Today, we’re going to take a look at office composting and why composting matters not just at home, but at work too.
At The Office Compost Program, we help local businesses take control of their food waste in the office - and we are happy to share what we’ve learned with you!
Here, we’ll look at how composting in the office can help you work towards a greener earth, how to get your employees on board, what can be composted at work, and more. Let’s get started!
What Is Office Composting?
Office composting is exactly the same as composting at home, except you do it in the workplace!
When you compost in the workplace, you simply throw your food into a compost or Green Bin instead of the garbage bin.
Throw your food waste into a Green Bin instead of the garbage
Why Composting at Work is Important
There is one main difference, however, when it comes to office composting. Many regions do not offer waste collection for businesses - for regular garbage or for food waste.
The Region of Waterloo, for example, does not offer business waste collection. This means that businesses must hire their own waste removal services.
If your waste removal service does not include separate food waste removal, your company’s food waste will end up in a landfill. Food waste rotting in landfills greatly contributes to methane emissions.
According to the Washington Post, reducing food waste can have a major impact on our environment:
“More than 70 billion tons of greenhouse gases could be prevented from being released into the atmosphere. It represents one of the greatest possibilities for individuals, companies and communities to contribute to reversing global warming”
Composting ensures office food waste ends up in the right place!
As consumers now care more and more about working with businesses that care about the environment, it’s important for all companies to do what they can to help - and composting is one of the easiest ways to do that!
What Can I Compost at Work?
When you compost at work, you will have to follow the same guidelines as when you compost at home.
In general, you will be able to compost most organic material and food scraps, like leftover bones, fruit and veggie scraps, etc. You can usually compost paper products as well, such as paper towels and napkins.
Exactly what can and cannot go into your Green Bin will vary depending on the region or city you live in. In the Region of Waterloo, you can include the following in your Green Bin:
All food scraps, including tea bags, coffee grinds, and filters
Paper products, including facial tissues, paper towels, napkins, microwave popcorn bags, and paper plates - no coffee cups
Do NOT include:
Glass, metal, or plastics
If you are setting up your office Green Bin for the first time, you should make it easy for employees to use. Set up signs by the bin outlining what products can and cannot go in the bin, so employees aren’t left wondering what to do!
How Does Office Composting Work?
Office composting may slightly vary depending on the company you choose to work with. Here, we’ll go over how The Office Composting Program provides composting services for businesses in the Kitchener-Waterloo area!
Step 1: Get Your Green Bin
Sign up with the Office Compost Program and receive the right number of bins for your office space. We can provide multiple bins for larger office space.
The last thing you want to deal with is an overflowing bin! We make sure you receive the right number of bins for your unique space.
Step 2: Start Composting
Encourage employees to use the Green Bin to compost all food scraps, small amounts of liquids, and some paper products. It’s a good idea to teach employees how to use the bins and to put up signs outlining what can and can’t go in the bins.
Step 3: We Do The Work!
Our team will pick up your bin(s) on a weekly or twice weekly basis. Pick-up will depend on the size of your office, the number of employees, and what you are most comfortable with. Regular pick-up means no smell - or hassle - for you and your team.
Step 4: Track Your Impact
Your waste will enter the compost stream in one of three ways:
Donated to local neighbourhood garden compost piles
Sent to the Region’s Compost facility
Used at Kitchener Clean’s Worm Farm where it becomes worm castings
(a high quality fertilizer)
We’ll provide regular updates on your office’s impact, so you can continue to feel great about your composting efforts.
The Benefits of Office Composting
Still not sure if office composting is right for you and your business? Let’s take a look at some of the top benefits when your business chooses to compost at work.
1. Improved Employee Morale
Office composting can help employees feel better at work
More and more people are joining the Green Movement. This means that more employees than ever before care about environmental sustainability and working for a company that cares.
If you show your employees that you care about the environment, you will help show them that they’re working with a business that shares their personal values.
When you work with a business that not only cares about you but your values, you will feel better as you work! Improved morale can lead to improved productivity, so this is great news for everyone involved.
