Do your bit and bin it

COMPANIES across the region are being urged to bin their office bins today.

The annual One Bin Day sees government-backed environmental advice organisation Envirowise challenging firms to remove all bins in the office except one today – to both encourage greater recycling, and to create a strong visual reminder of just how much waste staff produce in an average day.

As well as signing up to show that they taking part – by visiting www.envirowise.gov.uk/onebinday – the region's offices can take a number of other actions on the day to improve resource efficiency in the office:

• Use One Bin Day as an opportunity to conduct a quick office walk audit – walk around and identify the different waste types you produce;

• Speak to your staff and get their ideas for how to increase sustainability in the workplace – consider having an 'ideas board' where people can post suggestions;

• Designate one printer for internal office use only – and load it with misprinted (but still useable) paper;

• Think about how to make more of your office communication electronic – everything from company newsletters to holiday charts. The paperless office might still be within your grasp!

• Cancel subscriptions to unwanted magazines and newsletters and hold a stationery amnesty to avoid unnecessary ordering;

• Check your recycling facilities – are they adequate, and do they cater for all your common waste types – paper, card, glass and metals?

Free advice and information on all aspects of sustainability is available at www.envirowise.gov.uk/onebinday or by calling the Envirowise advice line on 0800 585 794.