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Industry Profile
New York City is the national center or major hub for numerous business sectors, including finance, media, publishing, fashion, theater, insurance, international banking, and consulting services.
The City possesses more than 380 million square feet of office space, and according to the New York State Department of Labor, more than 1.4 million New Yorkers work in office-based businesses, such as information, finance, insurance, real estate, law, advertising, and accounting. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers provide administrative or managerial functions in all levels of government and in the manufacturing, hospitality, retail, and healthcare industries.
Not surprisingly, paper makes up the largest portion of the waste stream, 72 percent, of office-based industries. The term “paper” refers to white and mixed office paper, newspaper, and cardboard. Here is a breakdown of the waste generated in a typical office:
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TYPICAL OFFICE WASTE STREAM*
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Type of waste
Mixed paper
Newspaper
Office paper (white)
Cardboard
Food scraps
Plastics
Other garbage
Glass
Metal cans
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Percentage
37%
13%
12%
10%
10%
6%
5%
4%
3%
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*Office Waste Reduction Briefing Paper, WasteCap Wisconsin
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Waste prevention tips for the office
Take a look at the waste prevention topics below to see how your office can reduce waste and save money:
 paper
lighting
leasing
batteries
environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP)
buy recycled
end-of-life product management
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PAPER
Paper makes up approximately 72 percent of the waste stream in most offices. Whether that paper is being produced by internal administrative activities or incoming mail, there are numerous ways to reduce paper waste and, in turn, to reduce paper purchasing and associated waste removal costs.
For waste prevention tips in the office, see paper in waste less at agencies & schools. For waste prevention tips at home, see paper in waste less at home. For recycling information, see recycling in the private sector.
ALSO SEE measurement tools to find out how much money your business could save by switching to duplex copying and replacing printed in-house telephone directories with electronic versions.
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LIGHTING
The type and quality of lighting in your workplace sets the tone for employee comfort and can affect employee productivity and work quality. It can also be a significant contributor to your electric bill.
Incorporating energy-efficient lamps and ballasts, as well as a mix of lighting controls, can lower your energy costs and ensure adequate lighting for all areas within your office.
Learn how to increase lighting efficiency, and see case studies for businesses that have benefited by making their workplaces more energy efficient.
Purchase low-mercury fluorescent
lamps, usually indicated by a "green tip" or characteristic
green-colored aluminum end. Fluorescent lamps contain mercury that
can be released into the atmosphere if broken. By purchasing
low-mercury fluorescent lamps, businesses can minimize the amount of mercury that is released when lamps are discarded.
Recycle used fluorescent
lamps when they need to be replaced. Check
to see if a retailer
near you will take
back CFLs. If not, there are numerous vendors across
the country accept and process lamps for recycling. Most vendors
require that whole lamps be repackaged in their original boxes (or
in boxes provided by the recycler) and shipped to the vendor's recycling facility.
ALSO SEE fluorescent lamps in waste less at agencies & schools for tips on fluorescent bulbs, resources
for information on government-sponsored technical assistance and
funding programs, and take it back nyc! for a list of retailers that accept used CFLs.
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LEASING
The next time your business decides to upgrade computers or replace the carpeting, consider a possible money-saving alternative — leasing.
Leasing lets you avoid the costs and hassles of providing ongoing maintenance, repairs, or technological upgrades as the product ages or breaks down.
When the lease agreement ends, the leasing company, not your business, is responsible for dealing with how the equipment will be reused or disposed of.
Leasing also benefits the environment because it extends the useful life of many products that would normally be discarded. Most leasing companies strip equipment for reusable parts, or refurbish the used item so that it can be re-leased, or donated to a nonprofit organization.
Examples of typical office items that can be leased include:
- Electronic equipment (photocopiers, fax machines, computers, computer software, printers, audio and video equipment). Leasing rather than buying lets you upgrade at minimal cost as technology improves. Make sure to consider energy efficiency when choosing your models.
- Furnishings (furniture and carpeting). Leasing furniture has been an option for years, but modular carpet leasing is a relatively new money-saving option being offered by companies like Milliken and Interface, Inc.
