How to better understand your waste and recycling

To understand the different types of waste your workplace produces, undertake a waste audit by walking through the different areas within your premises, e.g., offices, kitchens, on-site cafés, club rooms and lounge areas, food preparation, storage, and delivery areas, to examine the contents of general waste bins, and to highlight any waste reduction or recycling efforts that are already in place. In addition, think about the people who will be using your facilities and the types of waste that they may produce.

Within your premises the areas most likely to generate waste will include:

• Kitchens, on-site cafés, and food stalls:

• Food preparation areas - food (spoilage and preparation waste), packaging such as metal, glass, cardboard, plastic films and wrapping.

• Food consumption areas - food (plate waste), packaging waste such as drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles, drinks cartons, cardboard, and paper;

• Staff room/mess room/office - paper, food, and packaging materials;

• Public areas such as concourses, halls and gift shops – uneaten food, packaging waste such as drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles, drinks cartons, cardboard, and paper;

• Gift shops – paper and packaging materials such as cardboard, plastic films and wrapping; and unsold textiles and unsold small electricals; and

• Guest and holiday accommodations – food (spoilage, preparation, and plate waste), packaging waste such as drinks cans, plastic and glass bottles, drinks cartons, cardboard and paper.

Depending on the specific nature of your business and the services you provide, you may produce different types of waste, for example, cooking oils and fats, disposable camping gas cylinders or batteries that will require a specialised waste collection service.

If you have hired out your premises before, you should know the types and volumes of waste that are likely to be produced by your clients’ activities. This will help you to ascertain how many containers you will need to supply for both recyclables and other waste to ensure that you comply with the new Workplace Recycling Regulations.