Client
Precision Instruments and Services Manufacturer in California
Summary
Great Forest’s data-driven solutions helped this manufacturer reduce plastic packaging going to the landfill by 40 percent, and organics by 11 percent. This put the manufacturer back on track towards circularity.
Challenge
A Northern California manufacturing facility approached Great Forest for help to drive waste reduction, diversion, and circularity efforts. Great Forest conducted on-site waste stream and infrastructural assessments, which revealed the following:
- Packaging plastics represented over 40 percent of the audited landfill waste, and spools of shrink wrap were observed to be significantly underutilized.
- The organics dumpster was not right-sized for the amount of organic material being generated at the facility, resulting in most organic material being sent to the landfill.
Great Forest Solution
- Packaging plastics: Great Forest recommended formalizing a staging area to source-separate plastic film, utilizing the cardboard baler to bale the film plastics, and identifying a recycler for this material.
- Organics: Great Forest worked with the hauler to adjust the size of the organics dumpster and service schedule to ensure efficiency and diversion maximization, and provide ample, clear opportunities to collect and store organic waste throughout the facility.
Results
- Packaging plastics: ~40 percent reduction in the landfill stream, 11 percent increase in total waste diversion
- Organics: ~11 percent reduction in the landfill stream, 3 percent increase in total waste diversion