Dealing with your business waste might seem like a fairly low priority. In actual fact, however, managing your waste effectively can do a lot for your business. Here are some key points you need to know.
Waste can get very expensive
There are two reasons why waste hits you financially. Firstly, if you’re creating waste, you’re buying something you don’t need. Secondly, as a business, your waste is your problem. You need to organise and pay for its disposal. What’s more, if it ends up being disposed of in a landfill site, you will be charged Landfill Tax on it.
While predictions are always risky, it’s probably fairly safe to assume that Landfill Tax will only head upwards. Firstly, there are numerous, perfectly legitimate, concerns about landfill waste. Secondly, the government needs to refill its coffers after COVID19 (and Brexit). Landfill tax is an easy target.
Waste is a health and safety risk
Even if it’s stored properly, all waste is a potential breeding ground for bacteria and a hiding place for vermin. Bins can be a security hazard. Combustible waste is a fire hazard.
If waste is not stored properly, then it can create all sorts of further hazards. The most obvious one is blocking walkways. It could also create tripping and slipping hazards. If storage containers become too full then the weight becomes a hazard.
Waste makes a workplace less pleasant
Waste is waste, precisely because it's unwanted. At a minimum, therefore, it’s clutter you could live without. You can corral that clutter into bins. Those bins, however, will soon become unpleasant, even if they’re emptied regularly.
Firstly, they look unsightly. Secondly, it may start to smell, especially in heat. You can limit this slightly by using lids but these make bins more awkward to use. It’s also worth noting that bins take up space. That’s usually at a premium in any workplace.
Waste is a reputation-management issue
This point applies at both macro- and micro-levels. At a macro-level, today’s customers want, and increasingly, expect to see businesses taking sustainability seriously. For many customers, managing (and in particular, reducing) waste is a key part of this.
At a micro-level, quite bluntly, managing your waste effectively is vital to being a good neighbour. It is essential if you want to be a respected member of your local community. If you fail to manage your waste effectively, then you can expect people to be put off buying from you.
Waste gives you an insight into your business
Managing your waste should really be seen as a starting point rather than an endpoint. Your real aim should be to get as close to zero-waste as possible. In other words, reduce before you reuse and recycle (and use landfill as a last resort). Achieving zero-waste requires understanding and honing your business processes.
What exactly this is going to mean in practice will depend on what kind of business you run. Your first step, therefore, is to work out what type(s) of waste you are generating and why. Then investigate all possible steps to eliminate, or at least reduce it.
Be prepared to look at all potential solutions, no matter how unrealistic they seem. An unfeasible-looking solution may actually turn out to be the perfect one. Even if it isn’t, it may provide insights that help you develop the perfect solution.
Furthermore, always remember that one business’ waste may be someone else’s treasure. For example, gardeners love cardboard packaging. They might not be able to afford to buy it from you but they might come and collect it from you. In fact, even if they can’t even do that, taking your waste to them may still save you money overall.
Author Bio
Sarah Vernau is the Marketing Manager at Flame UK, who are an innovative leader in cost containment and the management for all Waste, Energy and Water consuming businesses.
