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Businesses must do more to streamline waste management in their systems to improve overall environmental performance, according to a survey.
The survey by phs Wastekit revealed that although 81% of respondents had a CSR strategy and 75% had an active carbon reduction plan, over a quarter of those surveyed did not use a baler or compactor as part of their waste management procedures.
Phs Wastekit, a supplier of balers and compactors, surveyed more than 200 decision-makers in retail, hospitality and food manufacturing to learn more about each sector’s waste management habits as they entered 2023.
Jason Smith, managing director of phs Wastekit, said: “Businesses have an enormous opportunity for improvement here. Our survey showed that the average business across these sectors produces 342kg of waste cardboard every week, which is a lot to manage and dispose of in an environmentally-friendly way.
“Using a baler or compactor significantly reduces the volume of waste you are dealing with, meaning reduced waste disposal costs and reduced transport costs. It’s good for business and the environment.
“Balers and compactors are easy, cost-effective solutions to reducing your carbon footprint, but it seems a lack of understanding and knowledge or misconceptions about these types of equipment is creating a barrier for these improvements.
“Cost and space were the most highlighted barriers to using balers or compactors as part of their waste management, yet the equipment can yield significant cost savings and a quick return on investment. A compactor alone can reduce waste disposal costs by up to 90%. In addition, these types of machinery now come in many different sizes and shapes giving opportunities for businesses whatever their premise size.”
Rebates
The survey also revealed that one in 10 did not know that they can make money from their business’s waste cardboard, and younger decision-makers were also less likely to take up any rebates that they were aware of. A third of businesses where the decision-maker is aged 34 to 45 do not receive any rebates for either cardboard or plastic recycling.
Smith said: “Cardboard in particular is a sought-after commodity these days… Using a baler gives you the opportunity to bale and sell your waste cardboard to recycling companies, bringing in extra revenue. This could be significant given the volumes of waste cardboard these sectors are reporting in the survey. This could be a particularly reassuring income stream for many, particularly hospitality businesses during quieter trade months, for example.”
The poll highlighted the differences between the sectors in terms of their engagement with modern waste management solutions and commitment to environmental objectives.
The hospitality industry was the least engaged with waste management and recycling solutions with 41% of the businesses surveyed not using a baler or compactor. Furthermore, 21% of respondents do not receive any rebate for cardboard or plastic and 10% were not even aware that they could. Retailers also showed less engagement than expected with 20% not using a baler or compactor.
Food manufacturers showed the highest engagement with 96% using a compactor and 92% using a baler to manage their waste. They also showed the highest uptake of cardboard rebates from waste collectors with 86% already receiving money for their waste cardboard, compared with 77% of those in retail and 71% of those in hospitality.
