Tips for waste prevention in the office

We spend one third of the day in the office. Preventing waste in the office is a very important step in reducing the amount of waste that we generate in our day-to-day lives. Find out how you can reduce the amount of waste you produce at your place of work.

In the office

By making small changes at your workplace, you will produce less waste and save your company a lot of money in the long run.

Use energy-saving light bulbs. An energy-saving light bulb uses 80% less electricity and lasts six to eight times as long as standard light bulbs.
Buy efficient appliances and good quality electronic devices. If you buy good quality devices, the initial investment is expensive but it will prove to be good value in the long run, as they last longer and consume less energy.
Rent electronic devices. There are now companies that rent out electronic equipment such as computers and printers to companies. For a reasonable monthly fee, these companies will take care of the maintenance, replacement and repair of these devices. They will also make sure that it is correctly recycled once it reaches the end of its useful life.

Program the air conditioning and heating to achieve an adequate room temperature within the ranges recommended by the Regulation for Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE): in summer, between 23ºC and 25ºC; in winter, between 21ºC and 23ºC.
Donate objects, electronic devices and furniture that you no longer need to entities who can give them another lease of life.

In the office

Paper is the most commonly produced form of waste in the office. If we become aware of all the paper that we generate and waste, it will be very simple to stop wasting it.

When possible, request receipts and invoices in a digital format. You’ll save time sorting them, have more space at home and avoid the unnecessary consumption of paper.
Use both sides of the paper. Save used sheets of paper to write down notes, make drafts, etc.
Use refillable pens and stationery. When the ink cartridge runs out, don’t throw it away. You can refill it and use it over and over again.

Use solar-powered calculators. These last for many years and do not require batteries.
Always print on both sides of the paper, being sure to do so in draft mode. You’ll use half as much paper and save on printer ink.
Use printers with refillable cartridges. These can be refilled at copy shops and computer shops, and will prevent the generation of a highly polluting waste.

In the kitchen/dining room

The kitchen and dining room are shared spaces where a large part of the office waste is produced: particularly packaging and organic matter.

Have a bin for each type of waste (organic, packaging/recyclables, paper and cardboard, glass and general waste). If waste is unavoidable, you must separate it into categories for recycling.
Try to use sustainable and reusable products in these spaces, such as cloths instead of kitchen paper.
Use glasses, porcelain or ceramic plates and metallic cutlery. You can use these as many times as you like, unlike single-use materials.
Bring your own tea or coffee mug to work. By doing this, you will reduce the use of single-use cups.

Remember to share products that are consumed by more than one person, such as coffee, milk or tea. You can buy products in larger packages, saving money and generating less waste.
Drink water from the tap or from a drinking fountain. By doing this, you will consume less packaging and greatly reduce plastic waste.
Bring your food in reusable packaging or a tupperware box. You will generate much less waste and can use them as many times as you like.

In the bathroom

By following a few very simple tips, you can ensure that the bathroom is a waste-free zone.

Buy bars of soap instead of hand gel. These have less packaging and generate less waste.
Buy large bottles of liquid hand soap and refill the dispensers when they are empty.
Don’t use paper to dry your hands. There are alternative ways to dry your hands, such as towels and air dryers, which do not generate any waste.
Put a bin in the bathroom for sanitary waste. Keep the space clean and refrain from throwing things into the toilet.