We’re concerned about our planet at Spork Bytes. Whether that means providing reusable dishes and stemware for your event or partnering with Bold Reuse to bring reusable takeout containers for your next company meal, we are committed to finding ways to reduce waste, minimize climate change, and preserve our natural resources.

We know some of you may wonder if there are ways you can do more. As offices return to their regular routines, implementing a company recycling and composting program is one way to make an impact. It’s easier to do than you might think. Here are some ways to make it happen at your location.

Step 1: Start With an Audit (and a Little Buy-In)

Before you start rolling out bins and dreaming of zero-waste lunches, it’s important to get the green light from the right people. That might be your office manager, HR team, or leadership — anyone who helps shape company culture and gives the thumbs-up on new programs. The good news? You’ve got some compelling reasons on your side:

• Recycling and composting can reduce waste-hauling costs
• They boost employee morale by showing your company cares
• And of course, it’s a real step toward reducing your office’s carbon footprint

Once you’ve got approval, designate a point person to take the lead — maybe that’s you, or a fellow eco-enthusiast. Building a "green team" of coworkers who are excited about the cause will help share the workload and keep the momentum going.

And don’t forget the unsung heroes of any successful office program: your janitorial and facilities team. Make sure they’re looped in early. Not only will they help implement the new system, they’ll also have valuable insights on what’s been working (or not) with your current waste setup.

Tip: If you're not sure how much waste your office produces, try a mini audit! Track what gets thrown away over a day or two, or ask your waste hauler if they can share usage reports.

Step 2: Choose the Right Setup for Your Space

Once you’ve got support and a sense of what’s being thrown away, it’s time to set up your system. That means:

• Clearly labeled bins for landfill, recycling, and compost.
• Color-coded signage with easy-to-read visuals (pictures help!).
• Placing bins where waste actually happens — kitchens, breakrooms, common areas, and near desks.

In Portland (and most of Oregon), composting food scraps is becoming more common and is often supported by local haulers. If you’re not sure what your office can compost, check with your waste provider.

We know the importance of recycling paper, plastic, and glass, but what about more heavy-duty items like electronics? Consider adding one or two days per year where employees can dispose of computer parts, cords, toner cartridges, and old phones they’re no longer using. You’ll need to bring on a specialized recycling company to handle this task, but it’s well worth adding to your efforts to go green! In Portland, Free Geek safely & securely refurbishes locally donated technology and gives it back to the community.

Look into programs like Ridwell that recycle hard-to-recycle items. If they're able to service your office, they'll take items like plastic film or Styrofoam that are typically destined for the landfill.

Bonus: Assign one member of your green team to do occasional "bin audits" to make sure waste is being sorted correctly. It helps catch issues early and opens the door to more education (without any finger-pointing).

Step 3: Make It Easy — and Visible

People want to do the right thing. The easier you make it, the more likely they’ll do it without thinking. Here’s how:

• Use bright, intuitive signage (Portland’s Bureau of Planning & Sustainability has great templates).
• Keep bin areas clean and tidy — no one wants to compost in chaos.
• Add reminders in team emails, Slack channels, or office bulletin boards.

Consider printing a simple flyer or quick-reference poster for your team kitchen. You can also rotate in "Did You Know?" tips or fun facts about waste diversion to keep it top-of-mind.

Step 4: Educate Without Shaming

Sustainability efforts work best when they feel positive and inclusive. Instead of pointing out what people are doing wrong, highlight what’s going well and share simple reminders to help everyone stay on track.

For example:

• "We diverted over 50 lbs of food waste from the landfill this month!"
• "Remember: paper towels can go in the compost!"

Lunch & learns, sustainability Slack channels, or quick onboarding blurbs for new employees can also help embed your program into company culture.

Step 5: Reduce Waste at the Source

Recycling and composting are great — but even better is preventing waste before it’s created. Consider these tips:

• Switch to reusable mugs, plates, and silverware
• Offer snacks in bulk rather than single-serve packaging
• Ditch plastic utensils from delivery orders whenever possible

And if your office offers catered meals, think about how those meals are packaged and delivered. At Spork Bytes, we’ve partnered with Bold Reuse to offer waste-free packaging for individually boxed lunches — keeping your team well-fed without the trash.

Step 6: Track Progress and Celebrate Wins

Once your program is rolling, start tracking your results. Some haulers provide monthly reports on how much waste you’ve diverted. If that’s not available, track internally by measuring participation or doing quarterly bin audits.

Then share your progress! Whether it’s a company-wide email, a Slack shoutout, or a quick graph in a team meeting, celebrating the impact helps reinforce the importance — and shows leadership that it’s working.

Step 7: Keep It Going (and Growing)

Like any culture shift, sustainability takes ongoing care. Continue revisiting your program every few months:

• Are bins still in the right places?
• Are signs still accurate?
• Is participation holding strong?

You might even find opportunities to expand. Maybe your office starts composting paper towels in the bathrooms or switches to plant-based office snacks.

Ready to Make a Bigger Impact?

If your office is already recycling and composting, take it to the next level by rethinking your food program. Spork Bytes offers group meals from local Portland restaurants, with options for:

• Sustainable delivery (all meals grouped together, fewer trips)
• Plant-based meal options like Harlow.
• Waste-free packaging via Bold Reuse

Want to learn more? Contact us to find the best fit for your office.

Happy Earth Day from the Spork Bytes team. Let’s keep making Portland (and the planet) a little greener — one lunch at a time.