What you can do

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  4. Power sources
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• Cleaner Production
  1. Did you know?
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• GreenPower
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  2. What can I do?
  3. Why go Green?
  4. Switch to renewable
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• Recycling
  1. Did you know?
  2. What can I do?
  3. Buy recycled
  4. Standard practice
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Article:

Recycling

Where do I start? 

Demonstrate and commit to waste avoidance and recycling

Develop, adapt and adopt business processes and policies which include environmental impact considerations.

Find out about and consider "Cleaner Production".

Support recycled products

Smart planning and resource management

Replace and purchase when absolutely necessary.  Buy only what you need and use low waste products and materials. Investigate and negotiate "just-in-time" supply arrangements with vendors and suppliers.

Encourage reuse and extend the life of your existing resources – maintain equipment and assets, refurbish and reuse before considering replacement.

Investigate "end-of-life" and "end-of-use" recycling opportunities. Treat unwanted, used and spent materials as assets.

These "end-of-use" resources could be given a new life through recycling. This may be through traditional recycling and re-invention processes or through transfer and reuse opportunities. "One person's trash is often another persons treasure".  Review, adjust and develop recycling facilities and arrangements to cater for this new potential and recycling demand.

Purchase wisely

Adopt a purchasing policy that favours environmentally friendly products and supplies.  Smart purchases result in waste reduction as well as business savings.

Adopt and support these approaches:

• Purchase products and raw materials based on recycled content. These include toilet tissue, wood and plastic composites, packaging and containers, printer cartridges, office paper and stationery supplies.

  The Buy Recycled website can help you to source recycled products and supplies.

• Purchase refurbished, recycled and reconditioned products – you may not only save money, but will also help to support the recycling industry and the development of new markets for recycled products.
• Buy and create equipment, products and materials with high use, reuse and "end-of-life" recycling potential.

Find out how to make the most of your recycling policy in the office.