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Waste auditing

Carrying out a waste audit involves separating waste into different material types and weighing how much is produced over a given time.

Some businesses, with only a small amount of waste, can do this themselves but larger businesses will probably need to hire a professional to conduct an audit for them.

The next step is to plan how to reduce your waste by following the waste hierarchy shown below.

  1. Reduce: the most effective way of reducing waste is to stop it from happening in the first place.
  2. Reuse: the next step is to try and reuse anything that you are currently throwing away.
  3. Recycle: identify anything that is currently being thrown in the waste bin that should be being recycled.
  4. Recovery: identifying any waste that could be used by others to generate a new product reduces the pressure society puts on our natural resources.
  5. Disposal: the final step is to process the rest for incineration or landfill.
Image showing Waste Hierarchy

Self Help

  • Analyse your bins. Do you know what types of waste your business is producing? Are any of these materials recyclable? Do you have recycling bins?
  • Unsure if you are getting value for money – we can help you look at the material you need to dispose of and ensure you are paying as little as possible
  • Determine if you are getting the most out of your recycling. Have a look at the materials you are disposing of and ensure you are paying as little as possible by separating out your recyclables
  • Instruct your staff on using the bins available correctly and separating out their recycling from the general waste
  • Teach your employees to use waste reduction and prevention techniques to ensure they only dispose of what they need to.

We can help

If you have carried out a waste audit yourself and still require further help and advice on the most sustainable waste collection scheme for your business, our Commercial Waste Advisors can help. Get in touch and we can offer advice over the phone or arrange for a visit to your premise.