| A new age in waste management? |
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| Written by Ian Baxter, July 2006 | |
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There is nothing new about recycling as an objective, but there are new and growing pressures on businesses to act responsibly and comprehensively to manage waste.
There is no doubt that general awareness of the concepts of sustainability and corporate social responsibility has increased immeasurably over the past five years, with the Government having put forward compelling arguments for companies to integrate the type of responsible business practices that sustainability demands into everyday processes and operations, new legislation and the growing sophistication of pressure groups to communicate successfully with business without confrontation. With this new found consciousness and co-operation has come a willingness within business to review practices, processes and mindsets with a view to creating a working environment that is sustainable in the absolute, fully considering all elements of the resources required to maintain delivery. One element of this programme of review that has received particular attention is the management of waste arising from commercial organisations. The concept of sustainable waste management isn't something new within the UK, but it has resurfaced with a renewed sense of purpose as various reports detailing mankind's impacts on the environment have been circulated. While waste is typically only 5-10 per cent of an organisation's environmental impact, it is often the initial focal point for change, and, more often than not, one of the more complex. The fundamental difficulties are two-fold: effective engagement with waste generators within the organisation, and the successful appointment and management of sub-contractors that share the organisation's environmental objectives. Until the mid-1960s, the UK's population recognised the value of re-using and recycling materials. Believe it or not, the first material recycling facilities in this country opened in the late 1800s, and the last rag and bone man only ceased operation in 1967. It is only as industry, and population, have moved over the past 40 years towards an increasingly consumer-based economy that the tried and tested practices of the past have seemed to become an alien concept. The drivers behind the habits of yesterday were quite simple: people understood that to survive economically, materials needed to be preserved and re-used or recycled. New driversToday's needs for the reintroduction of sustainable waste management are similarly pressing, but have significantly more serious consequences. And this is the very key with which to secure successful engagement with waste generators.For instance, the UK currently consumes in excess of twice the natural resources available from its geographic area. And if that statistic in itself is not enough, the planet's population is currently consuming natural resources at a rate equivalent to three planets. Confronted with information such as this, the need for a change in how waste generators handle and dispose of their waste is no longer a subject worthy of emotive debate; that took place in the 1980s and 1990s. It is now clearly time for responsible action. Having said that, it is of fundamental importance that generators of waste understand their own individual contribution to these statistics, how they can make a more positive contribution, and what benefits their positive actions can have. Commercially, in a typical office environment occupants will generate approximately 0.25 tonnes of waste material per annum, which is largely recyclable. To put this situation into better context, approximately 2.5 tonnes of natural resources are consumed just to produce this waste material, assuming it is of virgin origin. Contained within this quarter of a tonne of waste material produced, one would typically expect the following breakdown of materials arising:
This proves quite clearly that, if given the correct facilities, over 85 per cent of all waste generated within an office environment can be - and should be - recycled. In terms of the benefits of achieving such levels of recycling, these are, at the very least, three-fold:
Finding the right solutionFor waste generators to deliver change, it is evident that they must recognise their impacts, accept individual responsibility and fully appreciate the positive benefits their efforts can have.The second element of the challenge, the successful appointment and management of sub-contractors that share the organisation's environmental objectives, is potentially the most difficult element for several reasons:
And when the full range of waste generated within a commercial environment is considered, this challenge is even more complex. A brief summary of the range includes:
ConclusionSo, in conclusion, how does a commercial generator of waste successfully specify a sustainable waste management service? There are numerous contractors in the UK that can provide this service. The following are some basic rules that can be of assistance, whichever provider you choose:
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