Gauge the efficiency of your waste and recycling program with just one look? Yes, it is possible.
You can get a quick idea of what is happening by just glancing around you. Everyone can do this simple eyeball test. Go on. Take a look around you now. What do you see?
If you see waste and recycling bins at each desk:
- 62% of what your business is throwing away is likely NOT trash at all.
- You are probably paying too much for waste disposal, and paying to throw away materials that can be diverted from the landfill instead.
“The waste and recycling setup in a typical office consists of bins at each desk. This traditional system is inefficient, but it is what people are familiar with, and what they see in many offices. So they don’t question it, and they may not even know that there is a better alternative,” says Great Forest CEO Jackson Shulman.
If you do NOT see waste and recycling bins at each desk:
Then you MAY be one of the offices leading the way with a centralized waste bin system. Congratulations! But your eyeball check should also look out for other signs.
Other warning signs of inefficiency
These may include:
- overflowing bins
- an inordinate amount of recyclables in waste bins
- no proper signage and instructions
Confirm the results of your eyeball test
Your eyeball test is just the start. Whichever system you have right now, you need to monitor it in order to optimize your office waste management. You need to:
- Conduct a waste audit. A waste audit will confirm your eyeball test with data you need to make informed decisions.
Learn about the centralized waste bin system – download white paper
We’ve implemented the centralized waste bin system over the years with proven results that we are now sharing in our white paper – download it now. The white paper includes cost breakdowns, benefits, misconceptions, and a case study. Get all the information you need to make an informed decision. Questions? Call your Great Forest representative today.
NOTE: The centralized system works in part because it makes people get up (literally) and think about what they are throwing away. With deskside bins, busy workers often do not pay much attention to which bins they use.
Read the Case Study
Photo by shaian ramesht on Unsplash