A quick guide to waste management at work

by Craig Pryce June 16, 2021

Now that the country is starting to gain a sense of normality and people are returning to work, it is essential to understand how to effectively manage different types of waste at work.

Whether you work in an office, or a shop, managing your waste is crucial to protecting the environment and creating a tidy workspace.

This article will focus on how you can reduce and manage your waste at work while giving general recycling tips to help you achieve a more sustainable lifestyle.

Why does waste management matter?

Everywhere around the world, waste is consistently produced. If this waste isn’t managed effectively, it will impact public health and the environment.

For example, if waste is dropped on the street, it can be blown into the sea or rivers. Once in the water, it pollutes the area and poses a health risk to wildlife.

By managing waste effectively, we can avoid toxins polluting the environment and correctly dispose of different types of litter.

How can I reduce the waste I create at work?

When you’re at work, it is easy to produce a lot of excess waste that could otherwise be avoided.

Below are some ways to reduce the waste you create at work.

Make your own lunch and use a reusable container

By prepping your lunch in advance, you avoid buying meal deals that are full of single-use plastic. In addition, if you store your lunch in a lunchbox or Tupperware, you can take it home and wash it, which again cuts down on waste.

Set printers to double-sided

If possible, set all printers in the building to double-sided. This is a more environmentally conscious choice as less paper is used.

Alongside this, try to set the print quality to “draft”. Ink will be saved, which lowers costs, and fewer cartridges are thrown away.

Set up a carrier bag sharing point

Create a point in the office or staff room (ideally near the door) and have a selection of plastic carrier bags to choose.

This saves staff members from buying plastic bags when they go out and will encourage reusable options.

Separate your waste effectively

By sorting your waste, the amount of litter that needs processing is reduced. Make sure you put any recyclable items, such as glass bottles and plastic, into the recycle bin, food in a compost bin (if you have it), and shred any confidential waste.

It is important to remember that someone could go through your rubbish if they are bin diving, so by shredding confidential waste, you are protecting information. Alternatively, you could purchase a wheelie bin with a lock on it.

Where should different types of waste go at work?

Depending on the industry you’re in, you can buy different types of wheelie bins for various types of waste.

There are the standard two-wheeled wheelie bins which are available in a plethora of colours and sizes. As long as your waste removal company and other staff members know which bin should hold different types of waste, you can choose the colours you prefer. For example, in many places, green is a recycling bin.

Another option is commercial bins. Here at Wheelie Bin Solutions, we have a vast selection of commercial bins available. Our most popular sizes for commercial wheelie bins range from 240 litre to 1100 litre. Commercial waste bins are built for outdoor use, so they are weather-resistant and hardwearing.

Closing thoughts

At whatever business you work for or own, different types of waste will be generated. We all must take responsibility for this and dispose of waste correctly.

If you want to get in touch about wheelie bins as a waste solution, contact us here.

Craig Pryce

With over 17 years of experience in the waste and recycling industry, Craig is passionate about making recycling easier and reducing the negative impact of litter. He has been the managing director of Wheelie Bin Solutions (WBS) since January 2016, and prides the company on his expert knowledge, top-quality products, and customer service. His proudest moment was when WBS supported the 2012 Olympic Games, working in partnership with Contenur UK to supply over 9000 bin containers to all Olympic venues. Craig is always keen to share his knowledge, so whether you need advice about the benefits of a wheelie bin lock, or ideas for alternative uses for your wheelie bin, Craig will ensure your recycling and waste disposal habits are gold medal worthy.