Big businesses usually thrive in a very urban and hectic environment. That is why we see so many large commercial buildings full of both large enterprises and small startups. All of these share one thing in common, the ambition to thrive and grow. However, in this process of growing and developing there is a lot of waste that comes about as a byproduct.
What makes the problem worse is that these modern buildings simply are not optimized for managing waste properly. Luckily, there are new ways to deal with waste in large corporate buildings. Here are five effective ways to manage and reduce waste in commercial buildings.
Set up a budget
Setting up a budget for waste management is another key area to a successful eco-friendly approach. A good indicator of the current state of things is to consider where most of the spending is allocated. Are there some things that are perhaps way over the budget or take an unreasonable portion like removal costs? A good way to bleed money out is by trying to get rid of something which can be perfectly well recycled such as paper.
This comes down to convincing the managerial level of the company to assess the costs and consider some of the innovative new alternatives that have recently been popping up such as hiring a trash compactor. This might seem like an overwhelming task, however, once it is solved it optimizes the budget for other things and gives more headroom for a more sustainable, eco-friendly and cost-effective future.
Track the waste
The first part of the problem is identifying the scope of the problem in the first place. Once enough data is accumulated it is possible to see the waste production patterns and tendencies, this is a great starting place for creating a plan to reduce and manage future waste. In the long run, you will be saving a lot of money by choosing the proper level of waste hauling service. This also helps to establish a budget for properly managing the production of waste in the long run.
Leverage innovative solutions
Australia marks a large growth in the waste management market with a rate of 9% annually. Once these new sustainable strategies are put into practice and new mindsets are adopted by most of the employees, there is a great opportunity to introduce a way to make recycling more automated and user-friendly. The best way to integrate these new habits in large commercial buildings is by implementing new technologies like the waste chute from Queensland, which give you a more user-friendly approach to recycling.
Reuse
A good way to optimize waste management is simply reducing the waste in the first place. Part of the problem could initially be solved by simply incorporating reusable options. This means that single-use items should replace most day-to-day things which have a poor reuse value. A good place to start is reusable coffee mugs or plastic bottles. Lunch can be brought in reusable containers instead of Styrofoam. However, most successful sustainability-oriented businesses do not just stop there. The next best step is going into full recycling.
When it comes to more delicate things such as food. There is also a solution in the form of donating food to local organizations, many of which will get the food from you without any extra transportation cost. This is a wonderful way to build a healthier relationship with the local community. If these reusable strategies do not work out, you can always try to go with composting, which prevents metric tons of waste from ending up in landfills.
Use less paper
Although we live in a digital world, you would be surprised to know that 40% percent of the total waste that goes into a landfill comes from paper. It is quite clear that businesses still use significant amounts of ink and paper. A good way to prevent this issue is to encourage the use of digital documents and to rely on paper only for official or legal documentation. Paper is also used in toilets and those can easily be replaced with air dryers.
Final comments
In order to continue thriving as a business in large commercial buildings, it is absolutely evident that a sustainable and more eco-friendly approach is crucial. Luckily there are great options to achieve just that. If you want to begin a more sustainable journey for your business environment you definitely have to first track the waste production patterns, as this helps to develop a course of action. Leveraging innovative solutions is also a great idea because new technology allows us to make recycling more seamless.
The entire plan for transformation should be executed according to a budget plan which can pinpoint where resources are being inefficiently utilized. Furthermore, the overall strategy should revolve around adopting good reusability practices. And in addition, you can do so much by just simply using less paper and ink. Solutions are everywhere around us; we just have to be more aware of them.
