A recycling program gets successful only on performing a waste management audit for which you first need to identify which waste can be recycled and how to recycle. A waste audit may reveal unknown opportunities to cut your carbon footprint, increase your diversion rate, and also helps to save your money.
A waste audit is an investigation of your existing waste management system. It includes collecting a waste sample, sorting and weighing its different components and sharing the results with the decision-makers to the most effective and cost-efficient waste diversion solutions and is as essential as a ISO certification.
Steps to perform a waste audit:
Every business has to improve its productivity by cutting down the cost at necessary places. Policies and strategies has to be formulated by the business to survive in the competitive environment. Unnecessary materials has to be disposed so as to reduce its cost.
A waste audit is foremost step for any business for its waste reduction program. It helps a business determine the waste that it generates, quantity of generation and steps o reduce them. When you are capable of determining the composition of waste generated by your business, you can have ideas on recycling them.
Waste Composition refers to a breakdown of the various particles foundin the waste. A Generator Type refers to the specific type of establishment generating waste, such as retail, office, restaurant, hotel, etc. and the Waste Generation refers to the rate at which solid waste is generated. It is usually expressed in terms of population, or the number of employees, and a unit of time.
Frame a waste audit worksheet that coincides with your business type. The worksheet should list all products used in your operations like office paper, newspaper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastic, food waste and yard waste.
Perform investigation by analyzing the dust bins in the work place periodically. This helps you to have an overview of your company’s waste stream.
Analyze the ratio of every item listed on the worksheet. Mark down how much of each item is being discarded and in which work area . This helps to determine the department that most contributes with the recyclable materials.
Cross-check your estimates with the purchasing department. This data might reveal the paper used by the company for a month, cardboard boxes used, etc. This helps reveal the efficient usage of the items and the quantity that is been wasted.
Consider seasonal or operational factors since certain factors may contribute high at certain seasons and low in certain other situations. So a walk-through investigation will help to gather supplemental data.
Review your current waste collection system like the person collecting the waste, transportation used, equipment used, load, frequency of pick up, charges levied etc.
