Lets Talk Trash

Possibly the single most visible indicator of a property’s approach to sustainability can be seen without even walking into the business. Typically, out of view of the main entrance is some type containment area for the waste stream of the building, and that area can speak volumes.

The first step is preventing items from going to that area in the first place. Reducing the waste stream starts with eliminating purchases that don’t need to be made, aka eliminating waste. Start with reducing paper and ink. From paperless campaigns, reducing printing, two-sided printing, printing in “draft mode” and using paper alternatives like hand dryers in restrooms, using less makes economic and environmental sense.

Since you’re now buying less, you might look at other items you could avoid buying as well, such as break room items. Replacing disposable cups with coffee mugs, providing water bottle refilling stations instead of buying water bottles, and reusable kitchenware and utensils are another source of waste stream reduction.

In some cases, however there will be items that can’t be reused and can’t be reduced. In these cases, diversion becomes a key strategy. Many cities have recycling ordinances in place for commercial and multi-family residential properties. Recycling saves energy, keeps materials out of landfills and provides raw materials for new products. The more we recycle, the greater the economic impact of recycling the less reliance on importing raw materials to make new goods.

Recycling has taken some hits over the years, largely due to contamination and the consequences of the supply chain being compromised. Yet, people consume and when consumption occurs, waste is generated. As supply chains tighten rules on purity, those supply chains increase their reliability in providing viable product. Paired with generally low prices for recycled commodities, the recycling industry is not going anywhere.

Likewise, landfill remains a costly option in general, an option that will only increase in cost as throwing “away” gets further “away” from the source of waste generation due to competing demands for land use.  

What is clear is that contamination will continue to impact how we recycle as those supply chains demand purity. From providing separation of recycling type (paper, plastic, etc.) to providing sorting and valet services, placing more emphasis in the condition of how recycling is collected is becoming more important.

An often-overlooked diversion tactic is composting in non-restaurant or grocery store environments. Food waste makes up almost 15% of the total municipal solid waste stream. Yet tote composting services exist that can simply be added to break rooms to capture coffee grinds, food scraps, tea bags and other food waste and some paper products.

What is left, that has not been addressed by reducing, recycling or reusing is likely going to a landfill. Those costs can be managed through collection optimization tactics. Right sizing both the container and the service frequency are important elements to optimization.

A well organized and managed waste stream can reduce operational expenses and contribute towards an overall corporate sustainability program. A key to that management is data and understanding the key performance metrics around the waste stream. What is the economic impact, which leads to what make up the components of that cost. What are the environmental impacts, and what make up the components of that risk.

Tracking waste stream data is an evolving practice as technology begins to capture an increasing amount of data. Just like energy and water, with data we can begin to increase our insights into this area as well.

I look forward to learning from all of you in my network how you are reducing your waste stream. Are you gathering data about that cost and impact? Have you implemented technology to help gain insight into your waste stream?

This conversation is past due, and likely evolving in light of current world events, but it remains an important conversation nevertheless. I look forward to the journey ahead.