RECYCLING GUIDELINES

Unsure of how to recycle? Click here for the SL Green 2016 Tenant Recycling Guide to get:

• Recycling Program Guidelines (learn what you can and cannot recycle in your building)
• Tenant Waste and Recycling Management Guide (Get step-by-step instructions on how to install your recycling program)
• Order form for Signs and Decals
• Best practice Zero Waste policies
• Compliance checklist
• FAQs

Questions?

email: recycling@greatforest.com

RETHINK SUSTAINABILITY, TRANSFORM WASTE   Waste management has one of the most direct impacts on the environment and your business operations. It is time to transform your waste stream into a value stream, and move towards Zero Waste with Great Forest. Q: What is Zero Waste? A: Zero Waste is a movement aligned around the ideal goal of achieving 90%+ diversion of waste from landfill and incineration. The goal is to generate less waste, use less materials, and make sure that whatever we produce can become a resource that others can reuse.  In other words: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

 TAKE THE QUIZ

RECYCLING GUIDELINES

Unsure of how to recycle? Click here for the SL Green 2016 Tenant Recycling Guide to get:

• Recycling Program Guidelines (learn what you can and cannot recycle in your building)
• Tenant Waste and Recycling Management Guide (Get step-by-step instructions on how to install your recycling program)
• Order form for Signs and Decals
• Best practice Zero Waste policies
• Compliance checklist
• FAQs

Questions?

email: recycling@greatforest.com

REMEMBER…

MOST COFFEE CUPS ARE NOT RECYCLABLE

Switch to reusable cups

* The average American office worker uses about 500 disposable cups every year.

* 50 billion cups in the U.S. end up in landfills every year — if placed end to end, they would go to the moon and back roughly five times.

30-SECOND RECYCLING TIP VIDEOS

What type of paper can you recycle?

Why flatten cardboard?

YOUR BLUEPRINT FOR A ZERO WASTE OFFICE

Are you ready? Here are a few tips on what you can do to start your personal and professional journey towards Zero Waste.

1) Track waste data, schedule a waste audit or assessment

You cannot manage what you can’t measure.  Tracking your waste lets you know the volume of waste and recycling you are generating, while scheduling a waste audit or assessment will give you a better idea of what you are actually throwing away and recycling during a given period so you can spot inefficiencies. Ask your office sustainability manager to schedule a waste audit or call Great Forest.

2) Understand your waste stream

Once you know what you are throwing away, you can ask why and begin to work to solve the problem. Determine what you can eliminate, and prioritize waste reduction activities.

For example if your waste audit reveals that disposable coffee cups form a large portion of your office waste, it may be time to encourage everyone to bring in their own reusable mugs.

If you see your office waste and recycling bins overflowing with paper, check to see if they have been printed on both sides. If not, it may be time to program all printers to do double-sided printing.

3) Take Action and set goals

Start working first towards your own personal zero waste goals. To succeed we have to carry this zero waste mindset and behavior from home to work and back again. Set goals that you can achieve, then expand that success from your personal to the professional sphere.

4) Engage employees/colleagues, build a culture of sustainability

The most successful programs are the ones in which everyone is committed. Sustainability is a team effort.

5) Share your success and best practices

Get everyone excited.  Show your colleagues, clients and friends that your efforts are working. Spread the news and watch others follow your lead.

Source:  5 Simple Steps to Creating a Zero-Waste Office, Entrepreneur magazine

SUSTAINABILITY 101

Check our blog regularly to get alerts, news, industry insights, tips and more. Sign up for our newsletter. Learn from case studies. 

SUSTAINABILITY CHECKLISTS

Want to take charge of your sustainability efforts and get results? Here are some things you can do:

• The Sustainability Check-Up – 10 Tips For Well Rounded Sustainability
• Green Office Sustainability Checklist
• Six of the Most Common Office Recycling Mistakes
• 10 Steps to An Effective Office Recycling Challenge
• How To Make Your Company Greener in 10 Steps?

Q&As

Here are answers to some of the most common questions we are asked. Read our Q&A archive.

• Can I recycle plastic bags? 
• Where do my recyclables go after I toss them in the recycling bin?
• Can you tell me some quick fixes to green restrooms?
• Our office has old furniture and computers we no longer need. Rather than throw them away, we’d like to donate them somewhere. Can Great Forest help?
• How do I make sure tenants and employees recycle properly?

GOOD TO KNOW

• The Economics Of Recycling: What You Should Know
• The Unbearable Inevitability of Recycling: A Response to John Tierney

EARTH DAY GUIDE

What Companies Do To Mark the Day?

• Earth Day Events Organized Worldwide: Four Examples
• Countdown to Earth Day:  There’s Still Time to Take Action
• Three Last Minute Ideas for Earth Day
• After Earth Day – Five Things To Do