A business should regularly measure its waste generation to quantify the amount of waste produced during a particular period and, in turn, identify areas that need improvement. Besides knowing the amount of waste generated, a business should evaluate how it handles the generated waste.
Here is what to know:
When should you measure waste generation?
If possible, a business should measure its waste generation daily. It can do this by weighing waste from different departments or processes at the end of the business day. You need to categorize waste, for instance, general trash, recyclable materials, hazardous waste and so forth.
Smaller items, such as office paper and packaging materials, can be measured by the size of the bins or containers holding them. Large waste streams, including wastewater, electronic items and chemical waste, should be weighed individually to find the accurate weight.
It’s vital to have a waste generation data system to record data, which can be assessed weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. Consider embracing technological tools to make your work more manageable. For example, you can use software tools to analyze waste data to identify trends, such as departments or processes that generate the most waste during a particular time frame or those with increased waste generation compared to previous records.
How do you handle waste?
When measuring your business’s waste generation, you need to be informed about metrics related to how you handle waste. These include how much of the generated waste goes to landfills and how much is recycled/reused.
You should also know how much you spend on waste management, including collection, transportation, recycling and disposal. Accordingly, you can make changes to reduce costs and maintain operational efficiency.
Being informed about how much waste your business generates is crucial. Learn more about environmental due diligence to ensure your business minimizes the risks of environmental contamination.
