How To Effectively Reduce Business Waste
The more productive a business is, the more business waste it can produce, and there is now a worldwide interest in ways to actively reduce this business waste. Businesses are increasing their recycling practices so that there is less pressure on the environment, and businesses can employ various waste reduction methods to reduce the amount of waste that is generated from their everyday operations.
Some of these methods include:
- Asking suppliers to use less packaging with their goods
- Avoiding single use plastics
- Donating equipment and items that are in good condition to charitable organisations
- Keeping bins and bin rooms uncluttered
- Only ordering the number of goods that are needed and will be used
- Reducing supplies and consumables that generate waste
All of these actions together can significantly reduce a business’s impact on the environment.
Paper Usage
Businesses may go paperless and save money by using digital alternatives to traditional paper documents. This will result in less printing while also requiring less storage space overall, with the added benefit of being a more environmentally friendly approach.
Food And Water Wastage
Bottled water is more expensive than filtered tap water, and the production of water bottles uses a lot of petroleum. To eliminate the need for bottled water in the office, employees might be provided with filtered water as well as reusable bottles and glasses.
If your company is in the food or grocery industry, it is quite likely that you are creating a significant quantity of food-related waste. Some food waste can be recycled, while others can be diverted to composting or farming initiatives. Garden and green garbage may be composted in the same way. Ultimately these options are cheaper and more environmentally friendly than landfill-bound waste hauling.
Special Procedures Required For Dangerous And Hazardous Waste
If your company handles or produces harmful or hazardous waste, special processes may be necessary. Solo Resource Recovery collects pathological waste for dentists, hospitals, surgeries, and other facilities. Sharps containers can be supplied and collected, and all waste items should be disposed of carefully in accordance with local laws. To support this service, specific containers for the purpose are provided, as well as the required sharps vessels.
Electronic waste is also extremely dangerous due to the presence of batteries, toxins such as cadmium and arsenic, electrical cables, and glass. It is suggested that you dispose of this through a certified and regulated e-waste vendor to guarantee that they follow the required recycling standards and processes.
Evaluate Your Current Waste Management Needs
Examine your current waste management requirements and how they may impact your efforts. For example, if your waste is collected every two weeks, make sure your container can carry two weeks’ worth of rubbish. Solo can provide a variety of waste management options for your company.
Regularly Audit The Business Waste Produced
You may not realise how much waste your business produces, so it is a good idea to regularly audit for this. By undertaking an audit, you will find out how much waste is produced by your business, and can create benchmarks for future areas of improved efficiency. Waste audit results can be used to prioritise where your waste management efforts should be focused, and they will allow you to see what reductions you can make and calculate how much waste is being produced per employee. Auditing will also help staff to improve their waste management efforts. Staff involvement is beneficial because if they feel their actions are valued, they are more likely to support waste reduction and recycling initiatives.
Find Opportunities For Reducing And Recycling Your Waste
Look around your business for opportunities to switch to recyclable waste products.
Internally, install clear recycling signs in-store, in the bin rooms and in stock rooms to encourage recycling. If you are a tenant, ask your landlord to set up a recycling plan if there isn’t one in place already, and include your recycling plan into your staff induction program, while rewarding your staff for reducing waste, recycling more, and for the correct use of waste management bins.
A successful waste reduction campaign requires ongoing collaboration between your business and your waste collection vendor. This can be supported by educating employees for the need to reduce and recycle waste, which will not only save your business money, but also be of benefit to the environment.
Externally, some customers prefer to interact with companies that advocate for recycling and implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. Promoting a positive public image and positioning your business as environment-friendly will also help in attracting business partners and investors, which will result in increased overall business success.
Join A Waste Collection Service And Recycling Scheme
The Australian government offers education, grants, and rewards to businesses to assist them with reducing and recycling their waste. By doing so businesses will reduce the amount of waste that will go into landfill.
Solo offers professional waste management solutions for commercial waste, construction waste, council collections, household waste, liquid waste, and industrial waste, and you can be assured that your business waste will be handled correctly and recycled by our well-trained staff in compliance with local, state, and national compliance standards.
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