Effective waste Management To Support Your ESG Goals

Effective Waste Management to support your ESG goals

Did you know, having an innovative and effective waste management service can support your business in reaching it’s ESG goals, achieving zero to landfill and reducing your carbon footprint, but how?

What is an effective waste and environmental management service?

For those who don’t know, waste management these days doesn’t necessarily look like a bin lorry visiting site once a week and removing your waste in one go.

An effective waste and environmental management service will conduct a thorough waste assessment of your premises, analysing the types and quantities of waste generated, potential areas for waste reduction, and assessing recycling opportunities. Based on this assessment, recommendations and strategies to optimise waste management practices should be discussed, such as efficient waste collection schedules, proper waste segregation methods, and guidelines for implementing recycling and repurposing initiatives to ensure an effective and sustainable waste management system.

Assessment of individual waste streams can identify opportunities for reuse and recycling, for example, cardboard and plastic. Firstly a route to reuse any waste stream would be the ideal solution. Some waste types will even attract rebates from companies willing to buy waste in order to manufacture and upcycle into new products. The second solution would be to recycle your waste streams. This can be done by individual waste stream and also via a mixed recycling route at a refuse recycling centre. The final option would be to send any general waste that cannot be recycled or repurposed, through a specialised waste-to-energy conversion process. This method involves harnessing the energy contained within the waste to generate power utilising advanced technologies, waste can then be transformed into a valuable resource, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy alternatives. Food waste too, can be converted into biogas and then energy through the process of anaerobic digestion, ensuring all waste is diverted from landfill.

While recycling should be a priority, there may still be some waste that cannot be recycled or repurposed. In such cases, they should be disposed of in a responsible manner, adhering to all relevant regulations and guidelines. Working with certified waste management facilities and disposal sites, any residual waste can be handled properly, minimising environmental harm whilst still diverting all waste from landfill.

Award winning examples of innovative waste management solutions

Through our zero-to-landfill policy for our customers, the Floorbrite Group’s, Waste and Environmental Management Division are able to share some amazing, award-winning stories to inspire other businesses to do the same.

Since 2015 we have diverted all waste from landfill at Duo Plastics. Amongst other solutions, the introduction of a recycling scheme on site to reuse cardboard cores in their manufacturing process, and installing a compaction and bailing machine, has reduced their waste and skip collections each year from 650 to 38, reducing transportation costs and C02 around the site also, and in turn reducing their carbon footprint.

At Carrington power station, the pump houses create a sludge over time which had previously been classified as hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is expensive and difficult to remove. Samples were sent to our labs for chemical analysis, who were able to determine the sludge was non-hazardous and merely organic waste and water. This waste is now spread on land and returned to its natural environment. Additionally, the site took delivery of 300 plastic milk bottles each week, creating a large waste issue. Our consultant advised the installation of a cool vending machine to take a bulk delivery of milk each week which eliminated the requirement of plastic bottles in their entirety.

A site in Lancashire creates a large amount of waste sand in their process. Previously over 6,000 tonnes went to landfill each year. However, following six months of chemical analysis Floorbrite now have several disposal points including one to recapture the waste sand to a quarry, bringing it back into its natural habitat and another into building products.

And finally TIP trailers refurbishes lorry trailers and has sites across the UK. Previously all waste lorry curtains were sent to landfill. However, we now work with a contractor that recycles these trailer curtains. They are washed and cut into sample sizes and sent to Switzerland to be manufactured into waterproof backpacks and fashion bags. Any curtains not up to specific standards are sent to Africa for sheltering.

By aligning with our customer’s goals and objectives, Floorbrite ensures an effective and sustainable waste management system.

Floorbrite actively promotes recycling initiatives and supports customers in implementing effective recycling programs. We educate and engage employees, providing training on proper waste segregation and recycling practices. The team assists in setting up recycling stations and ensuring the availability of designated bins for different recyclable materials.

New POPs legislation affecting office furniture waste

What is POPs? Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of organic compounds that have toxic properties, persist in the environment, accumulate in food chains and pose a risk to human health and the environment.

The Environment Agency has warned councils that they must now incinerate all upholstered waste domestic seating after an investigation found large levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in seating textiles and foams. Waste upholstered domestic seating containing POPs must not be landfilled, mixed with other non-POPs-containing wastes, reused or recycled. The furniture affected includes all upholstered waste sofas, office chairs and bean bags, for example. These items must be sent for incineration or used as a fuel in, for example, a cement kiln.

Many companies are still not aware of this change in legislation; however it can cause a costly issue as waste management companies will now refuse skip transportation if contaminated by upholstered office furniture. However, the Floorbrite Group are able to remove these items from site, strip down the components such as wood and metal for recycling and dispose of the foam and upholstered elements in a safe way.

For more information about any of the above please contact waste@floorbrite.co.uk

By Nina Wyers, Marketing & Brand Director at The Floorbrite Group

Floorbrite is a 2nd generation family business providing commercial cleaning, specialist cleaning, window cleaning, washroom, hygiene and consumable supplies, waste and environmental management, pest control, plants and grounds maintenance, security and high-level building access solutions. With 50 years industry experience, Floorbrite has grown to become one of the leading soft service providers in the UK FM sector.