All businesses produce some type of waste, and managing this waste is often expensive and time-consuming. Fortunately, you can significantly reduce the impact on your business by understanding what type of waste your business is producing, reducing it where possible, and using disposal equipment, like a cardboard baler or a compactor, to deal with it. Not only construction and manufacturing companies but office-based businesses as well can benefit from more efficient waste management practices.
Complete a Waste Audit
A waste audit is a survey of all the waste that a business produces, as well as the processes by which a business disposes of it. Whether you conduct your audit in-house or hire a company that specializes in them, all waste audits follow these general steps:
- Collect all the waste produced by the company over a specified period
- Sort and measure the different types produced
- Determine the costs of disposal for each type
- Analyze the findings to determine areas where greater efficiency is needed
An audit like this gives you the information you need to identify the best ways to increase efficiency and reduce waste. For example, if your audit reveals that your business is throwing away a large number of cardboard boxes, you may want to invest in a cardboard baler.
Reduce Unnecessary Waste
Businesses can increase their efficiency by reducing the amount of waste they produce. A common way to do this is to promote paperless processes, such as paperless billing and online file management. Some businesses may be able to reduce the packaging they use in their products. Additionally, businesses should look for ways to bring reusable products, such as reusable silverware and rechargeable batteries, into their everyday business practices.
Invest in Disposal Equipment
When your business produces a lot of waste, investing in equipment that streamlines your removal procedures can reduce the time and effort required to manage it. Tools like a compactor or a cardboard baler reduce the amount of space that refuse takes up, making it easier to handle and dispose of. Disposal equipment can provide significant long-term savings for your business.
To improve your business’s disposal processes, you should understand the type and amount of waste your business is producing, identify areas where you can reduce it, and determine if you should invest in disposal equipment. Whether you need a few tweaks or a more significant overhaul of your processes, most businesses can benefit from increasing the efficiency of their waste disposal processes.