Reducing waste

Waste management is not just about how you handle your waste, it is also about how to avoid or reduce waste before it becomes a part of your business.

Reducing waste is not only good for the environment, it can also save you money, improve your reputation and reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

Below is a list of tips to help you identify and reduce your business waste:

1. Undertake an audit to measure how much waste your business creates. This will give you a baseline to work with and allow you to understand what your key waste products are.
2. Involve your staff, contractors, suppliers and customers. Ask for their ideas for reducing waste and bring them along the journey with you.
3. Learn from other businesses who have made improvements.
4. Identify and speak with others who could use your waste as a resource.
5. Follow the ‘waste hierarchy’: AVOID, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.
6. Set measurable targets to reduce or reuse waste, and communicate this with everyone involved.
7. Separate the different types of waste using separate bins.
8. Review your products and services. i.e. consider the cost of disposal compared to purchasing, ask suppliers if they can adapt, can you go paperless or use less packaging etc. 
9. Measure your success, review and continue to improve.
10. Let your customers know by promoting your efforts and achievements.