Best Waste Management Practices for Your Business

Nearly all modern businesses have one thing in common; they all produce waste. There is simply no other way around that, however, most businesses aren’t aware of the fact that office waste can be easily recycled. This requires a good initial plan that will maximize the success of how a business manages its resources and waste. Luckily, making a waste management plan in easier than ever before. Because the modern sustainability standards have risen and there are now several new solutions that can be implemented. This helps businesses become compliant with the latest sustainability regulations and policies. Here are some of the most notable waste management ideas that you can include into your plan.

Identify your waste sources

No good waste management plan comes without actual data. It is important to create a solid foundation for any future waste management methods. That is why you should start off by identifying all of the different departments in your organization. This will allow you to figure out how much and what type of waste is being generated in each section. You could do this floor by floor and then also office to office. In addition to that, do not forget about the external areas of your headquarters. For instance, a lot of waste goes out of your kitchen or cafeteria area and onto the back alley. You have to be mindful about whose responsibility a particular source of waste is, perhaps you have shared property area with other businesses and you want to come to an effective agreement and determine the responsibility. With all of this information you will be able to categorize the type of waste that you generate and then take more effective measures accordingly.

Reduce packaging

One great way to reduce the amount of waste that your business generates is to prevent a lot of the repetitive things ahead of time. For instance, if you expect regular shipments from a specific supplier and they always ship things in special packaging you might want to reconsider this strategy. Try to negotiate, and point out that your company is trying to become more sustainable and efficient. They will also benefit from such an agreement, because you can recycle most of their packaging for them or simply reduce the total physical space that the orders have to take.

Take a holistic approach

It is important to see the bigger picture when developing your waste management plan. Every detail does matter, but it also has to be implemented well into the grand scheme of things. Admittedly, this can be quite difficult especially if your business has never had any previous experience with best waste management practices. This is why it is always a good idea to contact waste consulting experts, who will have a better understanding of how major waste management principles tie into your business profile. Not every business will benefit from the same methods equally. Luckily, professionals can help you get the most out of your waste management strategy.  

Don’t neglect your organic waste

Most of the time businesses that generate a lot waste with their electronic components or packaging will overlook how smaller, yet equally important portion of their waste goes straight into landfills. This usually pertains to organic waste. Organic waste can be turned into very effective soil fertilizers which help in making the soil more robust and less prone to erosion. Take stock of your organic waste inventory and see if there are any coffee leftovers, tea bags, biodegradable plates, food, and even paper towels and pieces of cutlery which can be composted.

Recycle electronics

Most businesses leverage electronics to handle their everyday tasks. However, as the market advances and there are higher demands placed on businesses, they usually upgrade their devices. However, what happens with the old discarded e-waste? This usually comes in the form of batteries, cables and cell phones, and they can all be easily recycled and turned into various different parts whether that is plastic, metal or any other valuable resource.

Do away with paper

In the spirit of preventing rather than fixing the issue, it is a good idea to reduce the amount of paper used in the first place. There is no denying that all businesses nowadays handle heavy paperwork. However, it is possible to go paperless using new tech tools for a lot of the necessary documentation. This doesn’t only improve your waste management efforts but also the workplace productivity, allowing for easier sharing of files and better workflow.

Running a business will surely come with a lot of waste that needs to be taken care of. Luckily some of these ideas can help you achieve nearly zero-waste status. This improves your compliance and helps you achieve an excellent sustainability status.