Clean Workplace, Happy Workers!

Clean Workplace, Happy Workers! Waste Management at Work MAY ANDREA P. ROBLES Author

Foreword This mini handbook is written by the author which could be of good input to the organization she is currently connected with. It includes tips and ways to minimize workplace waste and its corresponding benefits to the organization. ii

Table of Contents i ii TITLE PAGE iii FOREWORD 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 INTRODUCTION 5 STARTING A GREEN TEAM 6 GO PAPERLESS AND TRANSITION TO 7 DIGITAL FILES AND ELECTRONIC 8 INVOICES 9 ENCOURAGE LITTER LESS LUNCHES BAN BOTTLED WATER OFFER RECYCLING INCENTIVE PROGRAMS TO EMPLOYEES CREATE A RECYCLING CENTER iii

Table of Contents PROVIDE REAL DISHES AND SILVERWARE 10 PRINT SMARTER 11 REASONSTO PAY ATTENTION TO WASTE 12 MANAGEMENT 17 REFERENCES 18 CERTIFICATION FROM THE EDITOR 19 ABOUT THE AUTHOR iv

Introduction Waste management (or waste disposal) includes the processes and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal. This includes the collection, transport, treatment and disposal of waste, together with monitoring and regulation of the waste management process and waste-related laws, technologies, economic mechanisms. Proper management of waste is important for building sustainable and liveable cities, but it remains a challengiei for many developing countries and cities. A report found that effective waste management is relatively expensive, usually comprising 20%–50% of municipal budgets. 1

Operating this essential municipal service requires integrated systems that are efficient, sustainable, and. socially supported. A large portion of waste management practices deal with municipal solid waste (MSW) which is the bulk of the waste that is created by household, industrial, and commercial activity. Business waste is the term used to describe the waste material produced by commercial entities. And we, as an employees can help our company and also the environment to minimize this waste. Strict implementation of 3R or Reuse, Reduce, and recycle is one of a great initiative every organization can do. Companies may not put time, money, or energy into workplace waste reduction 2

if they believe it’s too inconvenient to establish a program, or that it’s trivial because it doesn’t bring the company money. However, while reducing waste may not generate revenue in the traditional sense, it will ultimately save your business money. Even if your company isn’t ready to establish a dedicated team to help take green measures, there are simple ways to reduce waste that are easy to implement, help the environment, and save you money in the long run: 3

Starting A Green Team Set up a Green Team of employees across the organization to set clear goals for your office recycling program and waste reduction initiatives internally and externally. Make sure you also establish a timeline and determine how success will be measured and monitored. Include staff from different departments as well as the management team. It’s important to be inclusive to build ownership for the program and shared responsibility. 4

Go Paperless And Transition To Digital Files And Electronic Invoices If you haven’t already switched all your bills and banking over to online what are you waiting for?! Take advantage of the ease and convenience of being able to manage your payments at the tip of your fingers. This will not only save you tons of time, but also save you money on postage and late fees and many companies will even offer you a discount if you choose to go paperless. ii 5

Encourage Litterless Lunches Every employee receives their own reusable lunch bag including Tupperware. This is just one proactive step your office can take to encourage employees to avoid bringing their lunch in paper or plastic bags which are used once and then tossed. We must encourage our employees to be mindful of what they bring into the office. Like elementary classrooms, a litter-less lunch is just one initiative your organization can adopt to reduce the amount of daily waste coming into the facility. ii 6

Ban Bottled Water Did you know that 38 billion water bottles end up in landfill every year just in the US alone? It’s time to ban one use plastics and bottled water is the first easy step. Encourage employees to sip from reusable water bottles by placing water fountains or water stations throughout your office and remove bottled water from vending machines. Employers must provide all of their employees with their personal branded stainless steel water bottles to promote sustainable habits and keep them away from purchasing bottled water. 7

Offer Recycling Incentive Programs To Employees, Make It A Competition So It Is Engaging And Fun Set company and departmental goals. Competitions create a fun atmosphere and positive buzz about new initiatives. Businesses often provide budgetary, sales, and performance incentives so why not do the same with recycling? Potential savings generated by the program can offset the costs. ii 8

