Areas where businesses can significantly reduce the amount of waste they are producing

Waste should be an area of concern for every business. Not only can some waste damage the environment if not handled correctly, but it can also cost businesses money that could be better spent in other areas to help move the business forward.

Many businesses have faced challenges over the last 12 months and will continue to face new ones in the future as the entire business community still learns how to deal with COVID-19 and its impact. Because of this, we felt it would be a good idea to highlight some areas where businesses can significantly reduce the amount of waste they are producing.

Paper

For any business, paper waste is always an area where they can make improvements. General office work used to rely on paper heavily, but with computers and internet communication, this is no longer the case. With that being said, there are still many offices worldwide that produce far more paper waste than is necessary, which is further compounded by not disposing of this waste correctly with recycling bins.

But how can businesses reduce the amount of paper waste they produce? A common area for paper use that is unnecessary is note-making. While we all need ways to remember things during the day or pass a quick message to a colleague, there are other ways of doing so that don’t involve paper. Furthermore, we have all been in a meeting where a paper agenda is handed out along with a stack of documents for everyone to follow along with. In 2021 there is just no need for this as everything can be sent to those attending the meeting in advance by email, so they have a digital copy and do not require a paper version.

Single-use plastic

It may surprise you when you think about just how many businesses use sing use plastics every day. It has been well documented the steps taken by restaurants to reduce the amount of plastic they use. However, manufacturing, service and even retail businesses can all take steps to reduce the amount of single-use plastic they use each day as well.

One of the more commonly used single-use plastics in a variety of businesses are plastic cups and bottles. Water fountains and coolers have a long association with businesses, but more environmentally friendly options are available now, producing less waste. Businesses can now provide their employees with reusable water bottles to fill up and eliminate the waste produced by plastic cups and bottles.

Fuel

For businesses that operate commercial vehicles, fuel is a significant concern when it comes to waste. Excess fuel usage is harmful to the environment, and it can cost businesses a considerable amount of money. To reduce fuel usage, businesses could move to more environmentally friendly vehicles, and either selling on their old vehicles or disposing of them safely with a company who professionally deals with scrap cars. However, this may not be practical during difficult financial times for businesses.

Another option to reduce fuel waste is to encourage environmentally friendly driving practices for the business’s commercial drivers. This includes avoiding engine idling, speeding and harsh acceleration and braking. Along with taking more time-efficient routes, where drivers avoid sitting in slow-moving traffic, businesses can significantly reduce the amount of fuel they use and waste.

By reducing waste, businesses can operate more efficiently and save money in certain areas while reducing their environmental impact. Even though this can be difficult, taking small steps such as providing more accessible recycling bins or reusable water bottles can go a long way. Waste management is a key part of modern business and should be something every business takes seriously regardless of their sector. Partnering with a local waste management company can help any business do this, and locating one can be as simple as asking around other businesses or searching online.