When running a small business the issue of recycling and waste management is bound to come up at some point. From photocopier paper to kitchen wastage, you may be keen to do your environmental bit but can be concerned about the costs that will inevitably be involved. Going green and making an effort to consciously increase sustainability does require a significant amount of planning on your part. Acquiring the proper equipment to recycle properly as well as providing adequate training to your staff can seem like a daunting and time-consuming task but it doesn’t have to be!
While you will definitely need to spend a little money up front to begin the process, once you have a system in place it should run efficiently and effectively without you having to worry, and it’s guaranteed to make your efforts worthwhile. Here are some of the benefits your business can receive when they begin a recycling program.
Save Money on Your Waste Costs
When you regularly recycle common office items such as paper, cardboard and plastics, you will inadvertently reduce the amount of waste your business produces overall. This, in turn, results in lowering the costs that you will need to pay for waste removal. There are even programs that will pay you for recycling certain recyclable materials such as scrap metal and paper. This can offset the cost of your recycling program and also make you a little bit of money in the long run that you can put back into your business.
Trade-In and Save
If your business has been going for some time it may be the right time to upgrade to some new equipment. This can be a great time to recycle your old items and save money. Have a look online for retailers that offer trade-in discounts for your old or unused office items. This can give you a cash injection towards your new items, such as laptops, phones and even computers.
Get Eco Grants
By establishing your company as a responsible company who are dedicated to sustainability, you may be eligible for rewards and grants offered to businesses that prove themselves to be eco-friendly. These incentives are offered by the government and some not-for-profit organisations to companies that can show and track that they are actively contributing towards saving the planet.
Make the Most of Your Space
If your business is one that generates a large amount of waste, it can often be the case that this takes up more space than necessary that could otherwise be used for production. It may be worthwhile looking into recycling equipment and machinery such as cardboard baling or paper compactors. While they may take a chunk out of your budget with upfront costs, they quickly recoup the costs through efficiency alone.
Save the Planet
Of course of the most important reasons to have a strong sustainability program in place is to ensure that you are doing your best to look after the planet. Every little does help and can make a small but significant difference.
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