Are you well into reaching your waste management targets? Your next step can be to become zero waste to landfill. Perhaps you have reduced your company’s waste by 50% and want to see how far you can go.
Zero landfill waste can initially seem like an ambitious task. But after seeing first-hand how we have helped businesses reach their targets, we know that it’s possible.
It means that none of your business waste will end up in a landfill. Management companies will recycle and reuse it instead. For both you and your employees, this can be an immense effort. You need a strong commitment to your carbon footprint targets.
Essential tactics must be employed to divert 100% of waste streams away from landfills. These methods can include recycling and better energy management.
Don’t let that scare you. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your business achieves zero waste to landfills.
Audit
The first step when changing how your company manages waste should always be a waste audit. If you don’t know, a waste audit is a thorough examination of the waste your company produces. It answers the questions:
- How much waste does your business produce?
- How frequently do your current waste managers collect your waste?
- Where is your waste transported?
- What happens to your waste products?
- Where is your waste stored?
- What types of waste do you create?
Without an audit, it will be difficult to identify any blind spots in your company’s waste management process. You need to understand any sustainability issues. Without the necessary knowledge, it will be difficult to change, adapt and grow. Every business should take this opportunity, as it provides better insight into how your company runs.
Define your goals with a waste management plan
With the information from your audit, you can develop a bespoke waste management plan for your business. Your plan will outline how they should manage the waste you create. It looks to streamline the process, helping you to become a more sustainable company. It also aims to cut current waste management costs, making your process as efficient as possible.
The plan should create definitive carbon footprint targets for your business to reach. These targets will have clear deadlines, be measurable, and have specific criteria. Planning your goals in this way gives you something to work towards—a time-based incentive to light a fire under you.
See the opportunity in different waste streams
It can be tempting to opt for an ‘all-in-one’ solution for your waste management. “One company collecting all my waste? Sign me up!” But if these companies aren’t specialists in certain waste streams, there’s a chance that your recyclable waste ends up at a landfill site.
Understanding how to recycle different waste materials can provide better insight. To make your business more sustainable, learn where your waste goes.
One of the most popular ways people recycle food is as a biofuel. The biomass releases methane, which can generate electricity, creating energy from waste. This can fuel everything from industrial machinery to vehicles.
You could even switch to this type of energy to further decrease your carbon footprint.
Separate your metals
Metal is one of the most recyclable materials. Processors melt down the metal waste and turn it into material for repeated use. You can sell this or use it to produce other products. Selling your waste material can also reduce the need for mining new metals. This helps other businesses reduce their own carbon footprint through responsible sourcing. It would be a great step towards working within a circular economy, too!
Don’t let the public’s fear of plastic scare you from seeing its sustainable opportunities! Like metal, manufacturers can recycle plastic and use it to produce other products. Unfortunately, only certain types of plastic are recyclable. Be mindful of what you use and whether you can dispose of it sustainably.
Manufacturers could use it to make both typical plastic products and fabrics. This could make fast fashion more sustainable in a world of harmful fast fashion.
Your business’s waste can be used for good. Assess your waste streams and divert as much as possible from landfills.
Finally, less is more! By reducing the amount of waste you send to landfills, your business will save on landfill tax, too. This means you have more income for investing in your business.
Invest in waste disposal technologies
By using more sustainable technology, you can begin processing your waste within your company. In fact, Agecko can provide your business with the tools you need to better process your waste internally. With a range of waste-disposal technologies available, including compactors and balers, you can be more proactive in your waste management.
Invest in technology such as compactors and balers. They can help you reduce your waste volume, allowing for less frequent collection and, thus, cost-saving measures.
Keep track and improve
Why set goals if you don’t put the effort into achieving them?
Track your progress and better understand what you need to reach your new targets. This sets a threshold for what you can achieve, once you’ve completed them.
These are all key steps in your waste management journey. If you’ve met your targets sooner than expected, why not go further?!
The journey to zero landfill waste is continuous. But, with the right strategies and commitment, you can achieve lasting, meaningful results.
If you are struggling to hit your targets, then get in touch with the Agecko team. We can provide your business with tailored waste management solutions. These will help you to reach zero waste-to-landfill targets.
We have worked in the industry for a long time, which gives us the knowledge to understand what your business needs to become a zero-waste-to-landfill business.
