So you’ve had a big clear out at work which has resulted in a big pile of stuff that you no longer need - an old coffee machine perhaps, a desk, some old PCs and a pile of paperwork. You’re pretty switched on, so you know that ‘reducing, re-using and recycling’ your waste is something that the government would like you to do – for the good of the planet and the community. But here’s the thing. Times are hard, you hardly have time and with all the legislation you have to comply with, you’re not sure you’d be able to get anything very innovative past your boss. So you hire a skip.

As you’re lugging it all across the car-park and throwing it in, there’s this nagging voice in your head reminding you how un-green you are being. You try to block it out, telling yourself that the exercise of filling the skip will save you going to the gym. Not going to the gym will mean the treadmill won’t be switched on. Not switching on the treadmill will save some energy. Saving some energy will reduce your carbon emissions. Phew! The voice stops.

But then you pick up your old PC and start walking it to its grave (the skip). For a moment you’re lost in the memories of the times you’ve had together – surfing the Net when you should be typing that report, tweeting about your boredom when you should be typing a letter, photoshopping your holiday snaps and circulating them - what fun you had!

And before you know it you’re knelt at the Directors door, a quivering mess, computer in arms saying ‘No! She’s too young to die!’

And that was the moment you decided that there must be a better way. A kinder way. A greener way. It was also the moment that your boss told you, that it better not cost too much and it had better not get him into trouble. Gulp!

But actually, if you know what you need to look for, it’s easy peasy! And here’s a quick guide:

So your PC works and you’d like to see it re-used. It would also be great if it could be re-used by someone disadvantaged right? So a charity might be the answer. But disposing of your PC is covered by quite a few bits of legislation:
1. The Environment Act (duty of care)
2. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
3. Hazardous waste regulations, and
4. Data Protection Act, after all you probably keep personal data on it

Now I appreciate that it may be starting to sound like a bit of a headache so here’s the pain killer…

There is a network of re-use organisation that will not only ensure your PC gets a new home, but are also registered with the Environment Agency and can wipe your data too. Pick one of these organisations and you just scored 10 gold stars from your legal department and another 10 gold stars from your social responsibility crew! Yay!

Moving on to the other items in your skip, organisations also exist that can your shred your paper and recycle it, re-use your old desk and probably re-use that old coffee machine too! And if you ask them about relevant legislation, they’ll be more than happy to tell you all about it I’m sure.