Kevin Hill

Before you get down to waste reduction at your organization, you will need some data to hit the bull’s eye. So, if you don’t have the right information, you’re at a complete loss. A lot of consumers today support organizations with eco-friendly practices. So, the more you discard, the more you’re spending on collecting trash. So, what’s the solution then?

A waste audit is a concrete analysis of what makes up waste. It gives you a grip of the problem, determines possible problems, and lays down the anatomy of your waste competition. A waste audit also helps you determine the waste production to:

  • Create baseline or benchmark data
  • Distinguish and gauge waste streams
  • Identify waste distributions
  • Recognize waste diversion opportunities
  • Discover opportunities to reduce waste source
  • Determining how effective your current waste management systems are
  • Attain information on waste production

A waste audit helps you create baseline data for the amount of trash in your organization and attempts to optimize recycling and waste prevention measures.

 Waste Audit Steps
Before you begin a waste audit, you want to make sure you’ve found the right help and everyone involved is trained for the job. Provide everyone with safety equipment and tetanus shots are mandatory when managing waste material. Once you’ve taken the necessary precautions for everyone’s safety, you and your team are ready to start the audit.

Here are some tips to help you get started with the audit: 

#1: Set up an Idea and Determine the Area of Study
When you plan your audit well, you’re less likely to make mistakes. And if everyone is familiar with the objectives, you will minimize all possible problems. 

#2: Accumulated Waste Should be Examined
Make sure you’re careful when collecting waste from the appointed area of study. If there’s a cleaning staff joining you, they can collect the waste. But you must make sure that you give them clear instructions on the type of waste you require for an audit. A practice audit can be a great exercise for everyone to fully understand the objectives.

#3: Gather all Required Equipment
Before the actual audit begins, you’ll definitely require some tools and equipment to ensure you and your team work efficiently yet stay safe.

  • An open space to sort the trash
  • Rubber gloves for you and your team
  • Face masks for all volunteers
  • Tongs for each volunteer
  • Truck scale to weigh collected waste
  • A bathroom scale to weigh each category
  • Clipboards to record your findings
  • Trash bags to re-assemble your waste

 #4: Categorize the Waste
Once you and your team have collected the waste, it’s important that you categorize it to analyze the types and amounts of waste your company generates.

#5: Examine the Waste Data
Once the audit is accomplished, it’s important that you jot down detailed notes a type of waste that is common across your company, or a trend that needs to be put to an end. While you save space in a landfill, all the recycled material can reduce the susceptibility of air pollution. When landfills are abused, toxic chemicals and gases creep into the air and water. Consciously implementing sustainable waste management and sticking to the above steps will keep your community safe.

Kevin Hill heads up the marketing efforts at Quality Scales Unlimited. Besides his day job, he loves to write about the different types of scales and their importance in various industries. He also writes about how to care for and get optimized performance from different scales in different situations. 

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