Since the launch of the Race Against Waste Small Change Programme in 2004, it has become clear that whilst smaller businesses are willing to segregate their waste for recycling, they often have insufficient amounts of various materials to make it attractive enough for a waste contractor to provide them with a service. Does this sound familiar?
Do you represent a business that has any one of the following issues:
- No waste collection is provided/available?
- Experienced difficulty sourcing a service provider for waste collection?
- Want to get involved in recycling but don't know how?
- The business cannot afford current cost of waste collections?
Perhaps the Race Against Waste, Waste Minimisation Clubs can help.
What is a Waste Minimisation Club?
A Waste Minimisation Club is where businesses in a particular geographic area, group together to negotiate better terms/services from waste contractors. The Club may also share facilities, and equipment and exchange waste items that may be of use to another business. The focus should eventually lead to waste minimisation efforts being put in place by the businesses.
Each Waste Minimisation Club will be different, but ultimately it will help you deal with your waste in an environmentally sustainable manner, bring you into line with national legislation and save on waste collection and disposal costs for your business.
What are the steps?
Before you start to initiate a Waste Minimisation Club it is important to ensure that within each business, waste is being prevented at source wherever possible. For example - set the printer to double-sided, make scrap paper into notepads, provide staff with ceramic cups to eliminate plastic or polystyrene cups, the list goes on! For a list of other helpful ideas to reduce and reuse waste in your business refer to the 'Small Change Tips'.
STEP 1
Talk to neighbouring businesses to see if they are interested in forming a Waste Minimisation Club
STEP 2
Appoint a coordinator, this can be someone from:
- The business community
- Local Authority
- Chambers of Commerce
- Race Against Waste Representative
- Other
STEP 3
The businesses need to make a commitment to the Club, this can take the form of a Charter signed by a representative from each business. This charter will state that the participating business agree to
- Prevent and minimise waste at source
- Segregate and present their waste in a proper manner
- Participate in regular waste audits (2 per year)
- Document their involvement in the Club
The businesses could also form the club as a limited company.
STEP 4
Audit your waste - the service provider will require the following information from the Club:
- Waste types
- Weight per waste type (weekly/monthly)
- Requirements (space, containers, onsite facilities, collection frequency etc)
The businesses will be required to provide this information in a uniform manner, (Refer to Small Change Guide Waste Audit form) however Waste Audit Workshops will be provided by the Race Against Waste Team to assist you in this process.
STEP 5
Compile the Waste Audit information and any additional Waste Minimisation Club requirements into a brief for the Service Providers.
STEP 6
Contact several Service Providers and provide them with the brief. If possible meet with the Service Providers to assess the Club's site(s) for collection and to discuss any contractual issues.
STEP 7
Appoint a service provider
STEP 8
Ensure all members in the Waste Minimisation Club are aware of their responsibility to segregate and present waste according to the Service Provider agreement.
STEP 9
The Coordinator needs to provide opportunities for regular feedback and discussion within the Club. This could be through a bi- monthly meeting or an email forum.
STEP 10
Evaluate and monitor how the Waste Minimisation Club is working, the best way to do this is through waste audits. Every 6 months the Club members should complete a waste audit to establish how much waste has been reduced, this will also raise issues that can be discussed at the future meetings, such as:
- Areas for improvement
- New wastes identified
- Opportunities for waste exchange
- Collection issues
The Coordinator must document the Waste Audit results and all issues raised at meetings for future reference.
