[ECO]9 Surprising Things Your Business Can Recycle and Reuse

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9 Surprising Things Your Business Can Recycle and Reuse

Most businesses these days will recycle paper, card and plastic where they can, and this is always a good thing, but you know what? You could be doing more, much more! The average business has tons of things they could be reusing or recycling, but because they have never thought about it, they just don’t bother.

We’re here to change that by showing you 9 surprising things your business could (and should) reuse or recycle…

1. Oil (Yes, Even the ****** Stuff)

So many busuenses who use it in their manufacturing processes think that oil is useless once it has doen it’s job for them, but this is very much not true. Companies like

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can actually coem in and help you to recycle your waste oil, so thast it cvan have a new lease of life, whether you choose to use it again, or you let someone else benefit from it.

Whether it’s the oil from your commercial kitchen, which has been used to fry fish or the oil from your garage which you have used when working on cars, it can be collected, re-refined and put to good use once more, an oil salvage companies will either collect it for free, or in some cases even pay you to collect it

Not only does recycling your waste oil prevent it from harming the environment, but it also helps

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reduce their carbon footprint. So, whether you’re frying food or lubricating machinery, don’t just dump that oil—get it recycled!

2. Coffee Grounds (The Ultimate Office Fuel)

If you’re like most companies, then your operations probably run on coffee just as much as they run on talent and hard work, right? Well if this is the case, then you might be interested to know that you can actually recycle all of those

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that you are getting through in the course of the working week. And that they are actually surprisingly versatile when reused!

For example, coffee grounds can be used for everything from fertilizers and composts to cleaning tough grease. So, whether you choose to take the grounds home and use them yourself or you have someone come and collect them, recycling your coffee is an easy win for office sustainability.

3. Electronics (Old Gadgets, New Purpose)

Technology changes so fast that it is not unusual for businesses to have to upgrade their equipment, such as computers and machinery, every few years. You might think that if that tech is no longer of any use to you, then it will be of no use to anyone, and simply throw it away, but this would be a big mistake! You see, even old, merely obsolete tech can be salvaged for parts and repurposed into something that people will want to use.

Many components inside your electronic devices, from the metals to the plastic casings, can be recycled. Recycling centres or e-waste companies will often take your old tech, safely dismantle it, and reuse those valuable parts. In some cases, your old devices can even be refurbished and resold, giving them a second life.

And don’t forget, many tech brands offer trade-in programmes where you can exchange old gadgets for credit towards new ones. Not only does this keep e-waste out of landfills, but it can also save your business some money on the next tech upgrade!

4. Office Furniture (Don’t Just Toss the Desks)

If the time comes for you to upgrade your office’s decor, then you will want to hang on to that old furniture instead of simply sending it to the local dump because, maybe surprisingly, there is a huge market for second-hand office furniture.

So many small businesses and startups need to watch their pennies, and so they will be delighted to buy used office furniture at a much lower price than new. If you can’t or don’t want to dell, then you can usually find charities or startups who will accept your old office furniture as donations too.

If your furniture is beyond repair, don’t worry—many of its components (like metal frames and wooden surfaces) can be recycled separately. With a little creativity, you can give your office a new look while doing some good for the planet.

5. Pallets (Not Just for Shipping)

A lot of businesses rack up a whole lot of wooden shipping pallets over the months and years when their products are shipped in them, and they will often just throw them away when they have served their purpose, but as you will have guessed, shipping pallets can easily be reused snd recycled too.

In fact,

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You can turn them into everything from shelving units and seating to quirky coffee tables. So, you could absolutely use them to furnish your office cheaply, or you could give them away to people in the community who want to turn them into something new, maybe for charity, or even just to furnish their own homes and gardens.

Alternatively, if your pallets are in decent condition, you can sell them to businesses that refurbish or reuse them. It’s a win-win situation: fewer materials wasted, and you might make a little money back while reducing your environmental footprint.

6. Packaging Materials (Think Outside the Box)

Boxes, bubble wrap, packing peanuts—these packaging materials often pile up in the office faster than you can say “next-day delivery.” But just because they’ve served their initial purpose doesn’t mean they can’t be reused.

Cardboard boxes can be flattened and reused for future shipments or recycled. Those packing peanuts and bubble wraps? Instead of tossing them, save them for your next big shipment, or donate them to local businesses or shipping centres that need extra packing materials. Many companies, including large retailers, now accept used packaging for recycling or reuse.

Better yet, switch to eco-friendly packaging options, like biodegradable peanuts or recycled bubble wrap, to further reduce your business’s environmental impact.

7. Ink Cartridges (Tiny But Terrible for Landfills)

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are small but mighty offenders when it comes to environmental waste. With millions of cartridges being used and discarded each year, they often end up in landfills where they take decades to decompose.

The good news? Ink cartridges can be easily recycled. Many office supply stores and printer manufacturers offer cartridge recycling programmes where you can drop off used cartridges for proper disposal. Some even offer discounts or rewards for recycling your cartridges with them.

If your business goes through a lot of ink (because who doesn’t love printing out endless spreadsheets?), this is a great way to keep waste down and maybe score some savings on new supplies.

8. Paper (Not Just for Shredding)

Yes, we know—you’ve already got the office paper recycling bin. But did you know there are other ways to recycle and reuse paper before sending it to the recycling centre?

Instead of tossing slightly used paper, why not reuse it for scratch pads or internal print jobs? If your business regularly prints single-sided documents, collect those unused backsides and repurpose them for note-taking or rough drafts.

Got more paper waste than you know what to do with? Consider partnering with a local school or community group that might need supplies for art projects or activities. You’d be surprised at how much life that “waste” paper can still have.

9. Water (Yes, Really!)

This one might sound a bit strange, but hear us out—your business could actually be reusing water. In industries that use a lot of water (like manufacturing, food processing, or even large office buildings),

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can help you capture, treat, and reuse water, cutting down on waste and reducing your water bill.

Even in smaller offices, you can get creative with water reuse. For example, collect rainwater for your office plants or use greywater (from sinks) in your garden. Every little bit helps, and it’s an easy way to make your business greener without much effort.

Recycling and reusing in your business is not just a good way to get those boxes ticked so you can present yourself as a more sustainable company, but it is very much about finding creative ways to save money, give stuff a new lease of life, and actually be the best business you can be.

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