Checklist

Your Green Business Checklist: How Green Are You ?

Air Emissions…

Reserve carpool/vanpool parking spaces
Make transit schedules, commuter ride sign-ups, and so on available to employees
Offer employee incentives for carpooling or using mass transit (e.g. guaranteed ride home if needed)
Linking trips to accomplish all tasks in one outing (supported through the use of GPS systems in cars)

Reducing Hazardous Materials

Eliminate aerosol cleaners and room fresheners
Proper food and garbage storage and landscaping to limit pests and the use of chemical pesticides
Use one or a few multipurpose cleaners, rather than many special-purpose cleaners
Replace standard fluorescent lights with low mercury fluorescent lights
Use rechargeable rather than single-use batteries
Buy paper products (towels, napkins and copy paper) that are unbleached (no chlorine, or “PFC”)

Recycling and Reusing

Cardboard (corrugated cardboard boxes)
Used toner cartridges (can often be sent back to manufacturer)
Excess paint (reuse as a primer, give to hazardous waste collection program or donate)
Used florescent tubes
Electronic waste equipment such as computers, monitors, printers, and fax machines
Mixed paper (junk mail, magazines, catalogs, newspapers, phonebooks, and so on)
Metal, including scrap from remodeling activities and replacing equipment
For shipping non-food items, use shredded paper for packaging needs instead of purchasing styrofoam™ pellets, bubble wrap, or other packing materials
Leave grass clippings on mowed turf (“grass-cycling”) rather than disposing
Donate old uniforms and linens to shelters or nonprofits organizations or otherwise recycle them

Creating Environmental Awareness

Adopt a strategic Green initiative
Promote being Green on collateral material, website, and e-mail
Buy from Green-friendly suppliers
Educate employees, clientele, and vendors about the advantages of joining a Green business network