By Sean Fisher, CEO – Cleaning, OCS UK.
Sustainability has become a critical concern for businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors. As more organisations look to enhance their sustainability efforts, facilities management providers have an important role to play in supporting their environmental journey. One of the key areas where this responsibility lies is waste management.
Understanding Sustainable Waste Management
The global waste crisis is escalating, with waste generation projected to increase from 2.1 billion tonnes last year to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. To help overcome this issue, sustainable waste management practices are being deployed with the aim of reducing our impact on the environment. Sustainable waste management involves the efficient and responsible handling of waste materials to minimise their environmental impact. This includes reducing waste, promoting recycling and reuse, and ensuring the proper disposal of non‑recyclable waste.
According to research, well planned and executed waste reuse, recycling and recovery can reduce waste by up to 65%. The goal with sustainable waste management is to create a circular economy, where resources are continuously reused, reducing the need for new raw materials and driving businesses towards zero to landfill status.
Best Practices To Deliver Sustainable Waste Management
For any business looking to deliver sustainable waste management practices, waste prevention must be seen as a priority. Facilities managers can play an important role here and can implement measures that minimise waste generation at the source. This includes adopting environmentally friendly techniques such as promoting digital filing and administrative communications to reduce a reliance on paper usage or encouraging the use of reusable materials where appropriate. At OCS, for our cleaning division, we ensure we never use phosphates or aerosols and we ensure that our cleaning products are not just effective and well‑priced, but have evidence‑based eco‑credentials.
Additionally, businesses can leverage and integrate data and technology to provide transformative functions in modern waste management. Advanced waste tracking systems and analytical data software can provide insights into the patterns of waste generation whilst identifying areas for improvement. For example, smart bins are equipped with cutting‑edge sensors which can monitor waste levels in real‑time. This allows for more efficient waste collection schedules whilst reducing CO2 production from unnecessary pickups. Businesses can also adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and smart buildings to not just streamline core business operations but create sustainable and energy‑efficient environments. By using data and analytics as a driver, facilities managers can track the effectiveness of their waste management strategies and adjust where necessary to maximise their impact.
Another critical aspect of delivering excellent sustainable waste management is adopting the principles of the circular economy. Unlike traditional linear economic models which follows the ‘take, make, dispose’ model, a circular economy’s primary aim is to keep resources and materials in use for as long as possible. To adopt a circular economy model, businesses can design their products for longevity and ensure that their services facilitate repair and refurbishment and that any materials are effectively recycled at the end of the life cycle. We work closely with our customers by using our Sustainability Management System to ensure eco‑friendly practices, such as waste reduction or intelligent building management, are enforced. This helps our customers contribute to the circular economy by minimising the amount of waste going to landfill.
Sustainable waste management can be a difficult challenge and to be successful, a holistic approach is needed. Efficient waste management strategies, ones which cover everything from daily refuse removal to secure document disposal, can not only reduce a business’ impact on the environment, but it can bring financial benefits too.
For example, an extensive recycling program can not only reduce the volume of waste being sent to landfill, but it can attract new environmentally conscious customers and partners as a result.
By prioritising waste prevention, promoting recycling and reuse initiatives, and leveraging data and technology, facility managers can make a substantial impact, building a cleaner and more sustainable future.
