FMJ.CO.UK WASTE MANAGEMENT FOCUS
2018 2019
1 Waste management and recycling Waste management and recycling
2 Energy consumption Energy consumption
3 Hazardous materials The working environment
4 The working environment Carbon footprint management
2018 2019
1 An opportunity 73.96% A challenge 56.42%
2 A challenge 24.26% An opportunity 39.60%
3 Other 1.78% A headache 9.41%
JULY 2019 41
Alan Hutchinson was surprised by
the results. “Compliance ought to be
the first and foremost objective for any
FM professional, and how we deliver
compliance would be the service
delivery.” Ian Wade commented that
“facilities managers are increasingly
widening their remit and are being
asked to add value, particularly around
workplace wellbeing and sustainable
accountability. It may well be perceived
by leaders that compliance is a
given, and as a restrictive area where
innovation doesn’t exactly flourish.”
Vicky Thorpe suggested that the
role of new technology may have
contributed to this change: “It simply
means the use of tools such as CAFM
systems have helped managers adapt
and able to prioritise in other areas.”
The change in contractor relationships
also helps to ensure that FMs stay
compliant, she said. “The partnership
approach ensures that compliancy is
not just one individual’s responsibility,
and by working as a team there may be
a spread of focus – but no reduction.”
COMPLIANCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING
Last year’s results showed that more than three-quarters (75 per
cent) of facilities managers felt more concerned about the risk of
non-compliance with regulations than in the previous year, and
2019 has seen that figure increase to over 86 per cent. A major
area for concern was understanding which areas of government
waste legislation applied to their organisation. Over 30 per cent
of respondents felt they were not adequately equipped with the
required knowledge regarding waste legislation and environmental
compliance. Alarmingly, more than one in four said they were
aware of, or knew somebody, who had been fined for noncompliance.
There is also an increase in FMs who are required to produce
environmental reports – up nearly 10 per cent compared to 2018.
Over half of those who completed the survey believe these reports
are useful in setting future strategy.
Are you required to produce environmental reports?
2018 2019
Yes 50.00% Yes 54.67%
No 50.00% No 45.33%
Do you believe these reports are useful
in helping to set future strategy?
2019
Yes 52.40%
SUSTAINABILITY RESPONSIBILITIES
Significantly, for a second year running facilities managers
consider waste management and improved recycling to be their
number one environmental and sustainability priority, ahead of
energy consumption, carbon footprint management and handling
hazardous materials.
Of your multiple environmental and sustainability
responsibilities, which do you think are the most important?
At the same time, however, over 56 per cent view the improvement
of waste and recycling within their organisation as a challenge.
This is a big swing from 2018, where nearly 74 per cent saw it as
an opportunity and less than a quarter stated they viewed it as a
challenge.
Is improving the management of waste and recycling within
your organisation seen as a challenge, an opportunity or
a headache?
Why the shi in sentiment towards the subject of waste and
recycling? “There is increasingly more pressure from employees
to ensure companies are limiting their impact on the planet,” said
Simone Fenton-Jarvis. She added: “Companies are providing more
and more disposal options for a multitude of items – all of which
takes managing, enough storage space and su‡ icient budgets.”
Lucy Hind commented: “I believe that the role of facilities
managers is being stretched with less resource being made
available, but more duties putting pressure on them, which is being
reflected in areas such as waste.” She added: “Reducing resource
support has been a key factor which could have influenced the