Tips For Reducing Your Company's Waste Production

Many business owners are shocked by the amount of waste that the company produces on a regular basis. As a small business owner, the sooner you take steps to manage your company's waste, the easier it will be to keep it all under control as the company grows. While most every business considers limiting printing and re-using scrap paper, there are many other things you can do to manage your company's waste production. Here are a few lesser-known options you should think about.

Optimizing Organic Waste

One area that many businesses overlook when they're managing waste production is the kitchen. Commercial kitchens can produce a significant amount of food waste, and this can add up over time. If your business has an onsite kitchen and meal service, consider introducing a compost system to make use of the organic waste material.

Then, you can optimize the use of the compost by using it in place of a commercial fertilizer for your lawn care. You can keep the company's property looking great and growing well, all without having to generate any more waste.

Additionally, reach out to the supplier where you order your foods from. See if you can ship as much food as possible in crates, bins and similar containers to reduce packaging. Work with a local farm for dairy so that you can return glass bottles and other packaging for re-use. By creating a compost bin and being conservative about your food shipments, you can cut waste significantly and even offer your employees some healthier food choices.

Limiting Loading Dock Waste

Your loading dock is another common source of excess waste material. Take a look at how your shipments arrive from your supplier. Consider how you can consolidate packages and limit the shipping material. Reach out to the suppliers to see how you can change the shipments. For example, you may be able to condense your shipments so that you're using fewer boxes. In some cases, you might even be able to supply reusable containers to ship materials in if you're dealing with a particular supplier on a frequent basis.

If you use wooden pallets, don't discard them just because they're damaged or cracked. Replace the pieces that are damaged instead. This extends their usable life. And, when you're ready to retire them, turn them into pallet gardens for your food service department to turn out fresh berries or tomatoes.If you don't have a food service, consider selling the pallets at a discounted price to consumers. 

Although you can't completely eliminate the waste from your company's operations, these tips can help you cut down on a significant amount of it. Take inventory of your company's daily waste production and look for other areas where you might be able to save. It always better to have more info on waste management solutions for your company.