Going green is not only the "in" thing to do these days; it's also a matter of social responsibility. Everyone should serve as green-conscious stewards of the environment and think of ways to recycle to avoid filling the landfills with things that will never degrade or could be used for other purposes. With everyone doing their part, the cumulative effect could be what makes the difference down the line.

In order to institute a recycling program in your office, you need to first determine what can actually be recycled. Take an inventory of your office to see what items are consumed that then make their way into the garbage bins or dumpsters outside the office. You would be surprised to learn that at least 50%, if not more garbage-bound items, can be recycled. Here are three things your office can definitely recycle:

1. Paper products – Most everyone knows that paper is easily recycled, yet it is not a standard practice in many offices. There are two ways to view paper recycling. First, you can re-use old paper with print on one side and print drafts of your work on the blank side, or even turn it into scratch paper for scribbling notes. Second, you can turn in your paper to a recycler, or shred it in-house and turn the scraps in to a recycling facility.

Newspapers, junk mail, used envelopes, catalogs, magazines, old boxes and anything else made from paper can be recycled. If your office does not have a drop box for paper, supply it yourself by recycling packing boxes. Once the boxes are full, arrange for recycling pick-up or make your own delivery.

2. Printer cartridges – Inkjet printer cartridges are perhaps one of the most costly supplies in an office. So, if there is any way to recoup some of your cost, you would do it right? One thing you can do is turn in all your old cartridges to your printer ink supplier because many of them offer store credit for them. You can also invest in inkjet refills kits and fill the used cartridges yourself. You can usually do this up to 5 times. Some companies offer refilling services as well.

3. Electronics – Electronics that have broken down or cannot be repaired cost effectively can take up space not only in the office, but in landfills, too. Recycle these items by taking advantage of recycling programs in many office supply and electronics stores. They will refurbish the equipment and then donate them to nonprofits and other charities in need. Equipment that cannot be fixed is then broken down into its components, such as glass, plastic and metal, and then recycled.

With just a few extra minutes each day, you can ensure the recyclable consumables in your office find a proper "green" home. Who knows? Those packing boxes you recycled today could be transformed into the paper towels you use next month!

Please feel free to print out any of these resources at home. Before you do, please be sure to stock up on high quality remanufactured inkjet and toner cartridges.

This was written by Printerinks.com, your home for printer inks and laser toner.