As pressure mounts to improve the ways we waste, a business plan for recycling and waste management is a must for today’s organisations.
In a controversial move, States of Guernsey are set to introduce this kind of system for residual waste collections in 2019. Starting next year, Guernsey parishes will start charging for the collection of general waste, allowing the State to recover the subsequent processing and disposal costs. The payment system will use prepaid stickers (the equivalent to using a postage stamp on a letter) to charge for each bag. The possible introduction of PAYT in the UK has been discussed, although there are concerns of public opposition.
Regardless of whether or not this system is implemented in the UK at large, having a business plan for recycling and waste management allows organisations to save time, effort and costs in their daily operations.
Government is also under increasing pressure to reduce litter and tackle plastic waste. In December 2017, The Environmental Audit Committee published a report entitled ‘Plastic bottles: Turning Back the Plastic Tide’. This report contains a series of recommendations, such as:
- Waste producers paying more for recycling
- Introducing a deposit return scheme
- Mandating the proportion of recycled materials in new products
- Implementing incentives for producers to design better products
In addition, MPs recommend that Government adapts a producer responsibility compliance fee structure that would reward designs that are recyclable, encourage the use of recycled plastic, and increase the cost of products with packaging that is hard to reuse or recycle.
Tackling waste is a key priority for Government, which means that businesses in the UK should follow suit, with a clear business plan for recycling and waste management.
Business waste management: budget well-spent or should you bin it?
In devising smart solutions, coming up with an innovative business plan for recycling and waste management can be a challenge, especially for smaller businesses that lack sufficient resources to carry out the required research and execution.
Using a consultant for your business waste reduction, recycling, recovery, and disposal can save both time and money. At Smarter Business, our business waste management experts specialise in offering comprehensive commercial waste management to meet the needs of your business, as well as the requirements of Government.
Why your business should overhaul its waste management in 2020
If you have no waste management strategy, this affects your business’s bottom line. Often overlooked as part of the strategic planning process, optimised waste management can result in cash savings and streamlined operations which make you money. As with most business services, this starts with an examination of your existing systems and identifying areas of change. Here are the benefits of working with waste specialists to devise a strategy for waste management in 2019:
The future is green
It’s no secret that our global collective attitudes to the environment are shifting to sustainable, green practices. The reality is that businesses of the future are making environmentally driven changes now and this forward-thinking approach alleviates their impact on the environment and reduces costs.
It boosts competitiveness
By adjusting your business’s attitude to waste, the boost to your business’s competitiveness is twofold. Firstly, innovative and sustainable waste practices are a compelling marketable point to an increasingly environmentally conscious marketplace. The second is through waste optimisation. Your business waste management strategy is unique to your circumstances and, structured correctly, can unlock savings which can be applied to different areas of your business.
It saves you money
With increasing landfill taxes and the cost of disposal for businesses, waste costs can constitute around 5% of a company’s turnover. With sending waste to landfill more expensive than recycling, optimising this can have a notable effect on business costs – particularly for SMEs.
Meet your legal compliance requirements
Your business has a duty to dispose of its waste responsibly. Understanding the kind of waste you generate, your obligations and the best way to meet them means you can avoid penalties of non-compliance and have peace of mind that your waste is being adequately handled.
The Ways We Waste
The UK has a goal to become a zero-waste economy, but how are we doing? This infographic provides the cold, hard stats on what we waste, how much we waste, and how close we are to achieving these recycling goals.
Expert waste management in 2020
The waste management specialists at Smarter Business have the expertise to provide waste solutions to your unique requirements. Providing on-going and emergency waste removal services and solutions, contact Smarter Business today to devise a cost-saving strategy for waste management in 2020.
Get in touch with a business waste manager today to create an effective business plan for recycling and waste management.