Waste management
Why is waste important?
Getting rid of waste could be losing your business up to 4% in turnover, according research by envirowise.gov.uk.
That’s because any waste your business produces has a cost associated with it. Costs of waste disposal are also rising as environmental legislation becomes ever more stringent.
Your waste needs to be accurately measured in order for the true cost to be identified and managed. Beyond the raw materials there are other costs with associated with waste disposal including energy and labour costs – all of which can be between 5-20 times higher than the cost of disposal itself. Waste therefore requires as much attention as management of resources.
Why reduce waste?
Commercial and industrial waste accounts for approximately 7 million tonnes of waste generated in London every year, which is around a third of all of the waste generated in the Capital.
But being more efficient with your business resources helps reduce the amount of waste created, it reduces the amount of raw materials needed, it reduces the amount of labour required and it decreases utilities costs.
Watching your waste could also help you gain a competitive advantage over less ‘green’ companies, by benefiting from an improved perception of your business.
Reviewing your waste costs, can lead to new opportunities being discovered. Using new products or alternative materials often sees entire processes become more efficient.
You should also consider how you can recycle any waste that you produce. Your procurement strategies can also have a positive impact on creating markets for recycled products.
For advice on how to reduce your waste, visit envirowise.gov.uk
