Sustainable waste management refers to collecting, transporting, and disposing of various types of waste in a manner that doesn’t hurt the environment, human health, and future generations. It includes all activities involved in waste management, from production to the final treatment. Proper transportation is also one of its concerns as you may be needing to rent a dumpster in Columbia PA, especially when transporting tons of waste. You can learn more about sustainable waste management on the Dumposaurus Dumpsters & Rolloff Rental website.
The primary goal of sustainable waste management is to reduce the number of natural resources that are consumed. It enables you to reuse and recycle materials as far as possible and minimize waste. A well-planned sustainable waste management system should focus on processing, have feedback loops and divert waste from landfills.
Sustainable Practices for Waste Management
There are several ways to implement sustainable waste management practices within your organization. Listed below are some ways that can help you manage your waste in an eco-friendly and sustainable way:
Thorough Planning
Planning your waste management is one of the first steps toward making it sustainable. However, you should not make a one-time plan and stop at that. You must consider your waste management planning as a continuous and evolving process. This should involve following and tracking your waste at every stage, tweaking the process to improve it further, and responding to the ever-changing waste management norms.
Collaboration
Another way to manage your waste sustainably is to collaborate with other organizations that share a common goal. Work with companies that promote sustainable practices within themselves and with others. Such collaboration will help you encourage all stakeholders in your company to follow sustainable practices as well. It will also help reduce the generation of waste and its effects in poor communities, contribute to the improvement of solid waste management, and improve the livelihood of people in the surrounding areas.
Avoid Landfills As Far As Possible
Your primary goal should be to completely avoid landfills or send as little to them as possible. Determine how much waste your company sends to landfills every day. Then take conscious efforts to sort this waste and reduce the amount sent to these landfills. You can then determine what to do with the segregated waste. You may be able to reuse some of it, recycle some of it, and throw away only the materials that have absolutely no use.
Replace Single Use Items with Reusable Ones
Another important way to manage and reduce waste is to replace all single-use items in the company with reusable items. For instance, you can replace single-use cutlery with reusable serving trays, and utensils. This way, you can also reduce the number of single-use items you purchase, reducing your costs as well.
Go Paperless
Paper and paper products are one of the largest waste generators for any company. Reducing the amount of paper you use can considerably bring down your waste. Below are certain ways to reduce paper usage:
- Keep your company procedural and policy documents online or in a shared folder.
- Only print whatever is absolutely required. If printing cannot be avoided, print double-sided copies and decrease margins so that you can use less number of sheets.
- Print in draft mode to reduce ink consumption. As far as possible, print in black and white only as color printing can use a larger volume of ink.
- Use alternatives to paper wherever possible. For instance, you can use hand dryers instead of paper towels in the bathrooms.
Donate Anything That Can Be Donated
One way of reducing trash is by donating it. Not only will it reduce your waste, but will also benefit people who get your donated items. Below are some ways you can donate your waste:
- Hotels and restaurants can donate extra perishable food items to food banks and shelters.
- Hotels can give away unused shampoos, soaps, and other toiletries
- Offices can donate old computers and printers if they are getting system upgrades
- Companies can donate old furniture like chairs and desks to schools and other institutions in case of office renovations
Compost
Composting is a good waste disposal option that can be used for food and some paper products. You can place a tight-sealing composting bin in your cafeteria or break room. If you have a large space, you can also install an organic waste converter in your office premises to convert your waste into compost. This compost can then be used as manure in your plants and gardens.
Sustainable waste management doesn’t happen overnight. You have to keep trying to manage your waste in an environment-friendly way, said Sam Scoten, co-founder of CheckSammy. He is a progressive business leader utilizing his rich experience from over two decades in finance and technology start-ups to revolutionize waste management. His innovative perspective on sustainable waste management solutions has led to the establishment of CheckSammy, a company offering data-driven insights to customers. Scoten’s ingenious approach, his deep understanding of technology, and his drive to create a more sustainable world converge, fostering an environment where effective waste management and environmental preservation are no longer mutually exclusive but rather symbiotic goals. While it may seem like a daunting task initially, following the tips provided above can help you adopt sustainable ways to manage your company’s waste.