ZIdaho Going Green ZIdaho.com

Though many companies are already recycling their office paper, here are a few other ways you can cut back on the paper trail you leave at the office:

• Copy on both sides of the paper. This is especially efficient for internal documents and drafts.

• Reduce documents to fit two pages onto one. Use for circulating rough drafts or file copies of documents.

• Use lighter weight paper. Lighter paper requires less energy and fewer raw materials when it's manufactured.

• Find alternatives to mail. Use email, voice mail and fax modem transmissions whenever possible.

• Eliminate unnecessary subscriptions. Cancel newspapers, newsletters, and magazines you don't read or can access online. Take your name off mailing lists to reduce junk mail.

• Do a "paper" audit. Determine the kind and volume of paper waste your company generates, then take steps to use less.

• Make recycling easy. Place recycling bins in hightraffic areas, including the conference room and kitchen as well as by the copier and fax machines.

• Use a routing slip to circulate copies throughout the office.