How to Write a Waste Management Plan
Waste management is the first step in any business's sustainability strategy. A well-executed plan will cover your company's needs and keep your mind at ease, knowing that your waste management is under control.
Your plan can protect the environment and the company from the consequences of illegal or unreported waste disposal practices.
What Is a Waste Management Plan?
A waste management plan is a company's guide to waste disposal. It aims to prevent hazardous waste accumulation on your premises which could lead to you losing your business license. The waste disposal program is not only essential for supporting the environment, but it also helps businesses create viable systems for recycling and reuse.
Why Is a Waste Management Plan Necessary?
The primary goal of a waste management plan is to prevent hazardous waste accumulation and illegal dumping (or any other potentially dangerous actions) by your employees.
A waste management plan is necessary because the EPA has outlined waste management rules and laws. Your waste management plan gives your company a stable foundation to follow these guidelines and safely deal with waste.
Adopting a waste management plan gives an organized approach to handling all your company's waste, which may involve recycling, reusing, or disposal of hazardous compounds and biodegradable materials.
The waste disposal program should aim to minimize the trash and be environmentally friendly without compromising your company’s profitability.
6 Easy Steps to Write a Waste Management Plan
A waste management plan should be simple and concise, leaving little room for mistakes. The following are the six easy steps to explain how to write a waste management plan with your company.
Conduct a Waste Audit
The first step in the process of how to write a waste management plan is to perform a waste audit. You’ll need to assess your company's processes, products, and services to get a broad overview of the amount of waste your business produces. During this stage, look for ways to reduce, reuse and recycle your company's trash.
When auditing your business operations, you should consider hiring a consultant or an expert specializing in commercial waste management services. The audit may help you determine whether there are any opportunities to lower your expenses, such as by reducing the number of products used by your company or finding cost-effective ways to recycle non-reusable items.
Set Achievable Objectives and Time Frames
During the audit, try to create a list of goals for your waste management plan with achievable objectives to ensure favorable results. These goals will enable you to measure your progress in meeting standards maintained by the EPA and other regulatory bodies.
For instance, you can aim to reduce your waste by 50 percent over two years, followed by 25 percent in the next year. Make sure to allocate time frames for your waste management plan to stick to your schedule.
Come Up With a Waste Management System
When considering how to write a waste management plan, you’ll need to develop a system that covers all your company's waste. The effectiveness of a system will depend on many factors, including product selection and management, collection, processing, and disposal practices.
Your team will want to conduct a focus group meeting to come up with practical strategies for an effective waste disposal program.
The meeting should have a clear vision, with the primary goal being to develop an effective waste management plan that integrates all the elements of your business operations. During this process, establish procedures for when you produce or dispose of hazardous substances and verify whether they comply with current regulations.
Write a waste disposal program that covers most of the issues that come with the industry. Such matters include providing incentives for customers to purchase recycled goods and opting for eco-friendly products over others to increase the long-term profitability of the company's business.
Follow the 5 R’s of Waste Management
A comprehensive waste management plan will follow the five “R’s:”
Reduce by minimizing the number of materials used by your company.
Recycle by turning waste materials into resources.
Reuse or refill the containers and equipment your company uses regularly.
Repurpose involves the reuse or disposal of wastes by turning them into new resources of some kind.
Rot involves curing, composting, and mulching food and organic wastes.
Handle Hazardous Waste Cautiously
Hazardous waste is any liquid or solid material that can be potentially converted into toxic substances when exposed to natural elements, such as air or water. Some dangerous wastes include liquid paints, cleaning fluids, and acetone.
All hazardous compounds should be in secure containers or tanks. These tanks must be handled carefully as they could leak harmful materials into the environment if not properly sealed. In this case, you’d benefit from having a local collection facility handle the waste cautiously as part of your waste management plan.
Keep Track of Your Waste Management System
Maintaining a waste management plan can be overwhelming at first. One step to keep on top of things is to track how much waste you produce, how often you recycle and use, and what procedures and methods you use to dispose of your garbage. You can record the details in a log book for your waste management plan.
This sheet will contain details such as the type of waste produced, the amount generated, the date each material got disposed of, and any information regarding the process. The log should also note what recycling methods are used by your company and the amount collected per month.
At the end of each month or week, check if your company produces less waste than before.
Get Started On Your Waste Management Plan
Knowing how to write a waste management plan is only the first step. It is a continuous procedure that your company must carry out to ensure compliance with regulatory bodies and keep the environment clean. With this program in place, you can count on reduced expenses and increased health security for your company's business and the environment.
At WIN Waste Innovations, we provide high-quality waste management services for businesses in the Greater Columbus, Ohio region and surrounding cities. Contact our team today to get advice from an expert about writing your waste management plan.