It is vital that businesses have the right waste management processes in place. As looming threats of climate change litter the news, organisations are looking for ways they can limit their impact on the environment. Just as being socially responsible is a fundamental drive for many businesses, so is the influence your waste management processes have on your bottom line and business efficiency.
Prevention of waste is the most sustainable way of dealing with it. Waste production and energy consumption create considerable long-term economic pressures, particularly in light of commodity price instability. Costs of production must be passed on through the supply chain in order to keep the business profitable – so reducing waste is key to being more cost-efficient and in turn, rising above competitors.
Most organisations start with procurement – building into their purchasing processes considerations for responsible sourcing, product design, circular products, energy efficient products, and carbon neutral products to avoid wastage.
There are also other ways to ensure a low waste bill. In the following sections, we take a look at ways to ensure your waste management procedures are working for your business, as well as helping you to reduce business waste costs:
Review Your Waste Sorting Procedures
Checking your waste sorting procedures against the current best practice will ensure that you are optimising segregation and recycling, as well as fulfilling the legal requirements for your sector. Businesses should make sure they are aware of all the legal necessities – for example, pre-treating any waste that needs to go to landfill or any conditions that affect recycling processes – to ensure that their waste management services are complying to the letter of the law. Bear in mind that legal compliance should be the minimum standard set and not your waste disposal goal.
There is a common misconception that sustainable waste management is expensive. However, recycling is a more cost-effective solution than landfill, so we would highly recommend checking all the available options before committing to one way of waste disposal. But if you do decide to opt for landfill, businesses should try to recycle products, such as office paper, cardboard and drink bottles and cans, where they can.
Annually Benchmark Your Supplier’s Pricing
It is imperative that businesses are conducting annual audits of their waste management services by reviewing the prices and services against other offers in the marketplace. Regular evaluations ensure that the cumulative effect of regular price increases does not damage the deal you receive. Additionally, some suppliers may adjust the price of their packages in line with the landfill tax increases every April- so keep your eye out for any excessive price hikes.
Make sure to investigate other prices attached to the contract, such as rebates paid for recyclable materials. It is also worthwhile to find out if these prices are connected to a market index and if they are liable to go up or down in line with market movements.
Companies should also be aware that contracts will automatically renew on their anniversary so ensure that you conduct your reviews before the renewal date. This will, therefore, allow you enough time to switch suppliers should the reviews indicate this is the best course of action. Specialists who have expertise in this area of business procurement will be able to point you in the direction of the best deals.
Check Your Service
Demand transparency from your waste management provider. Collating accurate data about the month-on-month results, tonnage and transportation of your waste will permit you to record the performance of the service. This will, therefore, allow you to see if an alternative partner needs to be sourced.
More often than not, upon speaking with you, suppliers will produce a quote for a like-for-like service that you are already receiving. It is, therefore, essential that you have an idea of what you want to achieve with your waste management services so that alternative and more cost-effective methods, equipment and suppliers can be suggested. If you are unsure where you could save money in the waste management process, our consultants in the waste and recycling department would be happy to advise you.
Quality of Waste
The quality of the waste you produce for collection can also have a bearing on the price of the service. Because waste is a commodity, the price paid or received for it is strongly influenced by the market. High-quality waste, i.e. waste that is free from other contaminants, will attract the best prices. Consequently, it will save your organisation money if you are able to produce high-quality materials for collection in the first place.
Consult with an independent source to find out what training could be put in place to improve your waste disposal processes.
Review Your Waste Sorting Procedures
Checking your waste sorting procedures against the current best practice will ensure that you are optimising segregation and recycling, as well as fulfilling the legal requirements for your sector. Businesses should make sure they are aware of all the legal necessities – for example, pre-treating any waste that needs to go to landfill or any conditions that affect recycling processes – to ensure that their waste management services are complying to the letter of the law. Bear in mind that legal compliance should be the minimum standard set and not your waste disposal goal.
There is a common misconception that sustainable waste management is expensive. However, recycling is a more cost-effective solution than landfills, so we would highly recommend checking all the available options before committing to one way of waste disposal. But if you do decide to opt for landfills, businesses should try to recycle products, such as metals, plastics office paper, cardboard and drink bottles and cans, where they can.
If you feel you need advice on your waste disposal process, why not consider having it professionally reviewed? Running this area of your business through an expert waste consultancy service will ensure that you are not only achieving the best practice in light of continual legislative changes but also receiving the best overall value. Get in touch with us today to find out how much money you have been wasting on waste!
Article by: Dan Howells