Cutting back on paper usage in the office - O2PR launches new green initiative

Sometimes the sheer thought of the world’s problems and how grave they are can cause people to back off. From poverty to environmental degradation it can unfortunately lead to comments such as; why bother, it’s just a drop in the ocean, how can this one thing really make a difference. This is sad. However, at the same time, based on the experience of one of our employees, we really can make a difference. Here’s what one O2 employee did and what they discovered. The result just might surprise you.

In 2007 I read Al Gore’s book ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’ It’s shocking to say the least. A graphic fact filled book on the state of our planet and how human activities are causing global warming. The book states that we must all be responsible citizens of the world and do our part to protect the earth. The book ends with a list of things we as responsible citizens can do to help prevent or slow down global warming. One of the things on the list was recycling.

Can recycling a few bottles really make a big difference? This was my initial question. Here’s what happened. In May 2008 I got a plastic bag and placed my empty plastic water bottle in it and left it in the kitchen to remind myself to throw away my bottles and plastic for recycling. Having the bag in the kitchen next to the bin was easy. In just two days the bag was filled with plastic. I didn’t know where to take the recycled plastic and I was in such a hurry that day that I shoved the recycling into my small spare bathroom and shut the door. I decided I’d deal with it later. I finished my coke, washed out the can and throw it in a box for cans and also put that in the bathroom. Fast forward 5 months and this was what I had. I had over 150 large plastic bottles and 12 huge bags full of cans, bottles, glass, and a huge wad of newspapers. When I physically couldn’t open the door let alone fit anymore into the spare bathroom and l loaded the recycling into the back of my friend’s estate car and on our way to the supermarket we stopped off and throw it all the designated bins.

I was amazed. Back in May I had no idea just how much rubbish we go through in the space of 5 months and how much of it can actually be recycled. These days, if you come to my house you will note that my bathroom has now been turned into a permanent recycling room and that it’s no longer in use. What I learnt from this small exercise was that we can all make a difference. Dropping off all the recycling bags took less than 20 minutes. 20 minutes every 5 months is hardly a sacrifice. Why not see how much you can collect in 5 months, it might startle you to see just how much you could really do to protect the environment.

by Michelle L Johns