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Develop or Improve your Waste-Reduction Program

Designing a waste-reduction program requires an understanding of your waste stream, attainable objectives and goals and management support. Putting a program in place can help you comply with the law, reduce waste, and save natural resources.

A successful waste-reduction program involves:

• Reducing
• Reusing
• Recycling
• Buying smart
• Reducing packaging
• Getting everyone involved
• Spreading the word

How to Get Started

Step 1:  Audit your waste stream

It’s important to understand what kind of waste your operation is generating, where it comes from and how it’s being handled. This will help you develop a system that will:

• Minimize waste
• Save money
• Improve efficiencies
• Inspire innovation

Find out if your retail operation falls under the 3Rs regulations. If it does, a waste audit and waste-reduction workplan is mandatory.

Many waste haulers/service providers can offer assistance at this stage.

Step 2:  Secure management support

Support from all levels of management is required. This will encourage and promote tenant and staff engagement. And since waste-reduction programs often involve capital investments, management will need to approve budgets to ensure resources are available when needed.

Gain support by demonstrating how a waste-reduction program can save money, boost employee morale, attract new tenants and staff, and save natural resources.

Programs succeed when retail management:

• Implement waste-reduction policies
• Allocate resources (staff and money)
• Lead by example
• Stay committed and involved
• Support incentives to reward staff involvement
• Keep tenants and staff in the loop with regular communications

Step 3:  Design your recycling program

Your program must take your waste stream’s composition into account and accommodate the flow of materials from initial shipment to final diversion. Understanding what these materials are made of and how they are handled by staff and tenants will dramatically affect your program’s design.

Key considerations:

• Bins and signage
  • Whether you buy new bins or repurpose existing bins, ensure they are appropriately sized for the area and materials being collected.
  • Ensure signage is clear and well-placed.
• Location
  • Make it convenient and easy! Place recycling containers where recycling/waste is generated (stock room, cash counters, individual offices, kitchen/lunch room, copy area).
  • Place large bins in strategic locations where high volumes of materials are generated. For example, put a large paper recycling bin on wheels in the stock room, or next to copiers and printers.
  • Always place smaller garbage bins near the recycling bins to prevent employees from throwing ‘waste’ into the recycling bin.
• Service Providers
  • Many service providers can give insight into waste-management trends. See our resources section for a list of reputable service providers.
• Mandatory Participation
  • Work with management to make participation in your program mandatory.

Step 4:  Buy smart

Purchasing decisions can greatly enhance your waste-reduction efforts. Choose environmentally preferred products and services that help protect the environment and human health.

Learn more about green procurement and Supply Chain Management.

Step 5:  Raising awareness

• Let tenants and staff know that you intend to put a waste-reduction program in place. Involve interested tenants and staff in program development.
• Announce the launch of your program and provide instructions on how to participate.
• Communicate with tenants and staff often by:
  • Hanging promotional posters in key locations.
  • Labelling bins with clear, easy-to-understand stickers and signage.
  • Sending out emails to address common sorting errors.
  • Sending out regular updates to let participants know how they are doing.

Learn more about tenant and staff engagement.

Step 6:  Maintain and improve your recycling program

• Let tenants, staff and customers know about your recycling policies, procedures and goals.
• Encourage participation.
• Stress that recyclables must be kept free of contaminants (non-recyclable materials) that can diminish their market value or ability to be recycled.
• Publicize program successes through staff meetings, orientation sessions for new employees, newsletters, fliers and posters.
• Work with your waste/recycling service provider and custodial staff to identify contamination problems and be sure to pass this feedback on to tenants and staff through emails, memos and newsletters.
• Notify tenants and staff about any changes to the program or any problems that need to be rectified.

An ongoing education program for tenants and staff will:

• Reduce costs.
• Keep contamination levels low.
• Keep recyclable materials out of landfill.
• Help you avoid penalties.

Tip: If developing a waste-reduction program seems overwhelming – Don’t bite off more than you can chew! Set the program up to succeed by setting obtainable objectives and goals. Grow the scale and scope of your program over time.

Check out Ontario's communication tools.