Increase Participation in Your Office
Recycling Program:
A Few Pointers
Below are some pointers that can help maximize participation in your
recycling program:
· The
staff should be thoroughly educated about the program.
The staff should be taught exactly what materials are being recycled, what materials
cannot be recycled, and were to place materials for recycling. Also, the staff should be
aware why they are recycling- including the environmental benefits and the savings for the
organization. Remember to brief new staff members about the program. It is also important
to ensure that the custodial staff is well educated and that they understand their
important role. High profile signs, staff meetings, and staff emails are a good ways to
pass the word.
·
Use easily accessible,
standardized recycling bins.
Employees are less likely to recycle if the bins are placed in inconvenient locations.
Recycling should be as easy, if not easier, than throwing away trash. For office
environments it is suggested that a paper-recycling bin be placed by each desk.
If you are collecting more than one type of material, it is
recommended that the collection bins be colored in a uniform format. For example all bins
collecting white paper could be blue and all bins collecting mixed paper could be green.
This will eliminate employee confusion and help prevent collection contamination (i.e.
colored paper mixed in with white paper.)
· Create
a green team
Encourage employees to become members of a volunteer green team. The green team can help
manage the recycling program and what direction it takes. Giving the employees a sense of
program ownership can promote a higher support for recycling within your organization.
·
Give the staff feedback on
program success
Keep your staff updated on the program results. Use the company newsletter, internal
e-mail, or signs to show employees the company’s recycling rate, tonnage recycled,
trees saved, etc. This will keep employees
enthusiastic about what they are doing. By giving the staff current updates you will also
keep the recycling program fresh in their minds.
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