by Kelly Gehringer
According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, Washingtonians are skipping the waste basket and going for the recycling bin now more than ever. Residents tossed away 170,000 fewer tons of waste in 2011 than they did in 2010 and surpassed Washington’s 50 percent recycling rate, a goal set in 1989. The Fearey Group (TFG), has picked up a few tricks to save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
“It’s the little things,” says Laura Ray, Vice President of TFG.
Ray, along with other staff at TFG, started an in-house composting and recycling program in the office. Subtle yet significant changes were made in the kitchen. The garbage pail was moved across the room and replaced by the compost bin for accessibility.
It’s important to know that even if your building management doesn’t have a program in place you can make changes in your office that make a difference. Ray believes going green is all about behavioral change and making the process easy.
TFG also encourages sustainability including duplex printing, offering bus passes and encouraging employees to power down computers and unplug electronics at day’s end. Next steps for TFG will be to add energy efficient light bulbs for desk lamps, company-wide recycled paper and making the switch to cans instead of bottles.
It’s the little things.