Is your organisation's waste management where it should be?
With more than half of recyclable waste in the UK, 51 million tonnes, ending up in landfill or being destroyed, improving our waste management should be a priority. Here is why organisations need to take the issue seriously:
1. The environment
Many employees are still printing unnecessarily. In the UK, 80.6 million tonnes of printing and writing paper enters the waste stream annually, accounting for 24% of total waste.
As well as education people to only print when necessary, recycling all waste paper is essential. Recycling one tonne of paper can save 7,000 gallons of water, 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, and 4,000 kilowatts of energy.
Recycling an aluminium can takes just 5% of the energy of making a new one, saves enough energy to power a laptop computer for 11 hours.
2. The cost
In 2018, landfill tax rates were £88.95 per tonne for standard rate material. In 2019 these are set to rise to £92.35 per tonne, and in 2020 to £94.15 per tonne. This represents a 6% increase in landfill tax rates over three years.
With these landfill charges passed on by waste companies, the effect on the bottom line can be tangible.
3. CSR
There are quantifiable benefits of improved waste management, and these are easy to demonstrate for corporate social responsibility purpose.
From showing a year on year increase in recycling rates, to how many tonnes of general waste have been avoided, these can be relatively quick wins for a CSR programme.
Better waste management with Rubbermaid
Rubbermaid offers a free waste management audit. This includes a full review of existing processes, recommendations on user education and the range of recycling system options.
With trials of coloured containers, labels and lids with stream specific openings showing an increase in recycling effectiveness (In-field recycling study 2013), coloured, customised recycling solutions from Rubbermaid are the answer.
Slim Jim Recycling Station by Rubbermaid Commercial Products is an adaptable recycling solution. It offers seven colours to create consistent visual cues for people sorting their recyclables, and dour lid opening s to ensure a recycling station that fits each unique recycling need.
B Smart with your waste management
For more insights join us on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter. Or subscribe to the Banner blog for notifications on our latest articles.
Want to know how Banner are helping the environment, read our blog on how Banner are using Void Fill instead of plastics in small parcels.