ADVICE & OPINION
COMMENT
MEASURED APPROACH
Landfill in the UK is in steep structural decline,
with the focus turning to alternative waste
treatments and a move toward the circular
economy. Responsibly managing waste is
becoming more important than ever as societal
consciousness turns towards the climate crisis
and plastic pollution. Facilities managers are
adapting to this by progressing towards a
circular economy in which resources are kept
in use for as long as possible and waste is
minimised. This makes both environmental and
economic sense as reusing waste can turn it
into an asset stream. However, there are many
aspects of waste management that need to
change or be streamlined. Benchmarking is the
tool that makes it possible for organisations to
develop better practices to benefit both their
economic and environmental bottom line.
Benchmarking is the practice of comparing
aspects of an organisation on a like-for-like basis.
This can be done between virtually any element –
teams, tools, products, and processes – as long as
there is a baseline from which to compare. Lessons
can be learned from across the industry and even
across multiple industries so long as the practice
is the same. For example, processes for managing
lone working contractors may be the same across
cleaning, waste management, and portering.
Most organisations believe their data relating to
their recycling and waste management is su icient,
or even excellent. Yet a benchmarking process
typically provides up to 80 change management
strategies and recommendations which will
14 APRIL 2020
improve the recycling and waste performance
across a client’s facility. This is o en a result of an
organisation’s low levels of e iciency relative to
what is actually obtainable, and lack of engagement
with the potential for a more circular economy.
THE REAL VALUE OF BENCHMARKING
Over scheduling of waste collection is a common
ine iciency and addressing this is a simple
means of reducing both financial cost and the
environmental impact of collection vehicles.
Benchmarking allows a facility to understand
exactly where budgets are being spent and whether
there are gaps or oversights in current processes.
The first step to benchmarking is to carry out
an in-depth assessment of the current waste
management and recycling provision. The review
is deliberately designed to help clients understand
how virtually every kilogram of material is
generated, collected, moved, and removed from
their facility. Not only is the composition of waste
and recycling important, but the training and
practices in place which dictate the outcome.
By considering every waste stream leaving the
organisation, the client is placed in a position to
proactively alter their practices. Waste may be
reduced by altering what products are brought into
the organisation to begin with, be it food packaging
which is o en not recyclable or excessive plastic
packaging on cleaning products. Working with a
supplier to make processes more sustainable can
have an influence on the entire supply chain to
work towards higher environmental standards. This
can reduce waste and be an important aspect of the
organisation’s CSR policy as a leader in sustainable
practices.
Products can have value at the end of their life
in the organisation too. Benchmarking identifies
how waste leaving the organisation can be
turned into revenue streams. Rather than simply
recycling some of the most common forms of
waste – cardboard, plastic wrap, aluminium, or
paper – many organisations are selling them as a
commodity. White paper, pallet wrap, aluminium
and steel all hold significant worth that has a
tendency to be undervalued by the organisations
discarding them.
Once a review has been carried out, the
organisation will be able to begin implementing
changes in processes to reduce carbon emissions,
increase recycling, and increase rebates. Sitemark
clients gain an average annual saving of over 25 per
cent through this implementation.
MAINTAINING QUALITY
It is very easy to overestimate the power of data and
its potential to a ect change. Determining where an
organisation has the potential to streamline will not
automatically create a best in class service. Changes
need to be consistently applied and upheld. There
are nuanced aspects to an organisation’s daily
working that can be more di icult to determine,
such as the impact of culture on waste practices.
For this reason, many organisations will choose
to benchmark on a regular basis. This enables the
independent benchmarking provider to determine
whether recommendations are being properly
implemented, and also to gain a better picture of
the ‘so side’ of the organisation and account for
aspects such as culture.
Companies that repeat a benchmarking exercise
every six to eight months will begin to understand
their market position more clearly, as well as
being able to make changes that have a genuine,
lasting e ect. Those that understand how to
add value beyond price, moreover, will typically
find themselves more competitive, especially
when bidding for contracts that emphasise lessquantifiable
factors like social value.
There is a greater appreciation than ever that for
any organisation to reach its potential, it has to be
looked at holistically. Each and every aspect plays
a role in e iciency and functionality. No ‘onesize
fits all’ approach to improvement will work
because every organisation is unique. The power
of benchmarking is the process it takes of breaking
down elements of processes and examining the
details. In doing so, benchmarking cuts through
the noise and o ers clarity to the reality of day-today
organisational practices. Creating a complete
picture of the organisation and laying out the
precise steps to improvement makes change an
easy and logical process.
Mike Boxall, Managing Director of Sitemark extolls the value of
benchmarking waste management and recycling practices