Greening the Facility

Getting Started. A Simple Overview.

 “Greening” programs incorporate waste reduction & reuse measures, and green purchasing.
Here are some great ideas that have been recommended with the EPA Guidelines.

Official Government/Regulatory Resources

• Pollution Prevention Equipment Program (PPEP) Book
  This Website (although applicable as a source of information about pollution prevention equipment that has been tested and/or is available for fielding in a military environment) may also be of interest to industry and the general public with regard to providing information and ideas.
• Smart Office Resource Center
• US EPA Vendor Information (VendInfo) National Database of Pollution Prevention Products and Services
  This database includes providers of pollution prevention equipment, products and services.
• US EPA's Environmental Accounting Project
• US EPA's Environmental Labeling Information

From the EPA’s Green Meeting Info:

Source Reduction Examples

Paper

• Keep mailing lists current to avoid duplicate mailings
• Use e-mail, voice-mail and bulletin boards to circulate company-wide messages and information
• Save information and documents electronically rather than printing out a hard copy
• Proof documents on your computer before printing them or in lieu of printing them for proofing
• Reduce "junk mail" to your business by writing to the Direct Marketing Association Mail Preference Service, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008, and ask that your business be removed from their mailing lists

Purchasing

• For materials you use a lot of (e.g. copy paper), order materials and supplies in bulk and consider Green Purchasing.
• For items you use less often, order only what you need - avoid excess!
• Purchase remanufacturered fax, ink jet and toner cartridges and/or return them to the supplier for remanufacture.

Packaging

• Purchase products with a minimal amount of packaging
• Talk with vendors to reduce the amount of packaging used while still protecting their product
• Ask that vendors deliver shipments in returnable and/or recyclable containers
• Consider returning cardboard boxes and foam packing peanuts to suppliers for reuse (try contacting The UPS Stores)
• Minimize the packaging used in shipping your products
• Consider redesigning shipping containers resulting in minimizing packaging

Office

• Reuse any disposables as often as possible in your kitchen or lunchroom
• Rent equipment that is only used occasionally
• Consider purchasing refurbished office equipment
• Establish regular maintenance check-ups for frequently used pieces of equipment to extend their life (copiers, fax machines, computers, etc...)
• Use rechargeable batteries
• Use less toxic products for cleaning, inks and paints
• Use products that are more durable, higher quality, recyclable or reusable
• Look for office items that are solar powered rather than battery powered
• Compost organic food waste using an in-office vermicompost bin system, or a compost bin if there is space outside

Reuse Examples

Paper

• Use double-sided copies instead of single-sided for copiers and printers
• Require future purchases of copiers and printers to have double-sided capability
• Make scratch pads from spare/used paper/outdated letterhead
• Reuse envelopes or use two-way envelopes
• Reuse cardboard boxes for shipping materials
• Donate unused books, magazines, journals, etc... to local organizations, literacy programs, hospitals, schools, etc...

Packaging

• Repair and reuse pallets or return them to your vendor
• Reuse newspaper and shredding as packaging/shipping material
• Reuse foam packing peanuts, bubblewrap, and other packing materials where feasible

Office

• Sell or give old or unused furniture and equipment to other businesses, employees or charitable organizations
• Use reusable furnace or air conditioner filters
• Consider using a material or waste exchange for large quantities of reusable materials
• Set up an area in your business where employees can "share" or exchange items they no longer need

When purchasing items, consider those that you know you can recycle or that include the most recycled content.

Recycling Examples

When purchasing items, consider those that you know you can recycle or that include the most recycled content.

Other items to consider when recycling, (remember to reuse or donate first if it's still usable):

• Books, manuals
• Cars
• CDs
• Cellular/mobile phones, batteries & equipment
• Clothing/Textiles
• Computers, monitors, electrical equipment
• Construction materials (carpet, carpet padding, shingles, lumber, etc…)
• Cooking Oil
• Floppy disks
• Ink jet cartridges
• Paint
• Plastic shopping/grocery bags
• Telephone books
• Telephones
• Televisions
• Toner cartridges
• Transparencies
• Various types of metals (copper, brass, aluminum)
• Video tapes
• White goods (appliances)

Press Releases

Announcements

In The Media

Featured Product

Green Your Office for Less!