Log InWhat is Environmental Waste Management?
POSTED ON January 6, 2022 | BY Uzair Iqbal
Landfills in the United States are filled with food and plastic waste, both of which are significant contributors to greenhouse gasses. With over 400 million tons of waste already in landfills, and hundreds of tons of waste generated annually, environmental waste management has evolved to improve disposal methods in a more ecologically friendly way. This includes recycling, diversion programs, and finding ways to use and reuse materials more productively over their entire life cycles.
Commercial property owners and facility managers are at the front line of these programs. And sustainable commercial waste management is essential for reducing landfill waste. But what exactly is environmental waste management?
Environmental Waste Management: How Can It Help?
The EPA defines environmental waste as “an unnecessary use of resources or a substance released to the air, water, or land that could harm human health or the environment.” This can include anything from construction materials to food scraps and everything in between. Creating an environmental waste management plan should include Sustainable Materials Management and consideration for the lifecycle of each material. This significantly reduces the impact of business waste on the environment and on human health.
Implementing Environmental Waste Management
A full overhaul of commercial waste management can be daunting, but there are small steps that will get the process started on the right foot. Get a baseline of how much waste is produced with a waste audit. A full audit won’t be a quick process, but it will help determine what type of diversion programs will be helpful in reducing or reusing the waste that’s generated at the facility. There are even smaller steps to reduce waste, such as switching to digital or online reporting, that help reduce the overall waste volume of the organization.
It’s not just commercial settings that benefit from environmental waste management. These concepts can be implemented in a variety of contexts. Check out our post on how to create a waste management plan for outdoor events.
Camera Technology for Waste Management
At ZTERS, we’ve implemented compology dumpster camera technology to help customers right-size their service levels and help prevent recycling contamination. Compology’s smart cameras embedded within dumpsters alert us to improper materials that don’t belong in trash or recycling dumpsters. This helps ZTERS proactively manage any contamination fees you may be charged.
Implementing technology and adjusting service levels to maximize efficiency isn’t just good for the environment, it also reduces costs by up to 30 percent. Implementing environmentally friendly solutions like camera technology improves a company’s Triple Bottom Line: the economic, environmental, and social markers that create a positive quality of life.
Read more about how to reduce your carbon footprint and don’t get discouraged! We’re here to help you find the environmental waste management plan that works for your business. To learn more or to get started with an account manager, give us a call today.