Express ProductsEncouraging your employees to recycle is a crucial step towards becoming a more economical and environmentally conscious business.
Starting a recycling scheme is a surefire way for businesses to become greener and reap the benefits of doing so. Employees have a large role to play in this, of course, but engaging them can be challenging at times.
Workplace recycling may seem as simple as placing a few bins, but when it comes to participation, there are a few things to watch out for.
In our latest eBook, we discuss how you can introduce, improve, and—most importantly—maintain consistent recycling in your workplace.
In this guide we discuss:
- the importance of workplace recycling.
- types of waste to consider.
- tips on how to get started.
- how organisations like Glasdon can help.
The full eBook is available to download below for free.
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5 Tips to Promote Workplace recycling
#1 - Set an Environmental Goal
If you communicate an overarching environmental goal or commitment to your employees, it helps them understand how recycling benefits the organisation and the environment. Not only this, but if all staff members are striving for the same target, and can see their colleagues actively pursuing the same objective, it encourages sceptics or late adopters to get on board and helps embed recycling into the workplace culture.
#2 – Educate Staff
Launching a dedicated recycling campaign helps set expectations in your organisation. Internal communication channels such as the company intranet, emails, or newsletters should be used for the initial announcement and quick follow-ups, but to help reinforce your message, consider distributing recycling posters around your workplace, or running educational sessions to help your staff fully grasp the significance of recycling.
#3 - Communicate & Gather Feedback
Raising awareness is vital, but communication is not a one-way street. Allowing employees to comment and respond to your recycling programme before and during implementation can be a helpful way to gather suggestions or identify underlying problems. Feedback can come in various forms, including verbal conversations, surveys, suggestion boxes, or even employee forums, and will help engage staff with the idea of workplace recycling. Your employees will be more likely to participate in a scheme if they had a hand in its creation.
#4 - Set Targets & Incentives
While working towards your environmental goal, consider setting achievable targets to help measure your recycling scheme’s success. With something to focus on, the energy and attention of your employees can be directed into adopting the recycling habits that matter most for your organisation. You could even introduce rewards and incentives e.g. creating a league table for a bit of friendly competition, or treating your team to a free lunch for reaching a key target or milestone. Simple measures like these can work wonders for company-wide participation.
#5 – Use Easily Identifiable Signage
If employee participation is low, or if contamination rates are too high, consider how easy your recycling points are to locate and use. Signage is critical to employee understanding and correct use. Confusing signage can discourage employees from using the scheme entirely, and the same can be said for recycling stations that are too far away or difficult to use. Make sure to use clear, identifiable signage for each waste stream to make it as easy and convenient as possible for your employees to recycle.
Quick Fixes
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| No one is using your recycling bins | Make sure to place your bins in corridors and high traffic areas to make them convenient for employees to use. You should also consider which bins make sense for which rooms e.g. food waste bins in kitchens/staff rooms and paper waste bins in offices/printing rooms. |
| Your recycling bins get full too quickly | Arrange for more regular emptying and collection with your cleaners/waste collectors. Alternatively, invest in larger capacity recycling units to handle the higher volumes of waste. |
| Your recycling bins are getting mixed up | Ensure your general waste and recycling bins are placed next to one another to provide options for different waste streams. Your bins may be getting contaminated if users are not given the opportunity to dispose of their recyclable waste correctly. If the issue persists, check whether your signage is clear enough. |
| Recyclables are ending up in general waste | Remind employees what can and can’t be recycled, and check whether those guidelines are reflected in your signage. If there is any confusion, it may be worth putting up posters that detail exactly what can be disposed of in each waste stream. |
| Some employees aren't using the recycling bins | Encouraging participation can be difficult sometimes, but promoting your recycling scheme and ensuring employees understand its benefits to your organisation and the environment can help build recycling into the work culture. |
If you would like more information about our range of recycling bins or need advice on how to improve your recycling rates, don’t hesitate to contact us.
