Waste minimisation for your business
Waste generated by the commercial sector makes up a large proportion of total waste disposed of to landfill within the district. Adopting cleaner production principles will enable your business to be resource efficient and minimise waste, which will help your business’ bottom line and the environment too.
Taking waste minimisation action will also help ensure you’re doing what consumers want, according to a 2010 Colmar Brunton Better Business, Better World study. It found that 88% of New Zealanders surveyed want to buy from environmentally and socially responsible businesses, with almost half planning to increase their spending on ethically, socially and environmentally friendly products and services in the next year.
More businesses and councils around New Zealand are increasingly choosing to buy from businesses that have environmentally and socially responsible business practices too.
Getting started on reducing your business waste
A waste audit is the best way to measure how much waste your company generates; what it’s composed of; and how much could be reduced, reused or diverted by recycling.
You can do a visual audit or a ‘sort and weigh’ audit. The general steps involved in conducting a waste audit include:
- Identifying all on-site waste disposal points.
- Identifying who collects the waste and when
- Deciding how you are going to assess the waste stream
- Choosing a typical waste generation period (i.e. a day or a week)
- Identifying the quantity of each type of waste and its source
(Tip: do not inform staff that a waste audit is to be conducted as this can alter their standard waste disposal practices)
The following document, put together by the former Auckland Regional Council, should assist you to identify where low-cost improvements can be made to reduce waste, water and energy.
Auckland Council Cleaner Production Toolkit (PDF 396kb)
In addition, the following document provides a guide on waste audits.
Waste audit guide (PDF 71kb)
Eco Smart Business programme
The Eco Smart Business programme supports you to better your business by assisting your company to improve its environmental performance and market its green credentials.
Run by the Employers and Manufacturers’ Association (EMA) with the support of Auckland Council and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), Eco Smart Business is aimed at assisting businesses to reduce, reuse and recycle and in doing so to reap the environmental and economic rewards.
The programme helps businesses to:
- Create a competitive advantage;
- Show your supply chain you care about the environment;
- Improve efficiency, and;
- Save money.
It comprises of:
- Five guided workshops (4 May to 5 October 2012) making sustainability simple
- Environmental management tools
- Optional subsidised business upgrades, and
- Eco Warranty certification.
2012 Programme
The Programme for businesses to participate in 2012, will launch on the 29 March 2012 and a subsidy offered to the first 50 businesses to sign up to the programme.
If you are interested in attending this event to hear more about the programme please register your interest by emailing Julie Brough.
For more information on the event on the 29th March, please see the Eco Smart Launch 2012 flier.
About the businesses that took part in 2011
Auckland Council is proud to congratulate the 46 businesses that took part in the programme in 2011 and have successfully completed it.
These 46 businesses ranged in size, industry type and geographic location, yet all noticed benefits to their bottom line as well as improving wider efficiencies throughout their organisation.
Here is what Floorcraft and Zymus, two of the participating businesses, had to say:
Floorcraft
“Floorcraft Limited wishes to thank the Eco Smart programme team for providing the tools to address relevant environmental issues within our business.
Implementing the programme into our business has not been difficult. With relatively little effort we have taken our first steps into becoming environmentally aware and responsible. We understand that it is not only our big changes that are important but also our small changes that will impact over time.
Every individual involved in the changes has expressed both personal satisfaction and a greater feeling of ownership towards the company.
I would highly recommend the programme to others hoping to make positive environmental changes within their business.” Lynn Barrow, Director - Floorcraft Limited
Zymus
“We found that the Eco Smart programme was brilliant and we got some great tips and ideas when it came to sustainability and environmental management. The trainers were excellent, the pace was spot on and the information provided, was helpful in implementing our environmental management system.” - Nicholas Hay, NPD Technologist – Zymus
The following document is a complete list of all the businesses that took part in 2011.
List of participating companies for Eco Smart Business Programme 2011
To find out more call us on 09 301 0101.
Additional business waste minimisation resources
The Ministry for the Environment website has a lot of useful material including:
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) provides tools, information and case studies to help New Zealand businesses improve competitiveness and productivity through reducing energy waste and costs.
The RENEW Waste Exchange is a free online service designed to help business and industry to find markets for industrial by-products, surplus materials and waste. Members can source cheap or free materials; reduce disposal and purchase costs; and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. In addition Donate NZ provides a web portal where individuals, organisations and companies can donate new, surplus or used items.
The Sustainable Business Network (SBN) is a forum for businesses that are interested in sustainable development practice, events and networking. They supply an online tool and annual national awards for corporate sustainability achievements.
New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development provides business leadership as a catalyst for change toward sustainable development.
An online searchable directory of recyclers put together by the former Auckland Regional Council can be used to find companies that recycle materials in the Auckland region.
Resource Efficiency in Building and Related Industries (REBRI) is an initiative aimed at improving resource efficiency in the building industry, including by providing resources to reduce waste disposal costs; save money on raw materials; use materials more effectively; reduce the environmental impact from landfill disposal.
Qualmark’s Responsible Tourism programme and the associated Enviro awards focus on the environmental and social commitments of accommodation providers, visitor activities, transport and services. In addition you may like to read a number of case studies of accommodation providers who improved their property’s environmental performance and reduced operating costs through a former Auckland Regional Council programme, Environmental Accommodation Providers of Auckland (EAPA).
Conscious Consumers is an award-winning, Auckland Council-supported initiative that rewards cafes using environmentally and socially responsible business practices including recycling, composting and allowing customers to BYO cups. Cafes and relevant suppliers can join up on the Conscious Consumers website. Consumers can find cafés online or by looking out for the Scout-inspired badges in participating cafés’ windows. Consumers can also sign-up to join the Conscious Consumers movement.