As we all look for creative solutions for dealing more effectively with the waste we produce, improve the efficiency of the equipment we already have and cutting costs, doing some very simple things can make quite a difference.
It doesn't take much effort to make sure you get the correct HP replacement ink cartridge and reuse and/or recycle paper but both can make significant improvements in what happens to our environment.
When thinking about how to improve the environment, the first thing to achieve is the reduction of waste.
Start by putting in place a bin for paper to be recycled and others for recycling consumables, beverage cans, glass and plastics.
Most local authorities will accept small amounts of these recyclable wastes.
Some waste, aluminum cans for instance, is valuable enough to sell if you have sufficient quantities.
Reusing the un-printed side of the paper for either scrap paper or printing drafts etc.
gives you two bites at the cherry.
There are several ways of reusing this well-used paper afterwords, for example, the paper can be shredded and used in the compost bin, as animals bedding for horses, dogs or cats (animal shelters often need shredded paper), compressing and making into "logs", lining trenches for planting potatoes (makes digging the potatoes much easier!), art projects, even paper/cement bricks for building eco-friendly dwellings.
Other ways to cut down on the amount of HP ink used is to set the printer on draft mode or print in black rather than using color for non-essential print jobs.
And, don't print everything you download, read it from the computer screen instead and print only that which you absolutely need.
Buying recycled products - paper, folders, pencils etc.
- for use in your office is another way to improve your carbon footprint.
Also consider buying previously owned equipment and furniture rather than always buying new.
You might even think about refilling your empty ink cartridges.
HP ink cartridges have print heads that are an integral part of the cartridge and these are designed to work for the length of time that the ink lasts.
Therefore refilling can be done only once or twice without a reduction in print quality.
HP is making it easier to recycle your empty HP ink cartridges by inserting an envelope in new cartridge packaging so that you can send the empties to Hewlett Packard and they will responsibly recycle all that they receive.
Alternatively you could give your empty ink cartridges to a charities for them to benefit by selling the empties to companies that refill them.
Making a few changes can make your office more efficient as well as more eco-friendly.
Adjusting your purchasing practices, reducing waste in the first place and responsible waste disposal with recycling as much as possible, can make a significant contribution to improving the environment and saving you money.