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Posted by Amy Jarvis on January 22, 2010 at 6:46pm
We at M+NLB are fortunate to work for a company that provides us with the resources and tools we need to act sustainably in our daily work life. Similarly, we are fortunate to work with intelligent clients and leaders in the field who embrace our sustainability commitment and implement their own. Given the industry in which we work, it is not surprising that various cities have embraced this challenge. This past Wednesday, Lake Oswego announced mandatory business recycling requirements. The full story is at Oregon Live .
The new Lake Oswego program provides advice, informational brochures, and supplies, as well as site visits and technical support. To help applaud these efforts, we wanted to offer some advice/lessons learned in implementing an office-wide recycling program in our Portland office. To implement this program, we involved the property management in our recycling effort to determine office recycling needs. To complement the building’s recycling program, we positioned comingled recycling bins centrally and at each work station so that wherever there is a trash can, there is also a recycling bin. We took this opportunity to invite Jeanne Roy from the Center for Earth Leadership to educate our employees on what can and cannot be recycled. Jeanne also discussed waste reduction through mindful purchasing choices, such as by purchasing reusable, durable dishware, products with high recycled content, including printer and plotter paper, and producing the majority of our printed materials with 100% Post-Consumer Waste Paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
A recycling program can and does take time to implement. From bureaucratic hurdles to feasibility to conflicts over sustainability (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/science/earth/18family.html?ref=earth), however, the effort is well worth it. Besides, your city may require it soon.
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