Log In5 Ways to Save on Commercial Waste
POSTED ON March 3, 2020 | BY Dan Studer
Property owners and facility managers often have to streamline to save on commercial waste. How often do you analyze how much money you throw away with the garbage? Commercial waste is costly. From wasted paper and packaging, to disposing of appliances and pieces of furniture, your company may spend hundreds of thousands of dollars annually on commercial waste services. Here are five ways you can analyze your output and save on commercial waste.
1. Create a “Green Team”
Create a committee or a team of people within your facility to evaluate and reduce overall waste. For example, 70% of office waste is paper products. If you manage an office building, ask your Green Team to find ways to reduce paper waste in the office. There are many ways this can be done. Start with these ideas:
- Set the printer defaults to print double-sided pages.
- Send electronic copies of presentations before meetings (and skip the paper versions).
- Encourage staff to re-use manila envelopes and file folders.
- Update your mailing lists regularly to prevent direct mail and mailers from being returned undeliverable.
- Create a culture of sustainability through trainings, office reminders, and recycling bins.
2. Save on commercial waste by shopping providers
If your facility is located in a large urban area, you may have several choices of commercial waste providers. If that’s the case, then you’re in a good position to negotiate a more competitive contract for your commercial waste service. Whether or not you’re in a competitive area, a commercial waste broker may be able to find you a more affordable solution.
You can also do some research by asking other owners and property managers about their waste services. What do other facilities pay for their commercial waste management, and what’s included in their rates? It pays to contact a nationwide waste service company like ZTERS, because we help companies find custom waste solutions across hundreds of properties every day. We understand prevailing rates and services nationwide, and we can help you find the right products and service schedule for all your facilities.
3. Analyze dumpster usage, downsize if necessary
Chances are, your company doesn’t fill its dumpster to the top before the dumpster is picked up. Ask your Green Team to measure your weekly dumpster usage and keep records about how full (or not full) your dumpster is before each pickup.
If space in your dumpster is often wasted, downgrade your dumpster size or request fewer pickups. Analyze the number of dumpsters your company uses, as well as the size of the dumpsters. If you’re paying for two small dumpsters, you might save money by consolidating to one larger dumpster.
Review prices with your waste services company and decide what size and type of dumpster is right for your business. Then decide how many times your dumpsters need to be serviced per month. Sometimes reducing the frequency of dumpster service will reduce costs without causing a waste buildup problem.
4. Share the cost with neighboring businesses
Smaller facilities often don’t produce enough waste to make dumpster service cost effective. These companies often pay for more dumpster service than they need because waste companies have high minimum service levels.
What if you could share your dumpster with a neighbor and split the cost? If your facility is near other small property owners or small businesses, find out if another property owner or manager would like to share a dumpster. When making these arrangements, be sure to read the waste service contract carefully and discuss each aspect of the contract with the neighboring owner. Communication is key when entering into an agreement with another party.
5. Recycle
In some areas, even with the ebb and flow of the recycling industry, recycling costs can be lower than waste disposal. Create a culture of sustainability in your facility and encourage occupants to recycle whenever possible. Talk to your waste service provider about your recycling options and come up with a plan that reduces the cost of waste pickup. Some materials can be sold for scrap or otherwise traded or sold to reduce your overall commercial waste costs.
Commercial waste disposal doesn’t have to break the bank. To find out more about how you can save on commercial waste costs, call our commercial waste division. We’re glad to analyze your waste stream and find a solution that’s right for your budget.