Five ways for businesses to reduce waste
Although recycling is a well-known practice that helps us bring a greener and more sustainable future, is your business recycling and are you recycling correctly?
Surprisingly, only about half of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) currently embrace recycling.
Recycling is important as it can significantly reduce your waste. This includes reducing the amount sent to landfills, preventing the release of harmful greenhouse gases and avoiding unnecessary soil and water pollution.
Recycling also plays an important role in conserving natural resources such as timber, minerals, and water, while also reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
What should businesses be recycling?
With many different materials being used in businesses, it can be difficult to know what can and cannot be recycled.
We have highlighted five commonly missed items that your business should be recycling.
Printer cartridges
Recycling ink cartridges makes a big difference. It saves more than two pounds of metal and plastic from landfill and saves about half a gallon of oil. You can recycle cartridges at most local printer supply shops.
Electronics
Most outdated computers, monitors, and printers can be recycled. If it has a plug, uses batteries or has a picture of a crossed-out wheelie bin on it, it can be recycled at a recycling centre or at an electrical retailer.
Paper
UK businesses use over 12.5 million tonnes of paper a year, with nearly half of it not being recycled each year (Unisan, 2023). Businesses can significantly lower this number with little effort by putting waste paper in the correct recycling bins.
Plastic
Putting plastic waste in the right bin makes sure that recyclable items are sorted and treated properly.
Find Biffa's seven types of plastic guide to find out each type of plastic, where you'll find it in your business and whether to recycle it.
Food
There are many sustainable options to avoid food waste at your business. You could arrange an organised food waste collection, kerbside collection or even consider donating it to reduce food waste and help those in need.
Businesses who make or sell food can experience financial benefits to reducing food waste as the more food that reaches the customer, the more profit a business can make.
Reducing food waste may have an initial financial cost due to buying new equipment or making changes to processes but overall, the economic benefits outweigh the upfront costs.
Improving your business’ recycling
By taking the initiative to address these commonly missed items and educating your team, your business can play a significant role in promoting a healthier environment and a more sustainable future.
Every small step makes a big impact on our planet.
Zellar
This article was written by Zellar, a community of people who are passionate about supporting UK businesses becoming more sustainable.