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The Three Rs: Reuse – Reduce - Recycle
Going green and getting organized go together perfectly. They
work in equal parts in our efforts to live in harmony and balance with the
world, while simultaneously creating personal spaces that are comfortable,
beautiful, functional, and efficient. You can simplify your life, reduce your
stress and be environmentally responsible all at the same time!
The process of getting your office organized can involve
weeding through (and discarding) mountains of papers (80% of the papers you file you will never look at again) that have
been keeping you from living how you want to live. You will have less to worry
about organizing when you diligently go through your papers in this Reducing phase. By assessing the
papers that you have left, you can then take a look at reducing these papers
even further if you scan them into digital documents (see “Going Paperless 101,”
Napa Valley Life Feb/Mar 2010).
Paying Bills Online can Reduce
a lot of paper use. According to Javelin Strategy & Research, 53% of
Americans currently use online banking services, rising to an estimated 67% by
2012. The report also estimates that Americans could prevent the logging of
16.5 million trees every year if all Americans switched from paper bills to
Internet banking.
I have clients who
have reported that every time they decide it is time to dig out from under all
the piles in their office that they head right to the office supply store and
buy various items and containers to organize all their stuff. They think that
the idea of buying more things will solve their organizing problems. Au contraire!
After reducing your papers there may not be that much to organize.
Reduce first, then analyze what is left; now consider Repurposing or Reusing existing
items that you have in creative ways to avoid buying more and to give new life
to forgotten items that are just taking up space. An important message here is most offices already contain
all the products needed to make up a good organizing system. Boxes that your
checks came in make great containers for loose items in your pencil drawer.
Think Before You Buy - Try to transform your
buying habits so that you are not accumulating too many items in the first
place. By buying more
than we actually need we are being wasteful and polluting the earth. We need to
make better choices and be aware of what our choices mean to the environment,
also refraining from buying needless items. Buying more goods creates more
trash. When you do buy things that you really need, buy Recycled and/or Biodegradable products where possible and feasible. www.greenearthofficesupply.com/
Set aside hazardous chemicals such as ink cartridges for
recycling. Return them to the office supply store like Staples where you receive
a discount off your futures purchases of ink. Or pick up a pre-paid envelope at
the post office and send used cartridges to be recycled for free.
As you organize your office to make way for a new computer,
keep in mind that electronics must also be properly Recycled to prevent chemicals such as cadmium, lead and
mercury from contaminating our soil, water and air. Watch for free E-waste
recycling fairs to get rid of your computers and electronics.
Throughout the sorting, purging, and organizing
process, think of the benefits of recycling. Oftentimes a person is unaware of
the recycling guidelines in his or her particular area, or whether a particular
item can be recycled at all. Visit: www.napamax.org for information on all
kinds of recycling and disposal. Get educated so you can stop adding to
landfills and recycle more. Consider setting up an organized recycling center
in your home or business to make it as easy as possible to recycle.
Remember, recycling includes donating items that you
no longer love, need, or use often to those who could truly put those items to
good use. If you have boxes of new file folders which you will no longer need
because you have reduced and scanned your documents, you can donate them www.change4kids@nvef.org.
Store your items in a way that will best preserve them.
First, make sure you have the right containers. If you’re storing photos or
documents, choose acid-free boxes, not plastic bins. Second, be conscious of
the location where things are stored. Keep issues such as moisture, light, and
temperature fluctuations in mind. A damp garage isn’t the right spot for paper,
and a bookshelf in direct sunlight will quickly fade your precious photos.
Simplifying
and organizing your life while being environmentally responsible is possible!
When embarking on your next office or desk organizing project, keep these tips in mind. You’ll be able to feel good
about taking steps toward living the life you want in an eco-friendly way. |
