Waste disposal is an essential element of business operations. And yet, it’s often one of the most overlooked aspects of running a business. Why? Well, waste disposal is usually seen as an unpleasant task.
Or it’s because businesses are so focused on generating revenue that they forget about the potential cost savings achieved by adequately disposing waste.
Whatever the reason, the fact remains that waste disposal is essential and, when done correctly, can save businesses money. So, in this blog post, we’ll look at some of the best waste disposal solutions for businesses.
Types of Waste Businesses Can Have
Many different types of waste can be a primary concern for businesses. Each type of waste has its unique properties. Here are a few different types of trash that companies might encounter:
Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste is any material that can cause harm to humans or the environment when improperly handled. Hazardous waste can include chemicals, radioactive materials, and medical waste.
Solid Waste
Next, there is solid waste, any material that can be collected and disposed of in landfills or incinerators. Solid waste may include paper, plastic, glass, metal, wood, and food scraps.
Liquid Waste
Liquid waste is any liquid material that needs to be disposed of following local regulations. Examples of liquid waste include oil and chemical spills.
GreenWaste
When materials can be recycled or reused by businesses or individuals for environmental purposes, it’s called Green waste; examples of green waste include cardboard boxes and scrap metal.
Clinical Waste Disposal
The most dangerous type of medical waste is waste from clinics. It includes everything from blood samples to used syringes and needles. Clinical waste needs proper disposal because it could spread diseases.
Commercial Waste Disposal
Commercial waste is any trash that comes from a business or office. This includes paper, plastic cups, bottles, cans, and cardboard boxes. Commercial garbage trucks collect this trash weekly to take to a recycling centre or landfill for disposal.
Waste Disposal Solutions
Because there are various disposal service options, businesses have to find the best one for them. When choosing your waste disposal solution, it is essential to consider your goals.
For example, does your business want to become more sustainable? Or is your focus on reducing the cost of waste disposal? Understanding the needs of your business can help you decide.
Waste Disposal Solution #1: Recycling
Recycling is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce waste. Nearly 1/3 of all paper gets recycled each year. Your business can help that number grow by choosing to recycle more.
Regarding recycling, businesses have two options: either recycle their waste or hire a company to do it for them. Recycling may not be cost-effective if your business generates large waste. In this case, you might be better off hiring a company that specializes in recycling.
Waste Disposal Solution #2: Incineration
Incineration is another option for businesses that generate large amounts of waste. Incineration involves burning waste to reduce its volume. This method is especially effective for disposing of hazardous waste, such as medical waste or electronic waste.
One advantage of incineration over other waste disposal methods is that it can generate electricity. Some incineration plants are designed specifically for this purpose.
Waste Disposal Solution #3: Landfills
Landfills are the most common method of waste disposal. They’re also one of the least expensive options. Landfills are large tracts of land where businesses can dispose of their waste.
This method dumps trash into a hole in the ground covered with dirt and rocks. The garbage continues to decompose underground over time, creating methane gas as it does so. This gas can be used for energy or burned off instead of being released into the air.
While landfills are an effective way to dispose of waste, they have some drawbacks. For starters, they’re not very good for the environment. And secondly, there’s always the risk that hazardous materials will leak from the landfill and contaminate groundwater supplies.
Waste Disposal Solution #4: Dumpster Service
Another popular option is renting dumpsters from a company like Waste Management or Republic Services. This service allows businesses to dispose of their trash quickly. This works by having it picked up regularly by professionals who know how to handle hazardous materials.
The right company will know how to dispose of chemicals or medical waste properly. This method is excellent for companies producing large amounts of trash. Companies that have food products or construction debris are great examples.
However, it can get expensive if your business only produces small amounts of garbage at any time. Since there’s no way to use the service based on the quantity of trash made, you want to check the requirements.
Waste Disposal Solution #5 Composting
Another option for businesses is composting their organic waste instead of sending it to landfills or sewers. Composting involves mixing organic materials such as food scraps with soil to create rich fertilizers for gardens and landscaping projects. Composting is becoming more popular because it reduces pollution and cuts down on landfill costs for cities across the country.
Performing a Waste Audit
Before deciding on your company’s best waste disposal solution, performing a waste audit is a good idea. A waste audit is an inventory of all the materials and resources used by your business. It will help you see where you can change your workplace to reduce the amount of waste produced.
A waste audit will also provide information about the costs associated with disposing of different types of waste so that you can choose the most cost-effective option for your business.
One of the primary benefits of a waste audit is it helps reduce costs. Knowing how much money goes toward garbage disposal can help you make better decisions about how much money needs to be allocated for each trash disposal service.
For example, if recycling bins cost less than regular trash cans, you should start recycling more often. This will also help reduce the amount of landfill space needed for trash disposal. You will do your part in helping with sustainability.
That is possible because reducing waste also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions from trucks transporting garbage from one location to another.
Waste Disposal Solutions Your Business Can Count On!
There you have it! These are just a few of the best waste disposal solutions for businesses. Finding a solution that works best for your business and budget is the key to waste disposal. So whether you recycle, use landfill, or turn waste into compost, your business will benefit from having the right solution.
Contact us today if you want to learn more about the best waste disposal solution for your business!
