Internally, ebl miller rosenfalck has implemented a recycling policy and has seen a positive benefit to recycling with an active company policy on reducing landfill waste. All employees are encouraged to dispose of any waste correctly.
We have created and will develop our existing environmental policy by minimising the production of waste through good working practice, economic recycling or reuse where possible.
General Aims:
- Cultivate a work ethic with a high level of awareness of waste minimisation and recycling
- Promote economy in the use of paper and other consumables
- Favour suppliers who also have positive recycling and waste management practices and who operate according to sound environmental principles
- Minimise waste by encouraging the exchange, and reuse of equipment and materials
- Develop a waste management strategy, which accommodates recycling procedures and initiatives
- Continue to develop and improve the range and scope of recycling schemes
- Waste cardboard and paper, cans, bottles and plastic are all collected, sorted and stored prior to being recycled
Specific Aims:
A – Recycling/ Resource Use
- Provide glasses and mugs rather than disposable cups
- Limit use of disposable goods e.g. pens, in favour of reusable ones
- Make it easy for staff to recycle as much as possible; paper, card, glass, plastic, aluminium, CDs, batteries, old phones
- Lengthen the life of toner cartridges by adjusting printer settings in draft quality – and black and white
- Recycle used toner cartridges
- Old computers passed on to employees or given to local charities for re-use and redistribution.
- Mobile phones are sent for specialist recycling and reuse.
- At Christmas, make a donation to charity rather than sending cards
- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products
- Give an active preference to products with minimal packaging and that are locally sourced
- Discourage excessive ordering of stationary by installing a central ordering system
- Use local suppliers/caterers where possible
- Maximise savings by putting up signage (printed on scrap paper) reminding staff to save energy and reduce waste
B – Paper Use
- Only print when necessary
- Save paper costs by buying 100% recycled paper and reusing discarded paper for notes – recycle all double-sided ‘scrap’ and use single sided to make notepads
- Default printers to print double-sided
- Print internal documents in size 11 font and reduce the borders to 1.5cm
- Inform staff whether agenda and minutes will or won’t be available at meetings to avoid duplication of printing
- Send internal memos electronically
- Use ‘track changes’ to review documents rather than printing
- Cancel junk mail and unwanted publications
- Re-use bubble wrap, boxes and padded envelopes where possible
- Collect and re-use name badges after events and meetings where possible
C – Energy Use
- Minimise energy costs by ensuring that all equipment and lights are turned off (ie not left on standby) when not in use
- Encourage staff to switch off monitors when away from their desks for more than 5 – 10 minutes and to shut computers down when they leave the office.
- Reduce energy bills by turning down the heating when it is not needed and always ensure that this is done before opening a window – check that heating is not timed to come on overnight or at weekends
- Turning the heating down when possible
- If extra heating is needed, use oil-fuelled rather than electric fan heaters.
- Ensure all light bulbs are energy efficient
- Ensure air conditioning vents or heating are not blocked by office furniture/boxes
- Switch your electricity supplier to a green tariff.
D – Transport use
- Save time, inconvenience and pollution by using conference calls rather than travelling to meetings where possible
- Use cycle couriers where possible
- Use LPG and/or carbon neutral taxi companies and encourage use of public transport whenever possible by making this easier to book through a central system
- Encourage staff to cycle to work by installing secure bike racks, shower facilities and cycle mileage allowance