National Recycling Week is less than a month away and that means it’s time to start thinking of how your workplace plans to get involved. Our research shows that joining forces with your colleagues to support the Australian recycling industry is not only good for the environment, but also for staff morale. Three in four employees agree having effective recycling at work makes them feel better about their employer.

With many Australians returning to the office very soon, here’s how you can celebrate National Recycling Week with your workplace:

1. Start your journey to workplace recycling stardom

You don’t have to be a facilities manager or deal with waste contracts to have a positive impact at work and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. We have developed a simple guide to help you reach recycling stardom! Make an impact today by implementing any (or all!) of the simple tips in the guide, which have been designed to be accessible for all workplaces. We've got you covered from simple changes that can be made straight away to more complex ideas that can help you have an even bigger impact.

It doesn't matter if you work in an office, a café, or a shop, check out the Recycling Stardom Guide to become recycling superstars.

2. Set up a recycling system

Turn your workplace into recycling hub so that all employees can recycle at work! You may be surprised how many recycling services are available for office items such as printer cartridges, e-waste and batteries, not to mention numerous other household items that your employees could recycle at work. Some of the recycling programs will save you money, some will be cost neutral and some might come at a small cost, but all of them will help reduce your workplace’s impact on the environment and make your business more sustainable. 

Remember, when buying new products, it’s important to choose brands that take responsibility for the end of life of their products through recycling and product stewardship programs. Check out this list of recycling programs available for your workplace for ideas.

3. Join our Recycling 101 webinar

Looking to brush up on your basic recycling knowledge? Join our Recycling 101 webinar. This lunch and learn session will provide you and your colleagues the chance to go back to basics and learn not only what is recyclable and what’s not, but also why. We will be providing information on how systems and processes work when it comes to sorting our materials as well as equip you with the knowledge needed to distinguish between items made from recycled materials, as well as what those claims mean. Sign up here!

4. Host a workplace trivia session

Want to find out who the real recycling champion is at your work? We have created a Recycling Trivia pack so you can challenge your colleagues and bosses and test their recycling knowledge. The trivia is designed to be easy enough to get everyone in the workplace engaged while also being difficult enough to challenge preconceptions about what can and can’t be reused and recycled at work. And it’s fun too! Download the trivia pack to discover who is the recycling champion in your workplace.

5. Buy recycled

Now that you’ve flung your unwanted paper into the recycling bin, the next step is to make the switch to Australian made recycled office paper. After all, unless you’re buying recycled products you’re only really doing half the job of recycling. It’s all about closing the recycling loop – the more products you buy that are made from recycled materials the greater the environmental benefits and the more efficient the use of natural resources. Choosing recycled paper and other recycled products supports green jobs, keeps waste out of local landfills and reduces carbon emissions. Check out our Recycled Products Directory to get started on buying it back!

For more information, check out our workplace resources. Happy recycling!

Main image: The Asylum Seekers Centre in Sydney is tackling e-waste with its Donate a Device program.