Recycling not only helps the environment, it also has advantages for your business, including:

• a reduction in overheads
• compliance with health, safety and environmental legislation
• enhancement of your company's image

To recycle your waste:

• sort paper into coloured and plain paper recycling bins. Put recycling bins near photocopiers and printers - removing elastic bands, staples and plastic wrappers makes it more valuable. Waste paper can be collected by recycling companies; some companies will also accept shredded paper from shredding machines. Telephone and other directories can be recycled (visit www.yellgroup.com), but don't put them in the paper bins
• 'complete the loop' by purchasing recycled paper products, which include printer, copier and - correspondence papers and envelopes, document wallets, files, and storage boxes. You can also purchase brochures etc printed on recycled paper
• try to get suppliers to take back boxes, sacks, containers etc, for reuse or recycling

If you are unable to purchase products made of recycled materials, buy those made of recyclable materials.

You can also reduce waste by:

• reusing paper printed on one side by turning it into notepaper, or using it for printing drafts or notices on internal boards
• using double-sided copying where possible
• using email when possible; don't print email unnecessarily
• recycling used ink cartridges
• upgrading computer equipment instead of buying new, and reusing equipment where possible (this should also reduce upgrade costs). If it can't be reused, there are charities which will refurbish old equipment and give it to schools, charities and community groups
• thinking before committing stock or consumables to landfill - could it be reused, or could someone else make use of it?
• trying to use less resources - use reusable instead of disposable items, such as:
• refillable pens and heavy-duty files
• washable, not disposable, cups (if your vending machine requires disposable cups there are schemes which collect and recycle them)