Technologies Helping to Boost Workplace Recycling Efforts

Sustainability and greener living are at the forefront of the population’s mind. It’s easy to think that major overhauls and radical changes are necessary to make a difference, but that’s not necessarily true. Getting “back to basics” and thinking about how to clean up the planet is a great way to boost your sustainability efforts. One of the best ways to do that is by recycling.

While individuals and families can do their part to recycle at home, businesses across the globe can have an even greater positive impact when it comes to reducing waste and reusing items as often as possible.

Thankfully, technology has made it easier than ever to improve your recycling efforts. If you manage a business, using tech to your advantage will not only create a greener future, but it can benefit your business in a variety of ways.

Let’s dig deeper into how recycling efforts can improve your company’s impact on the local environment. We’ll also touch on sustainability tech options that are helping businesses across the world become greener.

A Greener, Cleaner Business

The benefits of reducing trash in the workplace go far beyond just cleaning up the planet, but let’s start there. According to the EPA, the average American produces 4.9 pounds of waste per day. When you consider that many people spend the majority of their time at work each day, a lot of that waste is piling up in the office.

Things like plastic water bottles, other single-use plastic items, packaged lunches, and even everyday office supplies can be thrown away without a second thought. But, it all adds up quickly. Even though most things are becoming digitized, the average office worker still uses about 10,000 sheets of paper each year, and most of them get thrown away.

Implementing recycling into your business will not only help to cut back on this kind of excessive waste, but it can boost your business in a variety of ways. You’re more likely to save money. You’ll reduce the cost of your raw materials, maximize your profitability, and create a healthy, positive work environment that attracts top talent.

Speaking of a healthy environment, recycling initiatives can also reduce health concerns in the office. You might have employees who are currently concerned with your waste policies and how they’re impacting people’s health. Don’t wait for those employees to approach you or for them to quit because of unhealthy practices that don’t benefit your employees or the future of the planet.

The Perfect Marriage of Tech and Recycling

Recycling, in general, seems like a pretty old-school practice. But, we’re seeing advancements that are bringing it into the 21st century and making it easier for businesses of all sizes to implement efficient and effective recycling programs.

If you want to take advantage of technology, stay up-to-date with the latest trends in recycling and how the digital world is making it easier for corporations and individuals to reduce their waste. Even if your business isn’t in a position to implement these types of tech, you can see where things are going and get a better idea of how you can strengthen a recycling program from within.

You can also go a bit deeper with your efforts and start a recycling program within your workplace. Education is a huge part of successful recycling, so holding training sessions with your team and holding expectations when it comes to your new program is a great way to get started. Let’s cover a few smart waste technology ideas that are changing the future of recycling.

Smart Waste Bins

While it seems easy to throw a plastic bottle or piece of paper into a bin, not everything always gets recycled and sorted properly. That often creates issues at recycling centers across the country, and could cause your best efforts to fall short. One way to combat that is by implementing smart waste bins in your office. They use artificial intelligence (AI) to sort recyclables properly, so you don’t have to worry about employees recycling the “wrong” things.

E-Waste Kiosks

Unfortunately, e-waste has become a major problem across the globe. More than 50 million metric tons of e-waste are generated each year. Your office can do its part to reduce e-waste by working with a company or program that installs kiosks to properly dispose of electronic devices.

Or, you can encourage your employees to drop off their e-waste at a designated location in the office, and make a trip to your nearest kiosk once a month. These kiosks are designed to let you drop off your electronic waste safely, so it can be recycled properly and not left in a landfill to potentially damage the environment.

Recycling Apps

If you want to create a workplace environment that promotes recycling, encourage your team to download our recycling app. The Recycle Coach app can help employees sort items by searching or taking a picture of the item and telling the employee the correct disposal for your office. We also offer an initial online training for your workplace through an interactive Lunch ‘n Learn session. The Recycle Coach app can help improve your employee’s recycling by providing industry news and educating your team on best recycling practices so they can live greener lives at work and at home.

Other Sustainable Tech Options Your Business Will Benefit From

Recycling is one of the easiest ways to lower the carbon footprint of your business. If you don’t already have recycling efforts in place, it’s time to get started. But, there’s so much more you can do to boost your brand’s sustainability – especially if you use technology to your advantage. Some of the best ways to bring sustainable technology into your business include:

• Installing solar panels
• Using LED light technology
• Encouraging employees to take public or electric transportation

You can take that final point one step further by setting an example. If you manage a company that requires employee transportation and you have a fleet of vehicles, consider “going green” by switching to environmentally efficient cars. While these vehicles can be an investment upfront, they’ll save your business thousands of dollars on fuel and maintenance over several years.

Technology is making it easier than ever to run a sustainable business. It’s taking the guesswork out of recycling, so you can implement a program that works for you and your team, and enjoy the benefits of a healthy workplace and greener future.

Author Bio

Sam Bowman writes about people, sustainability, recycling, and how they merge. He enjoys getting to utilize the internet for the community without actually having to leave his house. He volunteers his time as a local recycling and waste reduction activist, working to help people better navigate proper recycling. In his spare time, he likes running, reading, and combining the two in a run to his local bookstore.