I hate shredding files. It’s noisy. And boring. But with today’s climate of identity theft, it’s a must. And you still have to get rid of the paper shreds, right?
Make sure you recycle your paper shreds. At minimum, toss them in the recycle bin. (Please use a cross-cut shredder that makes tiny pieces of paper – for your confidentiality!) There are other creative ways to use those tiny bits of paper.
Packing
Just last week I need to ship a package. Forget styrofoam peanuts or other non-green items. Use your paper shreds! It was the perfect cushion, and it didn’t cost me …read more

Most of us are trying to find ways to be more responsible in our lives and businesses. Working towards being greener and more sustainable. It’s not easy, especially when we depend on stuff and paperwork. Did we ever imagine our businesses would involve so much paper?
But besides paper clutter, there are other ways to go green in your office, and Dumb Little Man gives us nine. So go take a look and then tell us, what are you doing to make your office more sustainable?

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) Allison over at Greener Assets is giving away some almost-accidentally-recycled coupons from Office Depot that can save you money. Yes, I know I sound like a commercial, but honest – it’s legit.
Check it out here and enjoy!

If you’re thinking about cleaning your workspace, you might wonder what to clean with. Here are some suggestions:
Seventh Generation has a great line of Free and Clear household cleaning products including dish soap, glass cleaner, and all-purpose cleaner that are free of dyes and fragrances. They’re biodegradable, free of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and are not tested on animals.
Vanessa’s Gift has a line of cleaning products that are scented with essential oils (derived from plants, not chemicals) that are non-toxic and biodegradable. They list all the ingredients on the packaging so you know what you’re buying.
The ol’ standbys – Of …read more

Until a few years ago, the only options for recycling CDs included making mobiles from fishing wire and tiling your bathroom floor.
Despite their primarily plastic contents, CDs and DVDs can’t be included in household recycling and very few centers are set up to accept them. Most people chuck them in the trash – where they go from the trash can to the incineration facility to be burned or the landfill to never biodegrade.
Good news!
Several companies have taken up the challenge to remove these plastic disks from the waste stream and put them back into use. In some cases, they’ll …read more

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – It’s easy to lump all “big box” stores together. Face it: they’re shaped the same, they have sprawling parking lots out front, they all sell marked-up cr@p produced elsewhere – all in the name of business.
To be honest, even though I shop at some of them, just thinking about these companies is enough to get my blood boiling.
Before I break into a full-fledged rant, I have to say that I learned some interesting information about Office Depot that warrants recognition.
In the last four years Office Depot has developed:

An environmental stewardship page on their website
A free guide called …read more

(myorganizedbiz.com) – After having a coronary at the fuel pump recently, I have finally seen the light.
The old way:
Used to be that my clients would call me and ask if I was free on, say, Tuesday afternoon. I’d look at my calendar, see a blank spot of sufficient length, and say “sure.” Even if they lived two counties away.
I’d run errands in one direction in the morning, drive home (to my office) for lunch, and then zip back out again in the afternoon. No biggie. Eveyone does it.
At $3.20ish a gallon (and rising), I’m realizing that this haphazard …read more

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – I’ve been sitting on a moderately comfortable chair for a couple of years. I can’t seem to get myself to buy something new when the chair I have is still perfectly serviceable, attractive, and, well, free.
You may have noticed yourself wiggling around after a couple of hours of sitting at the computer, trying to stretch out the stiff muscles. Maybe your back aches or you’re hunched over because there’s no lumbar support. You might eventually consider (like I have) bringing in a chair that would remedy your discomfort.
How does this affect your organized biz? Well, discomfort equals …read more

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – While I was over visiting Alison Kriscenski’s blog, Greener Assets, I stumbled across some great posts she’s written about how to make your office greener AND save money.
Here’s a small sampling – compiled for your viewing pleasure:
Greener Files – ideas for saving paper, printer ink, and integrating digital records.
Greening Your Electricity at the Office – learn how to prevent juice leaks, maximize natural light, and get connected to renewable energy.
Resources for Recycling Office Electronics – here’s a huge pile of resources for this invasive problem.
Check in often at Greener Assets for ideas and information about how to …read more

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – This video is incredible. Please, when you have 20 minutes, watch it. The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard.The way you look at business will change.
The main premise of the 20 minute video is that the economy can’t exist in its current paradigm forever because the planet’s resources are finite. Instead of gloom and doom, it’s a bracing wake-up call for change – including really clear and do-able steps.
Here’s an except from their Another Way website for an idea about how you can contribute to positive change:
Power down! A great deal of the resources we use and …read more