Waste not, want not

Daniel Peacey, Grundon Waste Management’s regional sales manager for the South West, has been considering how the hospitality and retail sector are managing their waste more effectively as businesses adjust to the post-lockdown ‘new normal’. 

Daniel says, “As we now navigate through recovery mode, venues, restaurants and retailers have been taking the necessary steps in their reopening plans to safely operate and welcome back customers.

“We’ve seen our South West based hospitality and retail clients challenged by the past 12 months, but they’re now seeing it as an opportunity to positively move their businesses forward.

“Throughout lockdown, services like waste management have been challenged due to curveballs and restrictions changing weekly. With more clarity around expectations and working practice, this summer is the time to review and fine tune internal services, making them work for your business.  

“Our six key points offer consideration about your current arrangements, showing how better planning and changing your waste management provider can provide real benefits to both your financial bottom line and your environmental credentials.

1. How flexible is your waste management supplier?

The coronavirus pandemic has taught us that you never know what is round the corner. The volumes of waste your business generates can change rapidly, alongside business seasonal trends. A good waste management company accommodates this and supports your business with flexible collections.

Ask them if you can be flexible with your collection schedule in line with the demands of your business. Additionally, see if they can carry our one-off or ad-hoc collections to meet your needs.

2. Identify your waste with an audit

What types and how much waste does your business produces? A waste audit with a reputable waste management company can help identify where waste is arising and what currently happens to it.

3. Review your waste bills

When auditing don’t just simply undertake a visual survey of your establishment, but also review your waste bills. Check volumes of different types of waste, where they are treated, and how much it costs. Possible alternatives could save you money.

4. Does your current service meet the requirements of your business?

Ask your waste provider to identify the best solution for each waste type. You need a full range of waste services with one point of contact throughout the process who guides you through the best options.

Annually, food waste costs the UK hospitality and food service sector an estimated £2.5 billion - equivalent to 1.3 billion meals. From restaurants to hotels and conference venues, corporate canteens, bars, pubs and cafés - each can benefit from better management of food waste.

Excess food comes in many forms - leftover lunches, meals returned to the kitchen and, of course, in food preparation areas. Whatever the scenario, the solution is simple.

Most food can be disposed of via general waste bins and ends up in landfill. This heavy food waste means establishments incur excess charges for waste collection and increased costs in Landfill Tax charges.

This doesn’t help those who wish to achieve the goal of zero waste to landfill and, additionally, as food biodegrades, it releases harmful greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.

Segregating food waste and setting up dedicated collections with your waste supplier avoids this harmful environmental impact, saving money.

One of our customers, a large hotel with hospitality area, uses segregation to remove mixed recyclable materials, food and glass from their general waste. Within the first four months of operating this segregated process the hotel’s general waste weight reduced from 450kg a week to 140kg. This change boosted their environmental credentials and was reflected in lower waste management costs, saving them around £100 per week.

This greener approach meant the food waste sent to Anaerobic Digestion facilities generates green electricity for the National Grid, creating a fertiliser for local farms. Mixed recycling and glass are sent on for reprocessing into new recycled products.

5. Increase segregation and reduce contamination

Segregation matters, so find a waste supplier who provides a variety of bins and containers both for indoors in food preparation and bar areas and outdoors. Clearly label these to show what can and can’t be thrown away. Make it easy for everyone – both employees and customers alike.

Getting the right waste into the right container will impact your waste management performance. Additionally, it reduces the contamination of waste streams, which can then have a detrimental effect on cost savings.

6. Regular reporting helps with reviewing performance

Diverting waste from landfill, increasing recycling and segregating different types of waste ensures our customers achieve considerable financial savings. A good waste management provider gives accurate data on your waste, from reporting tonnages collected, recycling rates, or waste diverted from landfill for energy recovery and associated carbon and cost savings.

For more information about how you can boost your environmental performance and reduce the costs of your waste management, please contact sales.bristol@grundon.com or call us 01172 350 423.