Reduce
Rethinking Waste at Work
Effective waste management can provide financial benefits for your company. Understanding the waste hierarchy and participation in improving waste management can come with very real cost-savings attached.
It has never been simpler for businesses to engage in effective waste management - access to recycling is easier than ever and offers an affordable and easy alternative to sending material to landfill. There is also a wealth of information available on ways to reduce waste and save money. There are many positives in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which can be built upon as a result of good waste management and environmental practices.
According to the Invest NI funded organisation National Industrial Symbiosis Programmes (NISP), reducing waste and increasing recycling could save Northern Ireland firms up to £31m. By rethinking waste at work, businesses can adopt better waste management practices and improve their bottom-line.
Both employers and employees can play their part in rethinking waste at work. Whilst many businesses recognise the benefits of devising strategies for reducing waste and becoming more resource efficient, difficulties can often arise during the implementation phase of these strategies. Typical issues that prevent successful implementation include a lack of senior management buy-in and support, a lack of staff support, a lack of material or time resources, or a communications break down. Visit Envirowise for advice on raising awareness within teams and identifying waste champions.
What does Reduce mean?
The Northern Ireland Waste Management Strategy sets a target of 60% for commercial/industrial waste recycling by 2020.
The Waste Hierarchy suggests that the starting point with dealing with waste is to reduce it. Reducing waste simply means not producing as much of it in the first place. There are many simple ways that we can do so every day across different business sectors and sizes.
How can we reduce waste?
All businesses have a legal duty and a corporate social responsibility to provide appropriate arrangements for the disposal of their waste to reduce landfill. There is usually a charge for commercial waste collection, so by reducing the quantity of waste required for collection, companies can reduce the cost of waste disposal. Here are a few tips to help you get started:
- Make sure you understand your Waste Duty of Care responsibilities.
- Make sure you have a waste contract in place with a reputable waste service provider.
- Take a fresh look at the waste you produce and think about whether you could reduce, reuse or recycle it, rather than throwing it away.
- Create posters and use them in your work place to encourage your staff to get involved and do their bit.
- Ask your staff what they want to do at work to make a difference. The best ideas are always right under your nose.
