Whether your business is big or small there is value in learning about the waste that your operation is generating. Waste is generated in every place of business, but the type and amount of waste can vary significantly from establishment to establishment. In order to best manage your waste stream, SWACO recommends that you conduct some type of “waste audit” to familiarize yourself with the waste that your business generates. A waste audit is an analysis of the types and quantities of waste that you generate, and where that material is generated. While a waste audit may be most valuable if no recycling is taking place in your place of work and you are planning to start a new recycling program, even if your business currently has a recycling program in place there is still value in conducting a waste audit.
Questions to answer with a waste audit:
- What are the types of materials generated during typical operations?
- How much of each material type is generated?
- Of that material, what is recyclable?
- Where is this material being generated within your operation?
There are different methods of waste audits that can be conducted. Each audit method will require different levels of preparation and supplies. The different audit methods also provide varying levels of detail and precision for businesses to analyze.