‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ is a term used across the waste industry and in sustainability policies around the world. At Great Western Recycling we too operate according to zero waste to landfill aims, helping businesses in England reduce the waste they send to landfill and reducing the negative impacts we collectively have on the environment. So, the burning question is, how to achieve zero waste to landfill?
In this guide we will break down what it means, the strategies it involves, and how regular businesses can achieve zero waste to landfill. How to Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill
What is Zero Waste to Landfill?
As the name suggests, it is the policy of sending no waste to landfill. The incentives for doing so and the extent varies across businesses and scenarios, however, the general philosophy has become a popular waste policy for organisations and households across the globe.
Zero waste to landfill is achieved using numerous methods, including increased recycling and exploring alternative management of general waste, as will be explained below, all with the purpose of preventing waste from ending up in landfill.
Benefits of Zero Waste to Landfill
There are many benefits to diverting waste from landfill, especially for businesses.
- Landfill has negative effects. Landfill sites are notoriously bad for the environment, especially local ecosystems, which become contaminated with pollutants from landfill, thus damaging plant and animal life. By reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill, businesses help to conserve life systems and limit emissions from these sites.
- Save money. It is cheaper for businesses to recycle waste than it is to landfill; landfill rates are intentionally higher to discourage use. Zero waste to landfill initiatives also often lead to more effective use (or reuse) of materials, as well as possible revenue streams from selling recyclable waste.
- Increased recycling. When businesses actively reduce landfill waste, recycling rates usually go up, which in itself has many benefits such as the preservation of raw materials.
- Environmental policy. Consumers seek out businesses with positive environmental impacts. Therefore, achieving zero waste to landfill is appealing for businesses to proudly show off. In fact, businesses can even be certified as zero waste to landfill – for example, by The Carbon Trust.
- Alternative waste management. General waste is dealt with in alternative methods when diverted from landfills with less negative effects on the environment. By diverting more, these methods are tried and used more, helping to create long-term options and norms for waste management.
Zero Waste to Landfill Policies & Strategies
The policy of zero waste to landfill means the diversion of all waste from landfill. In the beginning, it is more a goal for businesses to strive towards, as it may be tough to instantly cut out all landfill waste. However, any step to reduce waste to landfill is positive, even if diversion rates are not 100%.
In the next section, we explain steps businesses can take to reduce their waste-to- landfill rates.
Using a waste management provider like Great Western Recycling can help to ensure all waste is properly diverted from landfill as they have connections and partnerships within a trusted chain of waste handling, streamlining the process for customers. Within this process of collection and transport to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), third-party waste handlers facilitate the management of general waste that cannot be recycled and would otherwise be sent to landfill.
General waste that cannot be recycled must be alternatively managed to prevent it from landfill, the most common strategy being ‘energy from waste’ through Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF). In this process, general waste is shredded and burnt as fuel to create electricity. The energy produced is considered ‘green’ as any emission produced is minimal in comparison with the negative effects of burning limited fossil fuels for energy.
Find out more about Great Western Recycling’s environmental policy and zero waste-to-landfill commitment, including how we achieve general waste diversion through recycling and RDF.
How to Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill
Audit Waste
Waste auditing is a critical first step to any waste management strategy or policy, providing a good understanding and overview of waste created including types and amounts. Businesses should audit their waste, including various streams and weights produced, and then find solutions to waste management that suit their exact waste requirements.
It is also possible that by ‘dumpster-diving’ revelations will be made about waste streams that are being improperly disposed of, or large amounts of waste that could simply be avoided.
See more: Waste Management Audits – Everything You Need to Know About Waste Management Audits
Consult the Waste Hierarchy
The waste hierarchy is a fundamental framework for the sustainable management of waste. It lays out various methods for disposing of waste in order of desirability (for the environment), with ‘prevention’ and ‘reuse’ at the top and landfill as the final, least desirable, option.
Businesses in the UK should follow the hierarchy in their waste management approach. Prevention should not be overlooked as a key stage in environmentally friendly waste management. We’ve got top tips for businesses that want to reduce business waste.
Enlist a Third Party
Waste management providers, like Great Western Recycling, unite all aspects of waste management in one package, simplify the process, and create one single point for billing. Enlisting a third-party provider streamlines waste transport maximises recovery, includes container hire, and regiments collections, and is tailored to your business’s individual needs. Not only is this convenient for businesses and effective for landfill waste diversions, but also significant in reducing carbon emissions with fewer vehicles transporting waste on the roads.
Check out Great Western Recycling’s services and find out how we can make your waste management of all waste streams hassle-free, cost-effective, and zero waste to landfill!
Sort Waste Streams
It is a commercial waste producer’s responsibility to separate waste streams on-site. This involves separating general waste from dry mixed recycling. From this, the separate waste is taken to an MRF for further sorting, baling, and then transporting for final recycling processing. Taking care to properly separate waste using assigned waste containers quickens this process and ensures all recyclable materials end up being recycled.
Source Recyclable Materials
Businesses can look to source goods and products more sustainably by turning to suppliers that use recyclable materials, and carbon offset schemes, and offer recycling help. Adjusting suppliers and changing the materials brought onto the site can help to prevent the creation of non-recyclable waste contributing to landfill.
Raise Awareness
In order for waste management strategies and zero waste-to-landfill rates to be sustained over time, it’s key that practices are taught to everyone involved. Within a workplace or business space, the goal is to make recycling, waste separation, and other waste best practices become the norm.
Regular training seminars, clear signage, recycling incentives, dedicated bins for waste streams, initiatives to reduce single-use plastics and more can all ensure a zero waste to landfill business maintains its status.
Achieve Zero Waste to Landfill with Great Western Recycling
We help businesses across the South West of England and Wales achieve zero waste to landfill with expert waste management strategy, our own expansive fleet of vehicles, trusted partners, and tailored consultancy. By enabling efficient recycling and generating green electricity with non-recyclable waste, we successfully divert all waste streams from landfill.
Become a zero-waste-to-landfill business and benefit from a seamless, environmentally friendly, cost-effective waste management solution with Great Western Recycling. Get in touch today!