[Mock] Memorandum: National Geographic Society
National Geographic Society
Memorandum
TO: National Geographic Employees, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
FROM: John Smith, Senior Editor
DATE: 08/02/20
SUBJECT: Workplace Sustainability
Our central purpose at National Geographic is to “illuminate and protect the wonders of the natural world.” Unfortunately, the greatest problem the earth faces today is us. Human overpopulation produces huge amounts of waste that seep into natural habitats around the world. In addition to funding clean-up projects and conservation groups, we can also contribute to the vital reduction of human waste, starting with our office habits. I propose several environmentally-friendly office initiatives to serve this purpose.
Solutions For Reducing Waste In The Office
The Environmental Protection Agency has declared that, “Among industrialized nations, the United States generates the largest amount of municipal solid waste per person on a daily basis.” The EPA states, “municipal solid waste landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for approximately 16 percent of these emissions in 2016. Methane is one of several non-CO2 gases that contribute to global climate change.” In 2020, “global emissions of methane have reached the highest levels on record.” Due to this huge impact of landfills on the environment, I strongly recommend we target the exponential amount of trash compounding in our office everyday. Below are several recommendations that promote a low-waste or no-waste lifestyle, a change that is crucial for the curbing of climate change.
Recommendations
Implement programs and train employees on how to live no-waste
Add a “No-Waste” Explorer Course to our online class catalog
Separate cans for trash, recycling, and compost in common spaces
List proper items for recyclables, compostables, and trash above cans
Restrict the use of disposable cups and utensils in office kitchen
Provide reusable cups, plates, utensils for general use
No-Waste Explorer Course
A no-waste training program could be easily implemented into initial employee training. A no-waste program could be added to the National Geographic online Explorer Course listing so that its benefits will stretch even farther, to all environmental activists. All current employees would also be required to register and complete the course, and recommend it to any outside members or readers of the publication. The Explorer Course team would be in charge of writing and publishing the program, just as they have with past courses. If you are interested in an Explorer Course on no-waste living, please email explorercourses@ngs.org with this request.
Recycling & Composting Bins
The American population generates about 30% of the world’s garbage. On average, each American produces one million pounds of municipal waste every year. If we add recycling bins next to every trash can in the office, in addition to a large compost bin in the office kitchen, we can reduce our municipal waste production by a third. I propose we place informational visuals above each bin that inform employees on what should be recycled, composted, or thrown away. Currently, many objects can be recycled at processing plants in the DC District, including:
Paper
Plastics
Metal
Glass
In addition to office supplies, several food items found in the office kitchen are thrown away every day that could be recycled, such as pizza boxes, paper and plastic plates, cups, lids, to-go containers. Since the District requires all commercial spaces to recycle, a recycling bin and pick-up service is already provided. The only step for office management is to acquire small recycling bins for internal office spaces, including all common areas and desks.
In regards to composting, there are several companies that will perform weekly pick-ups at the office door. I recommend Key Compost, which offers weekly commercial pick-up and will provide 64-gallon bins, which can be easily stored in the building’s trash area. Office management would have to purchase a bin for the office kitchen, and janitorial services would be contacted with the request as well.
The price of bins and a weekly composting service is well worth the drastic reduction in office municipal waste. By recycling and composting, we are taking responsibility for our waste and protecting the natural environment from unnecessary pollution. If you are interested in implementing recycling and composting bins, please email office management with this request.
Reaching Out
I recommend that employees are educated first on how to use less single-use materials, and also given the opportunity to dispose of them properly when they have no other option. If you are interested in implementing any of these sustainable initiatives, please refer to each section to see how you can reach out. At headquarters, we should be as concerned with the environment as we are in our publications. It is time for NatGeo’s headquarters to implement climate-conscious changes in our work spaces that serve our goals, our conscience, and our earth.
Sources
Exploring Conservation. National Geographic Society. Web. 2020 https://www.nationalgeographic.org/projects/exploring-conservation/
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). 2015. Municipal waste, Generation and Treatment: Municipal waste generated per capita. OECD.StatExtracts.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2018. Inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and sinks: 1990-2016. EPA 430-R-18-003.
Garthwaite, Josie. Global methane emissions soar to record high. Stanford News. 14 July, 2020. https://news.stanford.edu/2020/07/14/methane-emissions-climb/
Good, Kate. 10 Ways to Adopt a Zero Waste Lifestyle This Earth Day! One Green Planet Org. 2019. Web. https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/10-ways-to-adopt-a-zero-waste-lifestyle/
List of Recyclable Items in DC Expands, Department of Public Works, 2017. Web. https://dpw.dc.gov/release/list-recyclable-items-dc-expands#:~:text=Paper%2C%20plastic%2C%20metal%2C%20cartons%20and%20glass%20are%20currently,to-go%20containers%3B%20plastic%20produce%2C%20deli%2Fbakery%20containers%2C%20and%20trays.
Commercial Service. Key Compost. 2020. Web. https://keycompost.com/#commercial