2. Better Customer Experience
As we mentioned above, it’s not only employees who are about sustainability - it’s consumers too.
From Entrepreneur.com:
“Over the past ten years, consumers (aka employees) have become more interested in sustainability, more concerned about environmental threats and are more willing to take action and/or direct their dollars in ways that benefit (or don’t harm) the environment.”
You can help your customers have a better experience by showing them that your business is doing its part to help the environment.
They’ll feel better working with you, and you’ll feel great knowing that you’re doing your part - and making your customers happy!
3. Increases Employee’s Cognitive Thinking
One study outlined by FacileThings discovered that working in an eco-friendly office actually boosts cognitive thinking by 26% - that’s a pretty big deal.
Composting is one major step towards a more eco-friendly office, but there are other things you can do too.
Eco-friendly offices can boost cognitive thinking
For example, you may choose to use reusable cups and mugs in your kitchen instead of disposable ones. You may also want to consider the energy efficiency of your workplace.
Whatever you choose to do, remember that any extra work will definitely pay off!
4. Reduces Costs
Did you know that composting can actually help you reduce other waste collection costs? As we mentioned above, businesses have to pay for waste removal in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Waste collection typically costs significantly more than simple compost services, so by reducing the amount of waste you throw into the garbage stream, you can save on overall waste removal costs.
“WE ARE CURRENTLY USING THE COMPOST PROGRAM AND THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT AS OUR COMPANY HAS GROWN AND OUR USAGE INCREASED. VERY FRIENDLY AND TERRIFIC SERVICE!”
— JULIE G., BIG ROAD
How To Get Staff On Board
One of the biggest challenges when implementing composting in the workplace is not starting the program, but rather getting your staff on board.
Getting staff on board may be a challenge at first, but it’s necessary!
Any changes in the workplace can feel disruptive or even stressful for staff who are used to doing things a certain way.
You may want to implement this program at a strategic time. For example, during January as an office-wide “New Years Resolution,” or after a fiscal year end to signify changes in the company.
To help your staff seamlessly transition, use the following tips so your staff not only begins composting at work - but enjoys it too!
Tip #1 - Explain the “Why”
Staff will be more likely to begin composting if they simply understand why it’s so important.
Although most people are aware of climate change and current environmental issues, not everyone knows why these changes are happening - or how we can help.
A helpful video explaining why composting is so important
You can show your staff a video such as the one above, or provide a quick presentation on the benefits of composting for both your office environment, and the world!
Tip #2 - Put Up Signs
One of the best ways to help your employees adopt a new compost initiative is to make it as easy for them as possible!
Your staff will be less resistant if your new program doesn’t disrupt their current habits. One of the best ways to make things easy is to put up descriptive signs, showing what you can and can’t place in office Green Bins.
What can’t go in Waterloo Green Bins - Source: Region of Waterloo Waste on Twitter
If you can’t find any signs available online to print off, you can quickly create a chart of composting “do’s” and “dont’s” and post it near your compost bins.
You may also find it helpful to send out an email a few days before you implement your compost services, so employees have some time to become familiar with your new waste management system.
Tip #3: Create an Eco Committee
As you implement your new compost system in the office, you may want to form a new Workplace Environment Committee.
According to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), a Workplace Environment Committee:
“Deal[s] with environmental issues in the workplace. Like other workplace committees that have specialized interests, an environment committee looks at ways to improve the environmental record of the workplace.”
Your new committee can be in charge of office composting, putting up new signs, and helping to remind other employees about the importance of composting.
When other workers see that you have a committee dedicated to environmental issues, they will be more likely to take your initiatives seriously.
Start Composting At The Office
Join The Green Movement Today!
Office composting can be simple when you choose to work with The Office Compost Program.
We proudly offer our Office Compost Program to businesses across the Waterloo Region, helping you make a positive impact on the environment.
Help your employees feel better, make your customers confident in your business, and feel great knowing your business is doing its part to help the environment.