Did you know?

One busload of passengers takes 40 cars off the road during rush hour, saves 70,000 litres of fuel and avoids over 175 tonnes of emissions a year. (ClimateChange.com)

A 600-watt photocopier left on standby for 24 hours a day uses about $750 of electricity in a year. If this machine is turned on only during normal working hours two thirds of this electricity will be saved. (New Zealand Ministry for the Environment)

By reducing waste, businesses can help protect the environment, save money, and enhance customer trust. Waste Reduction Week is an excellent opportunity to start anenvironmental initiative or to highlight existing waste reduction programs.

How to Participate - 4 Easy Steps:

1) Register and be eligible to win! click here

2) Contact us for free posters and information: click here

3) Check out our 'Ideas for Businesses' section below for great waste reduction and cost saving ideas.

4) Tell us about your efforts! RCM would love to hear your stories and experiences at your business. Contact us for a chance to win!

Waste Reduction Week 2008 for Businesses Brochure (pdf)

Ideas For Businesses:

• Post the WRW poster in the entrance to you business. Contact RCM to get free posters and resource kits.

• Promote resource-conserving products such as recycling bins, low-flow showerheads, mulching lawnmowers, organic foods and other environmentally friendly goods.

• Start used-on-one-side paper banks in the office and watch your paper consumption tumble.

• Initiate a recycling program for the office, staff room, and customer service areas.

• Install energy-efficient fluorescent lights. These are more expensive initially, but pay for themselves many times in the long run through lower energy bills.

• Install programmable electronic thermostats to reduce heating/air conditioning during non-business hours.

• Promote sustainable commuting practices by contributing to bus passes for staff, organizing car-pools or awarding prizes to the greenest commuters.

• Host a speaker to give a presentation on an environmental issue to staff and/or customers.

• Purchase environmentally friendly products for your office. Look for the ecologo and check out "www.environmentalchoice.com" for a search engine of available alternatives

• Conserve trees! Use recycled paper with at least 30% recycled content and do all printing and photocopying double-sided.

• Turn off all unnecessary lights, computer and equipment at the end of the day.
Check out Manitoba Hydro's Power Smart for Business program for practical help and more great energy-saving ideas.

• Tell others what you are doing. You deserve to be recognized for your efforts!