Waste management notes to keep on your desk

Environment and safety expert Martin Sanders believes that the most effective change in making an organization more environmentally compliant should happen at the individual level. It's helpful to keep some written waste management notes on the desk to change the organization and consider the environment more.

Reuse those paper clips

A paper clip is often made up of a thin piece of metal and a coat of plastic. Many shamefully disposed of these two elements that make up this very useful object without much thought on giving it a second life. As far as Martin Sanders is concerned, having a small bowl on your desk to contain used paperclips, with a small reminder to reuse them, makes your desk environmentally conscious, and further, this can add some interesting colors, too.

Crumple and crush

When throwing away a piece of paper, crumple it tightly so that bins can accommodate more waste, making the collection more efficient. When you consume your canned soda, give the aluminum a good crush to make it thinner and more ready for recycling. You'll see how much space you're maximizing with a note that tells you to crumple and crush.

Go paperless when you can

At work, it's often second nature to just print documents as you please, even if going paperless is possible. However, a simple question on the common printer that asks people whether not they really need to print can go a very long way. This much-needed intervention prepares one to adopt the behavior more personally and make it a lasting part of office culture.

With over a decade of service in the occupational safety and health field, Capt. Martin Sanders, Ph.D., is an expert in a wide array of specializations. He earned his doctorate in 1997 at the John Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. For more on Capt. Sanders, visit this page.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.