The first step to becoming a sustainable business is understanding your waste management practice. Smaller companies have the opportunity to adopt a more sustainable way of doing things, but they also have the chance to do it more quickly and easily than large corporations. Below are some simple steps any small business can take to reduce its impact on the environment:
Reduce Waste
Reduce, reuse and recycle, the three Rs are the key to minimizing your organization’s waste footprint.
Reduce what you can by creating more efficient processes and eliminating unnecessary items from your workplace (e.g., using digital files instead of paper copies).
Reuse what you can by donating surplus furniture or equipment to local charities that can put them to good use (or consider making it available for employee-to-employee swapping).
Recycle everything else that can’t be reused or donated—this is where hiring an experienced waste management company comes into play.
Recycle Internal E-waste
For small businesses, recycling internal e-waste is a good idea. Recycling internal e-waste is more cost-effective than buying new products and it is considered much more environmentally friendly as well.
There are two main reasons why companies should consider recycling their old technology: firstly, it’s good for the environment and secondly, it saves money!
If you’re looking to learn more about how you can recycle your old computers or servers yourself then take a look at our guide here.
See if wastewater treatment is possible
According to Valley Waste Water Management which provides a sewage treatment plant in Ipswich, wastewater treatment is one of the most effective ways to reduce the amount of water wasted in your business. It can also help you save on your utility bills, keep employees happy and give you a competitive advantage over other companies that are not doing as much to minimize their environmental impact.
If you are small enough that wastewater treatment isn’t feasible for your business, consider using gray water instead. Gray water refers to wastewater that does not contain any hazardous materials or pathogens (bacteria or viruses). It can be reused in various ways including flushing toilets, washing clothes, and cleaning floors.
Identify your local waste management contractor
Before you sign a contract and get cash for metal as well as other trash, it’s important to find out as much about your local waste management contractor as possible. You will want to ask them for references from other clients and how long they have been in business. You should also ask them about their experience in the industry and what kind of training they offer employees. Finally, ask if they have customer service available 24/7 and whether or not any hidden fees come along with using their services.
If you do choose to hire a larger company, then look into getting an account manager who can help guide you through the process of sorting your trashinto different categories so that less goes into landfills and more gets recycled or reused!
Know how to manage hazardous waste
If you’re working in an industry that produces toxic chemicals, or if you’re simply producing a lot of hazardous waste, it’s important to know the rules of waste management for hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is regulated by federal and state laws. The EPA has a list of hazardous wastes that includes all kinds of substances, from paints and solvents to oil-based paint removers to pesticides.
The EPA also has a list of hazardous waste generators who produce more than one gallon per month in their facility; those who generate more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) per month must submit annual reports on their activities—and this applies even if they send their waste offsite for disposal somewhere else.
Send E-waste To A Certified Clinic
If you’re looking to recycle your e-waste, the best way to do so is by sending it to a certified recycling clinic. These clinics have been vetted by the government and are responsible for safely disposing of e-waste.
Toxic metals from electronics can be harmful to both people and animals alike, so they must be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. E-waste also contains personal information that may be sensitive or valuable, which means you need to trust your garbage haulers will dispose of this info appropriately. You may even want them to shred or incinerate documents if they contain sensitive information like bank account numbers or social security numbers before sending them off for recycling (we recommend having these items shredded at home first).
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can keep your waste management practices on the track. By keeping a close eye on what comes in and goes out of your company, you’ll be able to properly manage both your internal e-waste and external e-waste as well.
