5 Tips on How SMEs Can Handle Waste Better
Small and medium-sized enterprises play a significant role in the UK economy, and as businesses, they have a responsibility to operate in an environmentally responsible manner. One aspect of this is to improve their recycling practices to reduce waste and its impact on the environment. In this article, we will discuss five things all SMEs can try to improve recycling and support a sustainable future.
Conduct a Waste Audit
The first step to improving recycling in your business is to conduct a waste audit. A waste audit will help you identify the type and amount of waste generated by your business, how it is disposed of, and the opportunities for improvement. You can engage with a waste management company like Acumen to help you conduct the audit, and we can offer recommendations on how to reduce waste and improve recycling practices.
Separate Your Waste Streams
The second step is to separate your waste streams. This means separating recyclable materials like paper, cardboard, plastics, and metal from non-recyclable materials like food waste, ceramics, and hazardous materials. You can provide separate bins or containers for each waste stream, and label them appropriately. It is also important to ensure that your employees are aware of the importance of separating waste and know how to do it correctly.
Provide Recycling Facilities
The third step is to provide recycling facilities on-site. Acumen helps many of our customer by installing recycling bins and containers that are appropriate for your business needs. You should also ensure that the recycling facilities are easily accessible and located in a visible area. Providing recycling facilities on-site makes it more convenient for your employees to recycle and encourages them to do so.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
The fourth step is to implement the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” approach. This means reducing the amount of waste generated by your business, reusing materials whenever possible, and recycling what cannot be reused. For example, you can reduce waste by using double-sided printing, encouraging the use of reusable coffee cups and water bottles, and reducing packaging waste. You can also reuse materials like packaging boxes, envelopes, and scrap paper. Recycling should be the last resort after reducing and reusing options have been exhausted.
Train Your Employees
The fifth step is to train your employees on recycling practices. Your employees are the ones who generate waste and use the recycling facilities, so it is important to educate them on how to recycle correctly. You can provide training sessions, posters, and other communication materials to raise awareness and encourage good recycling practices. It is also important to make sure that your employees understand the benefits of recycling and the impact of their actions on the environment.
Improving recycling practices in SMEs is an essential step towards reducing waste and promoting a sustainable future. Conducting a waste audit, separating waste streams, providing recycling facilities, implementing the “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle” approach, and training your employees are five things that all SMEs can try to improve recycling. Working with a waste management company like Acumen can help you implement these practices and achieve your sustainability goals. Together, we can make a positive impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Read our simple guide for enhancing sustainability through waste management audits here.
For more information contact one of the team at Acumen today.
