Barry Bolton, ACM Waste Management.
Every property will have its own unique characteristics and possibilities in relation to waste management and recycling, but any experienced waste management company should anticipate this and tailor a solution accordingly.
Each site will need to be independently surveyed to ensure that site-specific circumstances and local availability of recycling services are considered before setting up a long-term waste strategy.
However, it is certainly possible to set a minimum environmental standard throughout your estate and still expect to achieve economies of scale. Rationalising your supply base and diverting waste from landfill are critical in reducing waste disposal costs and environmental impact.
From October 2007, businesses will no longer be able to send waste to landfill without some form of pre-treatment. Waste producers will have to ensure that their waste is being reduced, recycled or recovered in some form and that landfill is the absolute last resort. For most of us, this means that recycling is now virtually mandatory and therefore one of the first processes to consider when reviewing your waste management operation.
In addition to the efficiencies this offers, I believe that there are also brand-enhancement opportunities. Climate change is now almost constantly in the news and, with the draft Climate Change Bill published last week (13 March), there is a clear opportunity for businesses to show their commitment to protecting our planet.
For a household-name business, such as a national hotel chain, this is also an excellent way of attracting new customers and investors as people increasingly look to choose environmentally aware brand names.
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