The importance of solid waste management has always been emphasised in schools. Perhaps your teachers or parents have reminded you consistently to be responsible for your waste and know how to eliminate them appropriately to avoid pollution. But aside from implementing this in your community or at home, solid waste management is also crucial for business environments. Solid waste management can be a huge concern, especially for industries or establishments that often produce a large amount of solid waste. (1)
When a business fails to implement proper waste management, it can cause harmful effects to their employees’ health and safety, their establishment’s credibility and the overall community. Furthermore, the pollution brought by poor waste management can cause damage to ecosystems. On the other hand, if businesses implement proper solid waste management, they may reap several benefits for their working environment, employees and overall company credibility. (1) (2)
Here are a few ways solid waste management impacts business environments:
- Increased employee satisfaction
Employees play a crucial role in the business. Without them, your establishment wouldn’t be able to provide services or create products for your customers. Thus, employee satisfaction is essential to ensure your workers remain happy, healthy and, eventually, increase employee retention.
One way to boost employee satisfaction is through proper solid waste management. Through proper waste management, you can provide a clean, healthy and sustainable work environment for your workforce. When implemented correctly, you can also maintain a strong workforce and encourage them to protect the planet. (2)
- Minimise your establishment’s waste disposal expenses
Many businesses often dispose of their waste by hiring recycling companies, believing this option will cost them less. Although this can be an effective solution to controlling your business waste, this can be costlier for your company in the long run. To minimise your company’s waste disposal expenses while still practising proper waste management, you can invest in a recycling machine or waste skip bins. (1)
With a recycling machine, you and your employees can recycle your waste quickly and reuse these materials for better purposes. For instance, instead of buying office decorations, you can recycle and repurpose those wastes into valuable decorations. On the other hand, waste skip bins are also effective in implementing proper waste management in your company. Companies can get waste skip bins in various sizes depending on a company’s typical amount of waste. Once the bin is full, the skip bin company will collect your garbage and ensure they’re disposed of in the most eco-friendly way possible. (3)
- Have a cleaner workplace
When you prioritize proper solid waste management in your business, you and your workers are more likely to enjoy a cleaner, healthier and more well-functioning workplace. With a clean business environment, you can boost your workers’ productivity and maintain a professional environment. Most importantly, a clean workplace can also attract new and existing clients. (2)
Here are several ways you can implement proper solid waste management and maintain a clean and healthy business environment:
- Implement the 3R’s (reduce, reuse and recycle)
- Invest in a recycling machine or waste skip bins
- Use multiple trash bins to separate different types of waste
- Switch to a paperless business operation
- Encourage employees to recycle and reuse waste
Ultimately, implementing proper solid waste management will guarantee a cleaner workplace and encourage employees to execute the same practises at home and in their personal lives. (1) (2)
- Improve the health of your workers and business customers
Poor waste management will not only result in a dirty business environment, but it could also put your employees and customers at stake for health diseases and other medical conditions (e.g., respiratory problems). This could lead to an increase in employee absenteeism or cause your customers to avoid doing business with your company again. Regardless your industry, proper waste management is vital to ensure both your workers and business customers are healthy and safe from disease-causing waste and toxins. (2)
- Reduce negative environmental impact
Improper waste management practises could harm and pollute the air and land. The harmful toxins and chemicals from the garbage could seep into the soil and water, eventually affecting plants, animals, and humans who ingest the contaminated water or soil. While these effects may not always directly impact your business, this could affect your company’s compliance with legal requirements and subject you to legal action. (2)
That’s why local authorities are often meticulous with the businesses within their community and ensure all complies with proper solid waste management. This way, business owners and managers won’t be negligent with their waste and reduce their negative environmental impact. (2)
- Promote a positive business image
Your business image can affect the customers’ buying decisions when approaching your brand or company. When they read reviews or hear news about your business not practising proper waste management or producing and selling unsustainable products and items, these could taint your business image and build an unfavourable first impression of your company. Thus, proper solid waste management is crucial to ensure your business image remains positive. Being an eco-friendly business can inspire other establishments to do the same and pattern their waste management practises from yours. (1)
Key takeaway
Overall, proper solid waste management is crucial for all business environments. Aside from being an innovative and hardworking business owner or leader, make sure you also focus on saving the environment by implementing strict waste management in your company.
References
- Managing and Reducing Wastes: A Guide for Commercial Buildings
- Manage your environmental impact
- How Skip Bins Help in Effective Waste Management
