Waste management tips for facilities managers

Reconomy has given some advice on how facilities managers can save their organisations a lot of money regarding waste management whilst improving performance.

Waste management is an area that has the potential to present significant challenges for facilities managers, but a proactive approach can make a real difference. A robust waste management plan could repay you in time and cost savings.

Facilities managers must work proactively and anticipate problems before they have a significant impact on profitability and efficiency. If you find yourself reacting to waste issues as opposed to heading them off, much of the damage is likely to already have been done.

Aside from the obvious bottom-line impact of overspending on supplies, there are also significant consequences for the environment, with much of the waste ending up in landfill.

In light of this, Reconomy has given these tips to help maximise an effective waste management approach.

First of all, identify problems and solve them instantly. Ensure that as little waste as possible is generated. Equipment that may be cheaper may not prove to be when considering waste-disposal and replacement costs, whilst small but more frequent orders could be preferred to over-ordering.

It is important for facilities managers to seek input from staff around them, as they maybe able to highlight health and safety issues, therefore helping to limit unnecessary waste generation.

As well as this, it is important that you work closely with your suppliers. Consider what kind of service your suppliers are offering and ask yourself questions such as, will they take back unwanted stock? Will they offer you the flexibility to change the size or timing of orders if necessary?

Reusing and recycling is a given: serious consideration should be given to whether any excess materials could be used elsewhere in the organisation, for example on future projects.

Ultimately, it is vital that you plan ahead, as opposed to being reactive and that strategies are devised to deal with the most serious sources of waste. Collaboration is also key, with both fellow members of staff and your suppliers.