyclingnearyou.com.au
• Waste Reduction for Business Fact Sheets - www.businessenvironment.com.au. • Waste hierarchy diagram sourced from www.wastenet.net.au

By Nicole Croker
Business Environment

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