CREATE A RECYCLING CENTER Make a small recycling center by providing bins to put returnable bottles, non-returnable bottles, and paper. Money from the bottle deposits is money in your company’s pocket. ii 9

PROVIDE REAL DISHES AND SILVERWARE Instead of spending money on wasteful paper plates, harmful Styrofoam cups, and flimsy plastic utensils, invest in real dishes and silverware for your office pantry. You’ll save on the cost of purchasing and disposing these items over time, and real dishes are much nicer to use. Make everyone responsible for cleaning their own dishes, and if you can, spring for a dishwasher to make it even easier. 10

PRINT SMARTER Sometimes printing is necessary. Save up to 50 percent on paper costs by having employees set their defaults to print double-sided, and ask employees to use the “Print Selection” function, which encourages them to only print what they need and reduces wasted sheets of paper. ii 11

REASONS TO PAY ATTENTION TO WASTE MANAGEMENT 1. Environmental condition of areas surrounding the business Generated waste that is not managed correctly can harm the environment, particularly surrounding the business area. The area can suffer from air, water, and soil pollution. This situation affects the community living near to the business. Not only that, the wildlife in that area is also threatened. In the greater scheme of things, industrial waste contributes to climate change. 12

Manufacturing facilities emit a massive volume of greenhouse gas that gets to the atmosphere. It causes the earth’s temperature to rise up. It leads to anomalies of climate such as prolonged rainy season and typhoons. 2. Health state of people living around the areas Improper management of waste also deteriorates people's health who live near the industry. The most common health problems that people experience because of hazardous industrial waste are: 13

In addition to ethical issues surrounding human health, the company is also at risk of facing lawsuits from the community. This situation may halt the company's operation and stop the business altogether. Governments in many countries have started to implement strict laws related to this issue. 3. Company’s production costs One of the unknown waste management's essential benefits for the business is lower production cost. Implementing a good waste management program is indeed tedious, especially at the beginning stage. However, the company will see that the production cost will be reduced over time. This is due to the recycling step that becomes a significant component of waste management. 14

Due to this step, the company can reuse materials in production. As a result, it reduces the need to purchase raw materials. It also cuts down the production time because of readily available materials. ii 4. Possibility of increased profit Another financial benefit that the company can gain from conducting proper waste management is increased profit. 15

With reduced production costs, the business can use the fund to improve other aspects of their business. For example, it can lead to more product innovations. The company also has more chances to invest in its human resources. Responsible waste management is also a good way of marketing products. People's awareness about thoughtful consumption has increased over the years. As a result, many consumers are willing to spend extra dollars to purchase products that cause less harm to the environment in the production stage. 16

REFERENCES (2016a, June 29). 10 ways to reduce waste in the workplace. ISCG. https://www.iscginc.com/blog/2016/4/18/10-ways-to-reduce-waste-in- the-workplace 14 Ways You Can Reduce Office Waste. (2020, February 25). CleanRiver. https://cleanriver.com/14-ways-can-reduce-office-waste/ Yoga, D. (2022, January 30). 4 Impactful Benefits of Waste Management that you need to know. Nimbly Technologies -. https://hellonimbly.com/waste-management-4-essential-benefits-that- you-need-to-know/ 17

CERTIFICATION This is to certify that this booklet entitled “Clean Workplace, Happy Workers” written by May Andrea P. Robles has been examined and found to be in accordance with the recommendations and suggestions of the editor. This booklet was edited by the undersigned on structure and grammar only. JEANETTE P. ROBLES Editor 18

About the Author The author is a Treasury Supervisor of Shopping Center Management Corporation – SM City Daet. She is a graduate student of Camarines Norte State College where she took up Bachelor of Science in Business Administration major in Financial Management. At present, she is currently on her 2nd year taking up Master in Business Administration at Camarines Norte State College. 19

MAY ANDREA P. ROBLES Master in Business Administration Production, Operations and Management Camarines Norte State College Daet, Camarines Norte SY 2021-2022