5 tips for a greener, more enjoyable office experience

(BPT) – From the smell of lilacs in spring, to the relief of jumping into a lake on a hot summer’s day, to all the fun that comes with winter snow, there’s no end to the memories we have of playing outside. It’s no wonder then, people want to know what they can do to help take care of the environment.

Businesses are doing their share as well. Yokohama Tire’s Salem, Virginia-based factory, for example, recently became a zero landfill operation thanks to the dedication and hard work of its employees. Such endeavors have inspired many. So if you’ve ever wanted to make not just your home but your workplace a little greener, here are five tips to jumpstart your project.

1. Reduce unnecessary waste.

A good place to start is to take an inventory to see where you can reduce your consumption. At work, this might mean printing less, reusing the boxes you receive shipments in, or having sugar and cream dispensers instead of wasteful individual packets. If your breakroom has disposable cups and dishes, get rid of them!

2. Don’t make caring for the environment complicated.

When the Yokohama tire factory began to move to a zero-waste plant, they knew simplicity would be key to getting their employees on board. For this reason, they opted for single-stream recycling (a system where newspaper, plastic, aluminum, etc., are placed in a single bin for recycling), to make it easy for everyone to participate.

3. Make sure the lights are only on when they need to be.

While millions of people and businesses have converted to energy efficient lights, plenty of lights are kept on when they should be turned off. This problem is easily solved by installing motion sensors, which not only save energy, but money as well. Also, some companies save energy by using ambient or natural light in the workplace.

4. Add a charitable incentive to your recycling program.

There’s nothing like piling good on good. This is exactly what the folks at the Yokohama plant thought when they decided to donate the proceeds from their aluminum cans to Habitat for Humanity. By doing this, they not only provided an incentive to recycle, they also helped a great cause.

5. Start your day right with a bike ride to work.

It’s amazing how much money people can spend on gym memberships and exercise classes, yet still drive everywhere. Do your part for the environment and get your daily exercise by riding your bike to work, or just walking anywhere that’s within a mile. Get others on board by starting a “bike to work club.”