Most companies today are genuinely interested in the idea of infusing environmentally sound practices in their day to day operations, as occupational health and safety expert Martin Sanders believes. However, people still make the mistake of thinking that they are doing things supporting an environmental agenda when they are not. This blog shares some points to ponder on common office waste, which you can't actually recycle.
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Your innocent-looking coffee cup may seem like it's made of paper, but inside, this is a thin layer of plastic. Since this is made up of two different materials, it cannot be recycled unless separated. This is not easy to do by hand, and separation requires a special machine. The same thing goes for most disposable soda tumblers and straws provided in convenience stores and fast-food restaurants.
Fancy some pizza?
It's very common for people at work to get food that's quick to eat and easy to clean after. This simply makes it so much easier for you to get back to work, doesn't it? This is why pizza is a popular choice among workmates. However, if you think that you're environmentally supportive of your recyclable pizza carton, think again. Pizza cartons that are contaminated with oils cannot be recycled because these require, again, separation. The same goes for tissue paper or a used kitchen towel, which you just used to wipe off your greasy fingers.
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Plastic bottles can be quite handy in the office, especially as these are easy to carry around with you the whole day. However, if you are the bottle-carrying type, you must know that the recycler cannot do much about your empty bottle if it's dirty. For instance, plastic juice bottles or soda bottles tend to hold residual traces of whatever liquid it used to contain. If you really want to help the environment, you should give this a good rinse before throwing it in the bin.
Capt. Martin Sanders, Ph.D, CSP, has extensive experience in biological defense activities and infectious disease outbreak investigation. Visit this page for similar reads.
Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.
