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Paper recycling - Top tips for businesses by Greenzone

The first thing to consider is how you might be able to reduce the amount of waste paper your business generated. If you reduce the amount of paper you use you will not only save money on purchases but also save money on recycling and help the environment too.

Here are Greenzone's top 10 tips for keeping the paper mountain as small as it can be.

1. Think about the paper you buy for the office; only buy what you need and make sure you choose a paper that can be recycled. Consider buying recycled paper.

2. Ask staff to think before they throw paper away; re-use it if they can and definitely add it to a recycle bin rather than general waste bin.

3. Don't print out emails and other correspondence unless you really need to.

4. Print on both sides of the paper rather than just one. If your work colleagues write out to do lists, use the other side of used paper for making lists and note taking.

5. If you want to print out to check your work, use the other side of used paper. Why not set a limit on the number of times you print out drafts? You'll save time as well as paper.

6. When the paper is no longer of use then recycle the paper rather than throwing it in with the general waste.

7. Send faxes from your PCs rather than printing a copy and using the fax machine. This saves time and paper too.

8. Use email rather than sending letters where you can.

9. Encourage others not to print out there emails with a polite note at the bottom of your email.

10. Back up your computer files so that you don't feel you have to print out a hard copy as your back up.

However there will always be waste paper to recycle. So here are Greenzone's top tips on how to recycle as much paper as you can.

1. Make all your staff aware of the need to reduce paper use and your paper recycling scheme. Email them a copy of the top ten tips above and explain the scheme, why you are doing it and why you need their co-operation. Encourage them NOT to print out the email.

2. Use special paper recycling bins, containers and trays throughout the office. Greenzone provides customers with paper recycling bins free of charge.

3. Make sure you have enough bins for your various offices. Depending on the volume of waste paper produced and the frequency of collections, Greenzone generally suggests having one bin for every four to eight staff members.

4. Consider desk top recycle trays for your very busy or very lazy staff!

5. Place extra bins near photocopiers, fax machines, printers and the coffee machine; people don't just gossip at the coffee machine but often read drafts of work.

6. It is often worth appointing a staff member in each office to monitor the paper recycling, provide any feedback as well as offer any suggestions for improvements such as bins in new areas.

7. Let you staff know how well they are doing. Good feedback will encourage further recycling.

8. Don't forget you can recycle your cardboard as well as coloured paper too. Collapse or flatten all your cardboard containers so you're not paying for fresh air to be recycled!

9. Use Greenzone for your waste paper recycling.

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