As it’s National Garden Week, we want to show you how simple it is to improve your business’s recycling, as this is the largest problem in the UK. Businesses around the UK contribute massively to our landfills. Commercial and industrial waste is estimated to have contributed around 33.6 million tonnes annually to UK landfills, adding to greenhouse gas emissions.
There are many simple ways your business can reduce its waste to landfill, and it doesn’t have to be as daunting and confusing as you may think. Here is 5 simple ways to improve your recycling.
1. Conduct a simple waste audit
It’s important to establish what you want to learn and what you want to improve. Set out simple goals to ensure you stay on track, and focus on tackling one thing at a time! Don’t make things too difficult for yourself from the get go, keep it simple and work your way up!
Start with ‘identify recyclable materials being thrown away’ or ‘ensure more recycling bins and placed and used by staff throughout your environment’. Using simple things like this gets the ball rolling and gradually begins the change.
2. Employee education and engagement
Behaviour change requires knowledge. It’s important you tell your staff why you’re doing this and why it’s important. Powerful statistics can be helpful and eye-opening to help you get your point across.
Offer quick learning by putting up simple posters and labelling bins. Such as this:
You can reward habits and offer incentives for recycling. This can be simple things such as a recycling wall of fame, gift cards, or reusable coffee cups!
It may be helpful to appoint people to keep an eye on recycling within their department, to ensure everyone stays on track.
3. Clear and consistent bin labelling
If your waste system is confusing, it is likely to become contaminated. You can use colour coding or labelling to ensure it is obvious which waste goes where.
Placing labels and signs at eye level or on the bin lid, makes it easier foe people to spot.
Here’s how we can help! ♻️
Our TUFF 50L Wheelie Bins are ideal for waste separation, their colours are ideal for segregating waste. There are multiple sizes available for outdoor use, too.
Our Rubbermaid bin is ideal for clear waste separation in the workplace. They make it easy for the user to see which waste should be placed where.
These bins are sold in sets of 3, with colour coding and waste labels. There are 2 colour variations available to ensure waste is separately collected.
It’s important to ensure your environment is filled with bins in each eating area, as well as around walkways. This gives people no excuse to correctly dispose of their waste. This also prevents littering.
4. Reduce contamination
When something is recyclable, but is contaminated with leftover food or something else that isn’t recyclable, it is no longer able to be recycled. This means that even if you recycle these items, they will be removed and sent to a landfill.
The most common mistake like this is food packaging with food still left on it. Such as jam jars, plastic bottles, takeaway trays and more. It’s important that if you’re encouraging recycling, you also inform people that they must wash their waste if it is dirty.
5. Track and share progress
Transparency creates morale and builds accountability. When people are putting effort into something, they like to see how things are improving. You can post monthly recycling stats in the break room or kitchen, such as ‘50% waste reduction this quarter’ or new tips and encouragement to continue.
It’s always good to show your recycling on social media, it’s something to brag about, so show others what you’re doing to help the environment!
Kit out your workplace! 🚮
If you’re looking for a large number of bins to begin your recycling journey, you’re in the right place. We can offer free site visits to help you choose the best solution for your space. There are also large order discounts available, so why wait?
Our large range of Recycling and Waste products are available on our website!