Did you know that UK businesses lose up to 4.5% of annual turnover every year through avoidable waste? By reducing the amount of waste you create, your business can save money through reduced purchasing and disposal costs. Environmentally this is one of the best ways to deal with your waste. For example, if everyone in UK offices saved one staple a day, it is estimated this could save up to 72 tonnes of metal a year.
This page gives you a few pointers for ways to tackle waste minimisation within your business. It also includes details of websites that can provide you with more comprehensive guidance and support.
As businesses vary so much in the materials they deal with, these pages concentrate mainly on areas common to the majority of businesses (paper, stationary, electronic equipment, furniture, catering), although the general principles can be applied to other areas as well.
Waste Audits
If you're going to look at reducing the amount of waste your business creates, the first thing to do is to conduct a waste audit. This will show you the types and amounts of waste you are throwing away and associated costs, which will serve as a baseline to measure performance and enable you to identify areas for improvement.
The following websites provide further advice on conducting a waste audit:
www.envirowise.gov.uk
www.wasteonline.org.uk
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Staff Involvement
For any waste minimisation scheme to work, staff involvement is essential and training will form an important element of this.
Training should aim to ensure staff buy in and motivation by covering the reasons for waste minimisation and the way that staff can contribute, including any new policies and procedures. Training should also cover an element of IT training to enable staff to reduce the amount of paper being used (e.g. by printing/photocopying on both sides, reducing the number of pages used etc.)
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Waste Reduction
By considering the items that are regularly thrown away, you can identify areas where you can reduce waste. The following ideas are some suggestions to help get you started but are by no means exhaustive.Paper
- Print on both sides of the paper
- Use smaller envelopes and reuse envelopes for internal mail
- Only print what's necessary and try to minimise the number of pages used
- Use whiteboards in preference to flip charts
- Use notice boards or email in preference to circulars
- Cut out junk mail by asking to be removed from mailing lists and make sure you keep your own mailing lists up to date
Catering
- Purchase non perishable items such as condiments in bulk
- Avoid individually packed sachets and use reusable containers instead
General
- Share items like stationary (e.g. hole punches) rather than issuing them individually
- Purchase more durable longer lasting items such as long life lamps or rechargeable batteries
- Ensure that things are well maintained and stored properly to extend their life
- Only order what's needed
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Reuse
Many items can be reused within the office or between departments and there are many reusable alternatives to disposables. Alternatively items can be repaired or refurbished, or donated to other organisations instead of being thrown away.
Reusable Items
- Use reusable cups and glasses rather than plastic vending cups
- In catering, choose reusable crockery and cutlery in preference to paper or plastic disposable items
- Use paper clips rather than staples
- Use scrap paper rather than Post Its
- Reuse items such as folders and punch pockets
Repair or Refurbish
- Recondition or reupholster office furniture to prolong its life
Donate Items
- Unwanted items can be donated to other departments or local charities
- Good quality scrap items can be donated to the Children's Scrapstore. For more information, please go to www.childrensscrapstore.co.uk
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