Hello,
I have been spending a huge amount of time recently trying to locate some small mini bins that can sit on top of desks in an office environment to replace the traditional under desk waste bin. The idea is to reduce the volume of the general waste bin (or mini bin) and to replace the normal waste bin with a paper recycling box under the desk. Sounds good in principle but does anyone know where I might be able to find a load of relatively cheap yet professional looking 1-2 L recepticles that can be branded and sit on top of staff desks??? Somewhere local to Australia would be preferred.
Regards,
Melanie Barter
Environment Officer
Edith Cowan University
100 Joondalup Drive
PERTH, Western Australia
Looking for Desktop Mini Bins
Sign in or Sign up to comment
You can buy these at any Big W, Kmart or even WA salvage...
This idea does sound good in principle, but I can envision a lot of ruined recycling because people use the recycling box as the waste bin when the waste bin won't hold what they want to dispose.
John McGee
Environmental Scientist II
Adopt-A-Pond Program
Coordinator
601 E Kennedy Blvd,
23rd Floor Tampa, FL 33602
(813) 307-1785
mcgeej@hillsboroughcounty.org
Among the building paper recycling systems I'm familiar with, desktop boxes/bins tend to be used for storage(whether they are meant for paper or trash), and they are more problematic for custodial collection than bins on the floor. The best systems seem to involve convenient floor-based bins of similar ~3-5 gal size for both paper and trash, with the trash container a depressing dark gray/black and fitted with a plastic liner, and the recycling container a nice bright blue or green with a recycling logo.
Bill Carter
Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment
MC 165
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087 Austin, TX 78711-3087
Phone: 512-239-6771
Fax: 512-239-4410
wcarter@tceq.state.tx.us
A number of years ago, TVA launched an internal effort to recycle most items in the waste stream--paper, cans, glass, etc. Towards that end, the effort was branded -- which provides focus, making internal communications easier -- and two styles of cardboard boxes were distributed. The most popular style was designed to sit on the desktop to collect paper (the other had three sections and sat on the floor). It was sized just larger than the standard sheet of paper, branded on the front (ReBOX), had details of what to and not to recycle on the back inside flap, and was shaped to rise slightly in height from front to back. The boxes were shipped flat and easily assembled by folding on the indented lines. You should be able to work with a local printer to locate a style you like and design the look. Advantages include being easy to brand and they can be recycled if damaged (crushed, torn, etc.).
Best wishes with your effort,
Beth Parsons
TVA Regional Accounts
(615) 232-6753
www.tva.gov
As a user, I wouldn't want a garbage can on my desk, either. I suppose one would ideally have a compost bin in the office for the apple cores and such, but in reality, users would have to deal with this detritus on the desk. Even if there was no smell, the idea of garbage may not be very pleasant.
Zanna in Winnipeg
I keep a SMALL 4X3 inch blue box (like a smaller version of a typical recycling container, but sorry, I don't know where it came from) on my desk that I use for items like post-its, staples, paperclips, not much really, and I empty it periodically myself in the break room. We have paper recycling containers in each office as well. Any putrescible garbage goes in a large trash can in the break room as soon as it is generated. It's just a mind set that you need a large garbage container in your office. Stinky food garbage attracts ants and roaches - who needs it! The benefits to this system include fewer trash bags used, less work for janitorial staff, no food waste in the offices, and more thought given to getting paper into a recycle bin.
Laurie J. Tenace
Environmental Specialist Florida
Department of Environmental Protection
2600 Blair Stone Road,
MS 4555 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
PH: (850) 245-8759
FAX: (850) 245-8811
Laurie.Tenace@dep.state.fl.us
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/mercury/default.htm
...
Hi Melanie,
Sulo may have some options for you - refer their website page http://www.sulo.com.au/products_list/13. The beauty of their products is that they made out of recycled components. Also, there are Reject/$2 shops and storage shops in Melbourne which stock small bins. The old Tupperware container may also do the trick.
Good luck.
Kathleen Esdaile
Green Office
Consulting Manager
Going Solar
60L Green Building
60 Leicester St,
Carlton VIC 3053
Ph & Fax: 03 9557 1971
m. 0408 571 971
www.goingsolar.com.au