5 common waste management mistakes businesses make
waste wise by recyclapak
Is your business getting the most out of its waste management?
Waste management can sometimes feel like one of those things that businesses simply set up and forget about.
The bins are there. The collections happen. The waste disappears. Job done… right?
Not necessarily. Poor waste management can lead to unnecessary costs, contamination, compliance issues and missed opportunities to recycle more of your business's waste.
Here are five of the most common waste management mistakes we see and what you can do about them.
1. Putting recyclable materials into general waste
One of the most common mistakes is also one of the easiest to fix.
Paper, cardboard, plastics and metals can often be recycled, but when recyclable materials are placed into a general waste bin, they're no longer being given the opportunity to enter the correct recycling stream.
This can happen for a number of reasons:
Employees aren't sure what goes where
Recycling bins aren't clearly labelled
There aren't enough recycling bins available
Different waste streams are being mixed together
Recycling procedures haven't been communicated to staff
The result?
Your business could be paying to dispose of material that could have been recycled.
waste wise tip: Make your waste streams clear and easy to understand. Simple signage and regular reminders can make a huge difference.
2. Choosing the wrong bin — or the wrong collection frequency
Every business produces waste differently.
An office might generate mostly paper, cardboard and food waste, while a manufacturing site could produce significant quantities of plastics, metals, packaging or specialist waste.
Using a "one size fits all" approach doesn't always work.
If your containers are too small, you could find yourself with overflowing bins and additional collections.
If they're too large or collected too frequently, you could be paying for capacity you don't actually need.
The solution?
Review what you're producing and how often.
Your waste-management setup should reflect your actual waste volumes, not simply what you've always had. At Recyclapak, we work with businesses to develop bespoke waste solutions based on their individual requirements.
3. Ignoring contamination
Putting something in a recycling bin doesn't automatically make it recyclable.
If the wrong materials are mixed into a recycling stream, they can contaminate the load and make the recycling process more difficult; and in some circumstances, prevent material from being recycled as intended.
Common examples include:
Food waste mixed with dry recycling
General waste placed in recycling bins
Non-recyclable packaging
Liquids left inside containers
Different waste streams being mixed together
Contamination is particularly important in busy workplaces where lots of people are using the same waste facilities.
waste wise tip: Don't just label a bin "Recycling". Make it clear what can (and can't) go inside.
4. Not keeping track of your waste
If you don't measure your waste, how do you know whether your waste-management system is working?
Many businesses know roughly how much waste they produce, but don't have a clear picture of their recycling volumes or collection history.
Tracking your waste can help you identify:
How much material you're recycling
Changes in your waste volumes
Which materials you're producing most
Potential areas for improvement
Opportunities to reduce unnecessary collections or disposal costs
At Recyclapak, our digital customer platform allows customers to access information about their recyclable-material collections, including volumes and collection history, and download their waste transfer notes.
Having this information at your fingertips makes it much easier to understand what is happening with your waste.
5. Assuming all waste can be treated the same way
This is perhaps the biggest mistake of all. Waste is not just waste. Different materials require different handling, storage, transportation and treatment.
For example, a business may produce:
Cardboard and paper
Plastics
Metals
Composite materials
Food waste
WEEE
Confidential waste
Hazardous waste
These shouldn't simply be treated as one waste stream. Separating materials appropriately can help improve recycling rates, reduce contamination and ensure that waste is managed through the correct route. For certain types of waste, particularly hazardous and electrical waste, appropriate management is especially important.
So, how can you improve your business's waste management?
Start with the basics.
1. Look at what you're actually throwing away
Spend some time identifying the different types of waste your business produces.
2. Check your current bins
Are they the right size? Are you using the right number of containers? Are they being collected at the right frequency?
3. Get your team involved
Your waste-management system only works if the people using it understand it.
Clear signage, simple instructions and staff awareness can dramatically reduce contamination.
4. Measure your progress
Keep an eye on your recycling volumes and collection history so you can identify trends and opportunities to improve.
5. Talk to your waste provider
If your current setup isn't working, don't assume you're stuck with it. A good waste-management provider should be able to look at your business and help you find a solution that works for you.
Waste management shouldn't be one-size-fits-all
Every business is different. The waste produced by a manufacturing facility is going to look very different from the waste produced by an office, warehouse or retail business.
That's why at Recyclapak, we believe waste management should be tailored around your business, not the other way around. From paper and cardboard, plastics and metals to composite materials, food waste, WEEE, hazardous and confidential waste, we can help businesses find practical solutions for their individual waste streams.
And because we're focused on recycling wherever possible, our aim isn't simply to take your waste away. It's to help you manage it better.
waste wise tip: don't just ask: "where does our waste go?" ask: "could we be managing it better?"
A few simple changes to your waste-management system could help your business recycle more, reduce contamination and avoid unnecessary waste costs.
Better waste management starts with understanding your waste.
Need help reviewing your business's waste?
Get in touch with Recyclapak and let's find a solution that works for your business.