WASTE WATCHERS BLOG

Lunch containers such as pizza boxes, brown paper bags, and compostable containers may or may not be recyclable. How can you decide what to do with them? Here are some tips to understand whether your lunch containers should end up in the trash or in a recycling container.

  “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” - John Muir   There’s a reason many of us choose to escape into nature, if only briefly at times, to find peace, quiet, and support mental health. The clean air, the sounds of the birds, and the tall green trees surrounding us have proven to help slow us down in this fast-paced world.   Your office lunch can play a major role in keeping wild spaces healthy and green. 

Between junk mail and cardboard packages, the majority of what you receive in the mail is recyclable. We provide an easy guide for recycling more of it.

  Neither snow nor rain nor heat may stop the postal service from delivering your mail. Even in an age dominated by email—and despite a global pandemic—paper envelopes, glossy magazines, and cardstock postcards endure as a priority.  However, the same priority isn’t considered in the recycling of the steady influx that floods mailrooms and doorsteps around the US.  Between unsolicited mail (or “junk mail”), envelopes with plastic address windows, bubble mailers, shipping boxes, packing peanuts, and more, the lower perceived value and confusion over mail’s recyclability leads to millions of tons of sought-after paper and cardboard filling up the nation’s landfills per year. It’s a missed opportunity, as not all mail is junk. In fact, it’s the opposite, and understanding what mail is and isn’t recyclable benefits not only the economy and environment, but also your business's waste bill.

From 10,000 sheets of office paper to 500 disposable coffee cups, the average office worker generates a substantial amount of waste every year. Considering the majority of our days are spent in the office, it’s very important to focus on recycling there! Read on to find out how much waste the average office worker generates.

This article was originally published June 2019 and has been updated. The concept of working a 9-to-5 office job often evokes memories of spending more waking hours at your place of business than in your own home. Inevitably, in being more active at work, the average American office worker generated a substantial amount of waste—from 10,000 sheets of office paper to 500 “disposable” coffee cups. When the COVID-19 pandemic sent many workers home, all of our wasteful behaviors followed us to the kitchen, couch, and bedroom. But now, as the economy reopens and companies like Google and Goldman Sachs act as bellwethers leading the nation back to their second homes, the time has arrived to reset how offices think about waste and recycling. With sustainability, efficiency, and employee well-being top of mind, we discuss five materials responsible for the disproportionate waste generation in the office setting, as well as ongoing considerations for a zero-waste future. Let's dive deeper into just how much waste is created in the office...

In this post, we wanted to focus on the 'full picture' of recycling, so we created an infographic that details the series of events that occur during the life cycle of your recyclable materials - from generation, to consumption, to turning the recyclables back into new products.

  If you're a frequent reader of our blog, you know we like to include interesting recycling tidbits in our posts, like the fact that you can recycle an aluminum can, and after only 60 days, it will be back on a store shelf. Or for every ton of mixed paper that is recycled, 17 trees are saved. In this post, we wanted to focus on the 'full picture' of recycling, so we created an infographic that details the series of events that occur during the life cycle of your recyclable materials - from generation, to consumption, to turning the recyclables back into new products. Let us know what you think in the comments below and please share with your colleagues who would be interested in learning more about this!

Have you ever wondered what happens to your materials after they have been tossed in the recycling bin? After collection, each material is set on its own path to become a new product. Learn about the recyclables’ journey from the recycling bin back to the shelf.

  Have you ever wondered what happens to your materials after they have been tossed in the recycling bin? After collection, each material is set on its own path to become a new product. Some materials can cycle through the process indefinitely, while others can only be recycled a few times before they lose their quality. Continue reading to learn about the recyclables' journey from the recycling bin back to the shelf.  

Do you ever feel like a huge chunk of your day is spent looking for files? Or maybe the expenses of paper are starting to add up. If so, your office may want to consider going paperless! Check out our post on how your office can go paper-free.

  Do you ever feel like a huge chunk of your day is spent looking for files? Do you ever find yourself forgetting to pick up documents from the printer? Or maybe the expenses of toner, ink cartridges and printing paper are starting to add up. If any of those sound familiar, your office should consider going paperless!

In our post, we discuss what happens to your materials after you toss them in your recycling bin! Check out the many uses your recycled materials have.

  Have you thought about what the materials you use every day were in a previous life? The fleece jacket you’re wearing right now may have been made with recycled plastic from water bottles. Or, the tissues next to your desk may be made from recycled computer paper. On past blog posts, we’ve focused a lot on how, why and what to recycle, but below we discuss what happens to your materials after you toss them in your recycling bin! Continue reading to learn the many uses your recycled materials have.

Here you’ll find some shocking facts about paper consumption and the impact it has on the environment, as well as how recycling your paper can benefit the earth AND your business!

  If you work in an office, chances are you use more paper in a day than you can keep track of. You're probably aware of the environmental benefits of recycling your paper, but have you ever considered how it can benefit your business? Below you'll find some shocking facts about paper consumption and the impact it has on the environment, as well as how recycling your paper can benefit the earth AND your business! Read on to learn more.  

Most retail coffee products aren’t recyclable which inevitably leads to them going to landfill. So, we’ve put together a resource that explains why they’re not recyclable, and what you can do to be more eco-friendly.

  If you’re like most of us in the morning, you’ll grab a cup of coffee from the kitchen or stop by the local coffee shop on the way to the office. Coffee helps the average office worker start their morning and it fuels productivity for the rest of the day. If your office has ever run out of it, you know what I’m talking about. All kidding aside, most retail coffee products aren't recyclable which inevitably leads to them going to landfill. So, we’ve put together a resource that explains why they’re not recyclable, and what you can do to be more eco-friendly.