Waste Prevention in the Office

Click on the items in the office below or use the jump links to go to related waste prevention information for this business sector. You can also use the itemized list in the pull-down menu above to go directly to waste prevention tips for particular products or activities that cross various business sectors.

industry profile
waste prevention tips for the office

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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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:

batteries
buy recycled
environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP)
leasing
lighting
paper
surplus inventory
waste management & recycling

ALSO SEE:
measurement tools

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