During our work with businesses to try to identify waste streams that can be recycled and then finding collection solutions and markets for them, the insights we get are often surprising. Sometimes they are just as we expect.
At the moment Australia produces about 54 megatonnes of waste, or 2200 kilograms of waste for every human in the country (this excludes all waste from mining, mineral processing, agriculture, fisheries and electricity generation, which more than doubles total waste). Business waste contributes about 38% of that core waste, or 20.4 megatonnes. About 57% of the business waste, known in the industry as Commercial and Industrial waste (C&I) is recycled.
Talking with businesses about recycling there are two easily identified (but sometimes difficult) actions that need to be taken to increase recycling within businesses:
Organise an internal system for collection of separated recyclables
Organise a collection system that services the internal system well
Easy to say. Often much more difficult to do. But sometimes easier to do than expected.
Organise an internal system for collection of separated recyclables
Different businesses have different cultures around recycling and waste management. Whether the business is a gold medal recycler or not, we have found that the basic system for improvement is the same:
Identify a waste stream that can be separated and collected
Set up internal bins where that waste is generated. If the bin is too far away, it won’t work
Develop the business culture to guide staff to care and commit to recycling that stream
Provide training so that staff recycle right. Use signs, stickers or whatever works
Have a clear system for making sure recyclables are not contaminated if it becomes a problem
Have a clear system for getting internal bins to the bins for collection
Some will say I should have discussed the collection service first. In this case however I think the customers need to increase demand for recycling services because at present the incentives are scarce for waste service providers to offer a large range of recycling to usurp landfill.
If the material to be recycled is relatively difficult to organise a collection service for, the steps below can be carried out first to ensure there is a market for the recyclable material.
So, with a waste stream about to be separated, be it organics, cardboard, polystyrene, LDPE plastic, etc, the business now needs to spend a few minutes prodding and prying their waste service provider or other collectors for a solution:
Have the data and business needs available. This may look something like, “I have 2 x 240 litre wheelie bins of food organics per day to collect.”
Ask your waste service provider to provide you with that service, or take some time to see if they can develop that service
If they can’t provide the service, find someone who can collect it. There are several informative resources available, including state waste associations, other waste companies, Google, Planet Ark or your local council waste department. A quick research period should have you close to a solution.
Be prepared to work through the replacement of some of your garbage/landfill bin capacity with your new recycling capacity to maintain or even reduce total collection costs.
Once the revised system is in place, the business should blow its own horn by telling (and thanking) staff about the results of their efforts and letting customers know about the business’ reduced impact on the planet.
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