Business Waste Reduction

Additional Office Paper Reduction Resources

U.S. EPA's WasteWi$e Program is a voluntary partnership with the business community that helps businesses implement cost-effective actions to reduce municipal solid waste. Waste Wi$e members include nearly 400 companies nationwide, representing over 35 industry sectors. Although any business may participate, over one third of the members are Fortune 500 companies such as BankAmerica and Target Stores.

The National Office Paper Recycling Project at U.S. Conference of Mayors, 160 Eye Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006, (202) 223-2088. Their "Recycling At Work" program is designed especially for people in charge of workplace recycling programs. It provides all the necessary tools to make an office paper recycling program successful, including sample memos, motivational materials, step-by-step instructions for educating employees, and a guide for measuring results. Materials available include guidebooks for building managers and recycling coordinators, model recycling program case studies, promotional posters, banners, stickers, and T-shirts. See "Recycling" and "Solid Waste Management" under their publications/services site on line, or call or write for membership information.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board's Waste Prevention World contains useful waste prevention information for business and consumers including industry-specific waste reduction fact sheets.

The Environmental Defense Funds' Action Guide to Greener Paper includes five simple steps you can take to make the paper you use easier on the environment and information on how to make a difference in the recycled paper market.

The Lawrence Berkeley Lab Energy Analysis Group has a Web site on Office Paper Efficiency Resources. Most of the writings are done by Bruce Nordman, a member of the Energy Analysis Group.

ReThink Paper ®, a project of the Earth Island Institute, is a network of environmental activists, scientists, and paper industry experts working to achieve ecological sustainability in the U.S. pulp and paper market. Their mission is to convince the consumer, paper industry, farming, and government sectors of society to rethink--and then replace--current paper consumption and production practices with environmentally sound alternatives.

The San Francisco Recycling Program has a wonderful Web site including waste reduction and recycling information for home, work, and school. 

Last updated: November 29, 2007