Sustainable waste management strives to keep materials used for as long as feasible while reducing the amount of waste material disposed of in landfills or incinerated. However, waste begins even before manufactured products in our current economy and production processes. A more comprehensive approach to sustainable waste management must start concentrating on the entire product lifecycle to help reduce the negative environmental, social, and financial impacts of waste generated by modern living and industry.
The Definition of Sustainable Waste Management
The collecting, transporting, and disposal of different forms of waste in a way that does not damage the ecosystem, people’s health, or future generations are referred to as sustainable waste management. It encompasses all activities involved in waste management organization, from production to ultimate processing.
It is essential to understand that there are many different sorts of waste, including municipal solid waste, residential, business, and demolition and construction materials; electronic or e-waste like computer parts; and radioactive material, amongst many others. Even the cannabis industry, as “green” and eco-friendly as it is perceived to be, produces solid waste that needs to be disposed of safely and efficiently.
It is essential to follow a sustainable model in this area to manage waste efficiently rather than simply sending it all to landfills.
Having a Waste Management System
Resources and waste, as well as how they are managed, provide a chance to enhance an organization’s sustainability, reduce carbon emissions, and save money. It really is a win-win situation for everyone involved, especially the planet.
The first stage is to monitor the quantity of waste generated by your business because you can’t manage what you don’t watch. Tracking your waste is a critical component of a successful sustainable waste management program.
Sustainable waste management aims to spend fewer natural resources while reusing as many as feasible and producing as little waste as possible. A well-functioning sustainable waste management system should have feedback loops, emphasizing processes, flexibility, and waste diversion.
Best Practices for Sustainability
Measure the Waste
Determine the quantity of waste collected from various locations. Skips are typically weighed, and the amount is conveyed to a waste management firm. In contrast, smaller bins or collections of sacks are not weighed or documented. Examine the containers given for collection to do a brief visual inspection.
Eliminate paper use
Although the world is getting more technologically adept, most organizations continue to utilize printed paper, one of the most significant waste areas. To become environmentally conscious, we must reduce the quantity of printed paper we consume. Eliminate paper as much as possible and instead adopt regulations that allow individuals and organizations to become digital, online, and use cloud storage.
Reducing, Repurposing, and Recycling
Recycling conserves energy by keeping trash out of landfills and incinerators, and it also supplies raw materials for new goods. Increase the number of bins for gathering waste such as paper, glass, plastics, and other materials that may later be recycled. Instead of tossing things out after using them, reuse certain items, such as plastic bottles.
Correct Waste Disposal
The collection of solid waste should not be left to local councils or administrations but should be the duty of every person, business, institution, and community. Rubbish trucks gather home waste by going to each place of waste generation to collect the waste.
These processes must be simplified or consolidated in order for all waste to be sorted and gathered in the same manner. What could be recycled must be recycled; what cannot be recycled should not contaminate reusable things. As a result, some waste potential benefits, such as energy recovery, which can create fuel or power, can be realized.
Conclusion
Every business creates waste; the identification and the management of that waste are crucial. Companies are seeking ways to keep hazardous materials out of our landfills, improve their waste management, and enhance sustainability.
Use the results of your waste assessment to guide your waste reduction efforts. For example, you may discover that your recycling stream has a high proportion of contamination, highlighting the need for enhanced awareness and the need for additional protocols. Alternatively, the statistics might show that you are discarding a significant percentage of recycling in the trash.
PegEx, Inc. is a fast-developing, technology-enabled solutions provider that provides the waste sector with knowledge, safety, and efficiency through innovative cloud-based software. The PegEx® Platform includes several productivity modules that help speed up the process of transporting, tracking, and disposing of hazardous waste while maintaining compliance. The platform uses comprehensive waste-industry-specific rules and data to allow real-time business and operational choices.
Contact us for more information about optimizing your waste management protocols and the right solution for your business.
