Waste Problems

 When waste bins are initially installed, they may seem like a fair price or a good deal at the time. However, Many waste bin providers have annual or even bi-annual price increases – so the good deal can quickly change into a large expense.

As your business grows, so does the amount of waste bins and “bin lifts” that are required.  When businesses are paying per bin/ bin lift these fees can add up quickly!

A hidden cost to waste management is the volume of waste inside waste bins. Waste bins are collected, even if the bin isn’t full. This means paying full price even though the waste bin wasn’t full.

Alternatively, if your bill is overflowing you may require an extra collection, that will be charged at a higher rate than your normal collection.

For most businesses having a staff member breaking down waste to put into a waste bin and/or moving out of the working area to go to the bins are not productive uses of time and can cost thousands of additional dollars in labour.

When considering the human element of staff labour, do your staff take the long way to the waste bins or bypass their friends work station? Who is looking after the work station while the staff member is walking to the waste bins? Not only does this impact labour costs, but causes hazards in the workplace due to the additional movement of staff.

Many businesses have multiple bins on site, taking up valuable space and having the appearance of being untidy. There is often a requirement to have separate bins for different waste streams (for example general waste bins, cardboard bins, glass bins and comingled bins) which then take up even more space!

If your business has three 3m bins, that is the equivalent of 2 car parks worth of space lost.

A Safe working environment is a top priority for businesses but many WHS hazards can occur from ineffective waste management.

Overflowing bins, loose waste, and multiple bins on site are hazards for workers. By having waste bins located away from the waste stream, workers are at higher risk of injury by moving through the worksite carrying/moving waste.

Trucks coming on site and emptying multiple bins on a regular basis are not only another hazard and safety risk, but can block access for staff and customers to the business.

To get more “value for money” from bin lifts, many businesses find their bins are overflowing, and left in a messy way. This attract birds and vermin which can cause several issues.

Messy and overflowing bins are not a great representation of your business, giving the impression of a dirty and messy site.

We all want to do our part for the environment, but there is a misunderstanding that recycling can come with heavy costs and extra work that will impact profits.

Many Head Offices are implementing “Green Credentials” or requirements for their organisation and/or suppliers – If you are not recycling efficiently, it may be difficult to prove your compliance with these requirements, and cost additional time and money to complete.