The contribution of waste to climate change is undeniable, as most of it ends up in landfills, affecting the environment. Paper, plastics and food generate millions of tons of waste yearly, and experts predict these quantities will increase as the population expands.
The United Nations forecasts we’ll reach 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion around 2080, so waste generation will boom as well. But how can we manage this pressure, considering the already seen effects of climate change, in addition to the world’s economic and political instability?
Tackling waste is essential to slow down the influence of greenhouse gases on the planet, as well as changing the economy into a circular one. For that, companies must collaborate in a coordinated effort to change their strategies for manufacturing, distribution and the use of products. However, managing waste should not be forgotten, which is why new regulations enter the legislation. Let’s see how you should address them.
UK’s New Regulations for Achieving Net-Zero Emissions
The UK is one of the many European countries targeting 2050 to reach net-zero emissions, and it’s taking several steps to achieve it. For example, some of the newest regulations on waste for business compel companies to:
- choose a licensed carrier for a separate collection. This applies to companies with ten or more employees whose weekly food waste exceeds five kilograms; and
- work with licensed waste carriers for dry mixed recyclables (DMR) like paper, plastics, and metal, and be separated from general waste.
Every industry should separate commercial waste in order to comply with regulations and not receive fines and penalties. Solutions like Mil-tek can help businesses stay on top of these guidelines. At the same time, following the rules helps build a healthy company culture and aids in the brand image for customers who prioritize climate change.
What Does this Change Imply?
While the new regulation isn’t that dramatic, some companies are still a step behind and might need to restructure their management strategy. This means new:
- operational approaches, or new bins and containers needed for effective waste separations;
- waste monitoring processes to meet recycling targets; and
- waste disposal budgets in accordance with landfill charges or recycling station expenses.
While small businesses might initially face challenges, the change is necessary for the business sector because it sets a healthy target. All companies must contribute to a healthy environment, as continuous landfill occupation will eventually affect our food, our ecosystems, and our health. The World Health Organization estimates that the costs of health damages will reach as much as four billion dollars per year by 2030.
Four Steps to Better Waste Management in 2025
Most of these regulations will be validated by the 1st of April 2025, so your small business should catch up and deploy a strategy for better waste management. The first step to solving this problem is conducting a waste audit, which means:
- assembling a responsible team;
- determining the company’s waste categories;
- invest in all the necessary tools;
- learn to sort the waste; and
- analyze and report results.
The audit is important, but finding a reliable waste management provider is what makes the difference. Work only with certified waste management companies to ensure waste ends up where it needs to be in accordance with your sorting.
Of course, training your staff on the new regulations is essential to knowing you’re making a difference and complying with the law. All employees must know how to read labels for the plastics or cardboard they use and discard food properly.
Finally, look for the right bins and containers for your waste. Special bins are needed for hazardous, inert, and e-waste.
What are the Long-Term Benefits of Managing Commercial Waste?
Besides complying with the law and not receiving fines, small businesses could greatly benefit from proper waste management strategies. For example, recycling and enhancing resource utilization could reduce waste disposal fees.
Your business can also become more efficient as the proper time allocation for waste management will leave enough time for other essential tasks. In addition, you increase your brand reputation by actively contributing to a safe environment.
Adequate waste management can trigger community engagement, so spreading awareness on the matter makes a difference. Some companies also organize events to teach waste management freely to those interested.
Can Your Small Business Overcome the Challenges of Waste Management?
Unfortunately, things are not that straightforward when it comes to waste management or recycling, so your small business might encounter several problems. The biggest one is the lack of proper disposal and collection infrastructure. Despite the new regulations, the UK isn’t doing so well in terms of infrastructure and project development, especially in sectors like maintenance backlogs and out-of-date IT systems.
That’s why the lack of technological advances and adoption hinders this movement. Many areas of the UK (and the world) can barely acquire functional hardware and software solutions, so they’re left with traditional systems and a clutter of paper to tackle operations.
Another problem is that the upfront financial constraint for waste management might be a bit too much for a small business. This leads to littering and inefficient recycling, but lessening the budgets for waste management companies would turn them back to square one. This is why adequate budgeting could help small businesses.
Finally, changing consumer preferences will always pose challenges to business manufacturing. Products become out of date quite quickly, so companies must innovate as fast as possible to appeal to new trends and demands. Fast fashion is responsible for most landfilling, as companies change their designs about every two weeks. For instance, Inditex is being held accountable for rising freight emissions from transport.
Is Your Company Ready for New Waste Management Regulations?
The UK introduced new waste regulations for companies. These regulations tackle food waste and the need to separate plastic, cardboard, and glass much more efficiently, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. While this ambitious goal might be doable, businesses must increase their focus on waste management, conduct more audits of their materials, and increase their budgets for recycling.
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