We all want to do our part to help the environment, and recycling is a great place to start. A simple call to your city will get a recycling can delivered to your door so you can start sorting your trash and have your recycling picked up every week with your regular trash. But there are places where you’re contributing even more waste than you are at home. One of those places is in the workplace, especially if you work in an office. Documents, contracts, and worksheets are being printed and then thrown away multiple times a day. If your office doesn’t recycle, you could be throwing away thousands of pages of paper a day. One easy way to eliminate waste in your workplace is to start recycling. But there are tons of other ways to do your part in your office to help the environment.

Reusable office supplies

Start stocking reusable pens. Normally, when a pen runs out of ink, it gets thrown in the trash. If you start using reusable pens instead, when an employee runs out of ink, they just have to replace the ink cartridge with a refill, and then they can keep using it!

Go digital whenever possible

Instead of printing out contracts for new clients, send them electronically. Email meeting agendas instead of printing out dozens of copies. If that’s not an option, opt to print just a few copies that everyone can share, instead of one per person. Start an online database for all of the documents, materials, and employee manuals that you’ll need on a daily basis, so you won’t have to continuously print out new copies.

Natural light and motion sensors

Open up all the windows in the office, whenever possible, so you can save on electricity. If this isn’t an option, install motion sensors wherever possible throughout the office. This is especially effective for bathrooms, supply closets, and other rooms that won’t be frequented constantly throughout the day. There’s no point in sending power to an empty room for 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week.

Use portable cooling units instead of central air

A central air system can cost upwards of $3000 a month for just 1,000 square feet of office space. If it’s possible, use portable cooling units placed strategically around the office. This works especially well for small companies with few employees, or for small office spaces. This will drastically lower your power bill while still keeping your employees cool.