FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
HOW TO FIND A GOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT PROVIDER
Look for an organisation who will proactively work together with you to develop waste management policies and procedures for each and every waste stream. Ideally this will be a company which has the experience and in-house expertise in collecting, treating and disposing all different types of waste.
Ideally, a provider will have its own waste treatment infrastructure, such as an Energy from Waste facility for the recovery of energy from non-recyclable waste; a Materials Recovery Facility to manage dry mixed recycling; Anaerobic Digestion facilities to divert food waste from landfill and generate renewable electricity or gas for the National Grid; plus other services, such as confidential waste collections; clinical and hazardous waste facilities.
A good provider will design a bespoke service for you, taking into account issues such as required frequency of collections, volumes of waste and flexibility of access to the premises.
Another benefit of working with a single waste management provider is that there is just one point of contact, ensuring clear and effective communication, often with a dedicated contract manager. This can be particularly useful if the requirement for addition collections or changes to service schedules are needed, or if there are queries regarding a particular waste stream.
Hill concluded: “While all this may sound daunting, the key is to break it down into bite-sized chunks. As an experienced provider, we understand the questions and we have the answers, so we would encourage anyone to step back, take stock, devise a clear waste management strategy and then take positive actions to deliver it.
“We only have one chance to get this right and now, more than ever, is the time for action.”
*The Facilities Managers’ Comprehensive 12 Step Guide to Developing a Winning Waste Management Strategy is available to download from www.fmj.co.uk/grundon-white-paper
⇒ Simply by replacing desk-side general waste bins with centralised containers, you could achieve a 60 per cent recycling rate.
⇒ If all the items found in the office were recycled, instead of disposed of into a single general waste bin, it could cut office waste by more than half.
⇒ Washrooms and toilet facilities can provide an opportunity to separate clinical waste, such as feminine hygiene products and first aid items, from other waste streams.
⇒ Food waste is heavy, so unless you segregate it for special food waste collection, it will add pounds to the cost of your general waste disposal.
