Managing waste can become more difficult when a business generates larger volumes or a wider range of materials. Waste requiring special handling can also make it harder to know what belongs in each bin and how it should be dealt with.
A practical industrial waste management approach starts with understanding what your business produces, then choosing suitable bins, collection arrangements and disposal options.
Start by looking at what your business generates during a normal working week. You may find that several types of material are being discarded, and not all need to follow the same process.
Depending on your operations, this might include general rubbish, cardboard and paper, co-mingled recyclables, organic material, scrap metal, construction waste or liquid waste. You may also have confidential documents or other materials requiring a separate service.
Knowing what you produce and roughly how much gives you a clearer picture of the bins, collections and other services you may need.
Make it easy for staff to put each material in the appropriate bin. Separating items where they are generated can reduce contamination and keep recyclable materials out of general rubbish.
For example, cardboard can have its own bin rather than being mixed with everyday rubbish. The same approach can be used for paper, co-mingled recyclables or other separately collected materials.
Clear labels and sensible bin placement can make a big difference. If staff know what belongs in each bin, sorting becomes part of the normal work routine.
Bin capacity needs to match the amount and type of material being generated. Bins that regularly overflow can create problems, while having more capacity than you need can take up valuable space.
When choosing bins, consider where they will be positioned and whether staff and collection vehicles can access them easily.
Richmond Waste offers commercial waste bins from 1.0m³ to 4.5m³, as well as bulk bins for larger volumes.
Collection frequency should reflect how quickly your bins fill. A business producing a steady amount of rubbish every day may need regular collections, while another may only need a service when a bin is full.
Seasonal peaks, new staff, changes to production or a new type of waste can all affect how much you generate. Review your collection arrangements when this happens so you have enough servicing without unnecessary collections.
Not everything your business throws away needs to go into general waste. Some materials can be recycled or recovered instead.
Looking at what goes into your general waste can reveal opportunities to reduce what you throw away. Separating recyclable materials before they are mixed with general rubbish can also make them easier to recover.
Richmond Waste provides paper and cardboard recycling and co-mingled recycling services for businesses.
Not every type of waste can be treated as ordinary rubbish. Some materials have specific requirements for storage, transport, treatment or disposal.
In NSW, businesses are responsible for classifying the waste they generate. Different requirements can apply to liquid, hazardous, restricted solid and general solid waste.
If you are unsure about a particular material, check how it should be managed before putting it into a general waste bin. Richmond Waste also provides specialised services for liquid waste, pathological waste and confidential document destruction.
After collection, waste needs to go somewhere that can lawfully receive it. In NSW, waste must be taken to a facility authorised to receive that particular type of waste, with additional tracking requirements applying to some waste streams.
This is especially important when dealing with unfamiliar, contaminated or potentially hazardous materials. Being clear about what is being collected helps ensure it is handled appropriately.
Commercial waste disposal is about more than removing rubbish from your premises. Where it goes and how it is handled are also important.
Your waste arrangements should keep pace with your business. If you expand, change your operations, introduce new materials or find that your existing setup no longer works well, it may be time to reassess it.
There is no single waste setup that suits every business. The best approach is to understand what you generate, keep different materials appropriately separated and make sure each type of waste is managed correctly.
If your bins are regularly overflowing, your waste streams have changed or you are unsure how a particular material should be managed, Richmond Waste can review your options with you.
We can help you consider bins, collection arrangements, recycling services and other waste solutions for your workplace. Talk to us about your waste management needs.