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You should also review these general guidelines and best practices for managing waste throughout the hotel.
According to the National Office Paper Recycling Program, one office worker generates about 1½ pounds of recyclable paper waste per day. For 10 employees, that is roughly 15 pounds generated per day. Removing this material from the waste stream can reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill and reduce tipping/hauling fees. Collect recyclables near the points of generation: desks, copy machine, fax machine, printers, etc. The following are opportunities and methods for reducing your waste stream:
- Develop a waste reduction and recycling program for office paper and corrugated cardboard items
Items to consider for recycling: copier paper, file folders, self-adhesive notes, and boxes. Reuse envelopes for internal routing or use inter-office envelopes. Reuse paper that is clean on one side for messages / scratch pads / draft reports. Reuse file folders. Breakdown and recycle corrugated boxes. Contact a recycling company to pickup collected office paper and corrugated boxes. Store collected items in a covered dry place and free from moisture. Archive files and purge unneeded documents out of your files. Participate in Clean Your Files Week or Clear Out the Clutter Week. This recycling event is usually celebrated the third week in April around the time of Earth Day.
- Develop a waste reduction and recycling program for fax machine, printer and copy machine operation
- Fax Machine
Use self-adhesive notes or hotel fax stamp on first page of fax instead of a cover sheet or reduce fax coversheets to a minimal size.
- Printer
Choose remanufactured toner cartridges and participate in returning toner cartridges for refilling / rebuilding. Check with your office supply store since most stores now take back ink and toner cartridges.
- Copy Machine
Double-side (duplex) photocopies or set copier for only double-sided (duplex) copy.
- Develop a waste reduction and recycling program for contracts, memos and reports
Evaluate if report or memo is needed and who uses it. Eliminate unnecessary copies. Phase-out copies where you can and do contracts on computer. Centrally post memos to large numbers or route to smaller numbers. Proof documents on computer screen before printing and store documents electronically instead of creating a hard copy. Use internal email system and voice mail to curtail paper use. Print reasonable quantities of material needed and reformat reports, especially draft copies, so that more words will fit on a page by reducing fonts and margins.
- Develop a waste reduction and recycling program for newspapers, magazines and marketing pieces
- Newspapers
Return unread newspapers to vendor. Newspapers may be donated to pet stores, animal shelters, fish markets, mail and moving companies, detail shops for window cleaning, and retain stores for packing material.
- Magazines
Cancel unwanted, duplicate subscriptions and share journals, magazines, newspapers, phonebooks, rather than receiving multiple copies. Reduce the amount of junk mail you receive, by writing to: Mail Preference Service - Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 3861, New York NY 10163-3861. Donate unwanted books and magazines to libraries, schools, nursing homes, abuse shelters, and child care centers.
- Marketing Materials
Keep mailing lists current and print reasonable quantities of marketing material. Use a listserv and send email marketing announcements using links to a web page instead of direct mail campaigns. Print on both sides of paper when possible and use soy-based and other nontoxic inks.
- Develop a waste reduction plan for beverage containers and drinking receptacles
Administrative personnel and staff are encouraged to use reusable mugs and containers instead of disposables containers and to recycle aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles.
- Create an eco-purchasing program
Purchase paper products that use post-consumer recycled content: letterhead, stationery tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, writing and computer paper, office supplies, playground equipment, picnic/park benches. Buy products that have recycled packaging - close the loop. Purchasing agents should scrutinize contracts and purchases to find the most environmentally sensitive or alternative products that minimize packaging or waste.
- Use the concept of life cycle costing
Life cycle costing is looking at the total costs associated with a product. Remember you pay for products twice, once when you purchase them and again when you dispose of them. Consider life cycle costing when making purchasing decisions for: disposable napkins, cups, and serving ware; paper towels, individually packaged condiments or amenity items; batteries, and laser toner cartridges; or, anything leftover once an item is used.
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