Leasing opportunities also exist for other items, such as heavy machinery, appliances, tools, protective clothing and gear, uniforms, and chemicals. Check with your vendors for more information.
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BATTERIES
Dry-cell batteries power a variety of devices that are integral to the operations of many workplaces. Pagers, two-way radios, cell phones, laptops, smoke detectors, cameras, flashlights, and bar-code scanners must work around the clock.
Types of commonly used dry-cell batteries include: Alkaline, carbon zinc, nickel-cadmium, nickel metal-hydride, sealed lead-acid, mercuric oxide, silver oxide, lithium, lithium ion, and zinc air.
Switching from single-use to rechargeable batteries can save your business money and reduce the volume of cadmium, mercury, and other potentially harmful elements from entering the waste stream.
Consider setting up a trial program to see if rechargeable batteries or battery packs pose a better solution for your workplace. Rechargeable batteries, while more expensive than single-use batteries, last longer and are therefore more cost-effective in the long run. Rechargeable alkaline batteries can be recharged up to 25 times, nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries up to 1,000 times, and lithium ion (Li-ion) up to 300 times before they no longer hold a charge.
Properly dispose of spent batteries. Most rechargeable batteries contain one or more substances that can be hazardous or reactive when released into the environment. Look on battery labels and packaging for information on recycling or proper disposal, or ask your supplier. When purchasing new batteries, or products containing batteries, arrange to have your vendor take back your old batteries. Alternatively, go to vendors for recycling options for rechargeable batteries.
ALSO SEE batteries in waste less at home resources to find disposal information for any battery, and lead-acid batteries in waste less at agencies & schools for tips on automotive batteries.
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ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING
Environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) or "green" purchasing incorporates environmental concerns into purchasing decisions, and takes into account the full life-cycle impacts of products and services on the environment, human health, and your business’s bottom line.
Products or services in accordance with EPP principles may
- be made of recycled content, remanufactured, or rebuilt.
- conserve energy or water.
- have a reduced amount of toxic constituents or hazardous by-products that will later need to be handled as waste.
To learn more about EPP and how to incorporate environmental concerns into your business’s procurement specifications, see resources in waste less at agencies & schools.
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BUY RECYCLED
Close the recycling loop by buying products made from recycled content. Buying products with recycled content helps conserve natural resources and builds markets for recycled materials.
Look for products made with the highest percentage of post-consumer recycled content. “Post-consumer” refers to materials that consumers have used and then recycled, rather than manufacturer’s discards or off-spec waste.
There are thousands of recycled-content products on the market that are competitively priced and of comparable quality to products made with non-recycled content. Examples include paper, waste receptacles, trash bags, toner cartridges, plastic binders and folders, carpeting, and floor tile.
A variety of recycled-content products also exist for the construction, landscaping, and auto-maintenance industry.
Through product research and testing, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established suggested recycled-content percentages for numerous items in their Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. To view these guidelines and other recycled-content product guides, see resources in waste less at agencies & schools.
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END-OF-LIFE PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
Before throwing away old or unwanted equipment, furniture, or computers, consider whether the products might have value to a second user. Investigating alternatives to disposal can reduce carting costs, earn your business revenue or a tax credit, and divert valuable resources from entering the landfill. Consider the following:
Participate in end-of-life take-back programs. These programs are a component of Extended Producer Responsibility, a movement where manufacturers assume greater
physical and financial responsibility for the environmental impacts
of their products throughout their life cycle. Products typically
covered by take-back
programs include computes, electronics, rechargeable batteries, carpeting, and ceiling tiles.
Sell reusable items. If you do not have the time or resources to sell the item yourself, contact an established materials exchange or broker, who can do the legwork for you at a minimal price.
Donate unwanted equipment. There are hundreds of nonprofit organizations in New York City interested in receiving working, second-hand office equipment, computers, supplies, and furniture. Donating goods can earn your business a tax credit and supports the work of charitable organizations. Go to donations for more information.
ALSO SEE recyclers and vendors who accept other recyclable materials, including toner cartridges, textiles, pallets, plastic film, computers and computer monitors. All businesses are required by New York State law to recycle unwanted computers and monitors with an electronics recycler.
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