Technology Connections - Fall 2008

You already charge batteries for cell phones and laptops. So why are you buying disposable AA and AAA batteries for other products? Rechargeable batteries last up to three years longer and are accepted by more recyclers than other batteries.

Once your rechargeable battery has reached the end of its life, or you no longer have the device, make sure you properly dispose of the rechargeable battery. Check out www.rbrc.org to find a location near you that will accept your rechargeable batteries for recycling. You’ll find many major retailers like Radio Shack, Home Depot, Lowes, Circuit City, and Best Buy have locations for you to drop off rechargeable batteries.

Power Down Inactive Electronics

The Little Everyday Things Add Up

Don’t supply your office with styrofoam cups at the coffee pot and water cooler. Encourage employees to bring a mug from home and reuse it. Invest in plates and silverware for your office kitchen instead of using paper plates every time someone brings in bagels for the staff meeting. 

Computers and other electronic devices are fragile, so they come with lots of packaging. Cardboard boxes, styrofoam and plastic bags can easily be recycled. Cardboard can be recycled with your paper, and all plastic should have a number on it (e.g. Styrofoam is #6) used for recycling. 

Paper, Paper, Paper

W

e could write pages and pages on this topic. We know the practice of law is paper intensive. If you can’t eliminate it, at least reduce it. You’ll help the environment, and save money. Here are some easy ways to reduce the use of paper in your office.

• Document Management and Practice Management programs can greatly reduce your reliance and use of paper. You can save electronic copies of documents, email, and phone calls, and messages in these programs without creating a paper file. Everyone has access to it, it doesn’t get lost, and it is filed in the correct location.
• Teach your staff how to use the technology you already own! Make sure users understand, and USE, the review features in Word. Don’t print out a copy of a document every time a draft is ready and write all over it, use the Track Changes and Comments features in Word.  Save versions of documents in Word and/or your Document Management program.
• Scan incoming mail/documents so they are available over your network and others can view them without making a paper copy of them.
• When you do have to print, print on both sides of the paper. Consider printing 2 pages per side, like a book. If you have a color printer, make sure it is only being used on final copies, not drafts. Color ink is more expensive and doesn’t always need to be used in the draft stage.
• Send your firm’s marketing materials electronically (with permission, of course) and consider emailing your monthly bills to clients instead of mailing them. Not only will this help the environment, but you'll save money as well!
• Think about purchasing recycling containers and placing them next to the printer and throughout the office.  You can find these at ULINE Shipping Supplies for under $10 each!