ReAnn Rothwell’s Money Saving Ideas, Tax & Organizing Tips

We spend a good chunk of each day printing, copying, and sitting in front of a computer. Here are four easy tips to make your workplace more earth friendly: 

1. Reduce Waste: Every little bit counts! According to the EPA, each employee in a typical business office generates 1.5 pounds of waste paper per day. For example, request reusable cutlery and dishware in the employee break room. Recycle computers, fax machines and scanners at a location certified to recycle/reuse electronics. (Go to Earth911.org to find one.) Print/make copies only when necessary. Use a removable stick-on label for your fax cover sheets. Set printers and copiers to print on both sides of paper.
2. Use Laptop Computers. They can use up to 90% less energy than bulky desktop computers.
3. Think About Ink: It takes a gallon of oil to manufacture one inkjet cartridge. Look for refilled, recycled, cartridges (they cost 20% to 70% less) or ones with soy ink, an all-natural product from a renewable source.
4. Use 100% Post Consumer Recycled Paper: This is used paper so remaking it uses less energy and water, produces less greenhouse gas, requires fewer trees and greatly reduces the amount of solid waste in our dumps.