FOCUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
A QUESTION OF
The second joint survey by FMJ and Grundon Waste
Management on how FMs approach waste management
and recycling reveals a shift in priorities from
compliance to positive sustainability outcomes
When FMJ and Grundon Waste Management first agreed to carry out a
survey in 2018, the intention was to focus the questions purely on the
topic of waste management and recycling. However, it soon became apparent
that a more wide-ranging survey on how this topic sits within the broader
sustainability remit of the modern facilities professional was more pertinent.
We therefore added questions that include the role of a facilities manager,
compliance and environmental reporting duties, and ways of devising
waste management strategies.
The survey presents views from a range of sources, including
FMs, FM product and service providers, and other stakeholders.
What type of organisation do you work for?
In-house facilities management 43.45%
Other 19.10%
Facilities management service provider 18.35%
Independent/consultancy 10.11%
Facilities management product supplier 4.87%
Facilities management service supplier 4.12%
40 JULY 2019
What is the size of your organisation?
5,000+ people 17.69%
1,000 to 4,999 people 21.15%
500 to 999 people 11.92%
100 to 499 people 25.77%
1 to 99 people 23.85%
Do you actively manage facilities on
one or multiple sites?
One site 35.16%
Multiple sites 64.84%
We’ve also included views from members
of the FMJ editorial steering committee on
some of the more surprising results of the
survey (see box on page 42).
THE ROLE OF A FACILITIES MANAGER
Over 94 per cent of survey respondents said
there is a growing emphasis on their business’
sustainability and environmental credentials
within their day-to-day role, but there has been a
shi in priorities.
In 2018, our survey found that over 80 per cent
of respondents believed compliance was the most
important aspect of their role, narrowly ahead of
service delivery. In 2019, the results have changed –
nearly three-quarters (72.48 per cent) said they now
saw service delivery as the most important aspect
of their role, with just over 56 per cent believing
compliance was the top priority.
What do you see as the most important aspects of
a facilities manager’s role?
2018 2019
1 Compliance Service delivery
2 Service delivery Compliance
3 Contribution to organisation’s/
client’s environmental targets
Contribution to organisation’s/
client’s environmental targets
Why are facilities management professionals
prioritising service delivery ahead of meeting
compliance requirements? Does this pose a risk
to their organisations? We asked members of the
steering committee to provide some insight.
Over 30 per cent of
respondents felt they were not
adequately equipped with the
required knowledge regarding
waste legislation and
environmental compliance.”