All companies should have an effective recycling policy in place. After all, it is widely accepted that all businesses and organisations have a duty to reduce their environmental impact and take steps to protect our planet. However, even with a recycling policy implemented, there are still some companies that are making mistakes when it comes to effective and safe recycling. Read on to discover some of the most common.
Throwing printer cartridges in the bin – This is one of the biggest and most dangerous mistakes to make. If you are like most companies, you will go through your fair share of ink cartridges. However, it is crucial to recycle such products carefully. Don’t let their small size fool you; they can be very dangerous. For example, did you know that it takes around 450 years for an ink cartridge to decompose? That alone should show you the negative impact they are having on our environment. There is also the issue that ink cartridges contain toxic chemicals that will seep into the environment, causing further damage to the surroundings and those nearby.
Not flattening cardboard boxes – This may be an obvious one, however, there is nothing more frustrating than heading to the cardboard bin to discover that it has already been filled. And, worse of all, there could have been a lot more room if the boxes had been flattened. It is important to bear others in mind at all times.
Lack of education – It is all well and good drawing up a recycling policy and hoping that your staff read it and take note, but this is often not an effective approach. You need to ensure that all workers are fully aware of their requirements so that you can be sure you are adhering to your environmental policy. The last thing you want is bad press because one of your employees has disobeyed you.
Overlooking the things you sell – It is great to recycle in the office but what about the products you sell? Resealable plastic bags will help people at home to reduce their waste too! You have to think about what you sell and how you impact your customers.
Not destroying data before recycling storage media – This is the sort of mistake that could really come back to haunt your business. A lot of people wrongly assume that all they need to do is erase their files and restore their system and all data will be deleted forever. Unfortunately, this is not the case, as the information will still be on the hard drive. This highlights the importance of investing in the services e-waste experts so they can put your mind at ease and ensure that no one gets their hands on your business’s critical information.
Only recycling white paper – Finally, a lot of people have a tendency to assume that it is only white paper that can be recycled. Where this myth has come from, we are not sure. But, the truth is, you can recycle pretty much any type of paper, irrespective of the colour of it. The only types of paper that may need to be avoided are those that feature a form of coating on them. As a general rule, you can recycle the paper in question if you are able to tear it.
