A step-by-step guide to conducting a waste audit

Are you looking to cut down on costs and improve your business’ recycling rates? Whether you’re a small business or a large-scale operation, conducting a waste audit will allow you to understand exactly what you’re throwing away, and where improvements can be made.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to conduct a waste audit for your business, so you can take the first step to streamlining your waste management processes.

What is a waste audit?

A waste audit is a review of all the waste that your business generates. It looks at what types of waste are being disposed of, where it’s coming from, and how it’s being handled. The ultimate goal is to ensure that you’re disposing of residual waste in the most efficient and environmentally responsible way possible, identifying valuable opportunities to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Why conduct a waste audit?

There are several key benefits to conducting a waste audit. These include:

• Cost savings – Disposing of waste ultimately costs your business money. You’ll need to pay for waste management and collection services, as well as training your staff on how to segregate waste correctly. A waste audit will highlight areas where you can cut down on waste and reduce your business expenses.
• Improved recycling rates – A waste audit identifies which of your waste materials are recyclable and where opportunities are being missed, which can help you divert more waste away from landfill.
• Compliance and reporting – Businesses are now facing strict regulations when it comes to waste management. Having a clear understanding of the waste your business produces can help you meet legal requirements and work toward your sustainability goals.
• Better waste management – Once you understand the quantities and types of waste your business generates, you can then choose the right commercial waste partner who will help you handle it responsibly.

How to conduct a waste audit

1) Set your objectives

Before you dive into conducting a waste audit, it’s important to determine why you are doing this. Are you trying to cut costs, comply with waste regulations, or improve your recycling efforts – or all of the above? Setting clear objectives will help to shape the waste audit process and ensure that you remain focused on your goals. 

2) Assemble a team

Round up a team of staff members from different departments, including operations, facilities, cleaning, and even finance. That way, you’ll get a well-rounded and accurate picture of your business’ waste habits and receive support from your team for any improvements or adjustments that need to be made following the audit. 

3) Identify your waste collection points

Walk through your premises and take note of all the locations where waste is collected. This could include kitchens, offices, production areas, and loading bays. This will ensure that all types of waste are accounted for in your audit.

4) Sort and categorise your waste

Collect samples of all the waste that your business generates over a set time period (usually one week). You’ll need to separate your waste into categories such as general waste, food waste, cardboard, plastics, glass, and hazardous materials. It’s also useful to record the volume or weight of each type, so you can see which materials dominate your waste stream.

Important: Ensure that your team has the right PPE and hygiene procedures in place when handling waste.

5) Analyse the data

Once you’ve gained a clear snapshot of what you’re throwing away, it’s time to analyse the results. Your findings will help you identify where improvements can be made, and which waste services your business actually needs. 

Try asking yourself the following questions:

• Could you recycle more of your waste materials?
• Are you discarding items that could be reused?
• Are you using your bins correctly?
• Are there areas of your business that are producing significantly more waste than others?

6) Develop a waste management plan

The final step is developing a strategy for reducing your business’ waste. This could include:

• Improving signage around your premises and offering training around recycling
• Rethinking which types of bins you have and placing them strategically around your site
• Working with a reliable commercial waste provider (like McCarthy Marland) who can tailor your collections around your business needs

Streamline your waste management with McCarthy Marland

Once you’ve gained a clear understanding of what types and quantities of waste your business produces, it’s crucial to partner with an expert waste provider who can handle it responsibly. At McCarthy Marland, we’re dedicated to helping businesses across the South of England to cut down on waste and improve their recycling efforts.  

We offer a wide range of commercial waste management services to businesses of all shapes and sizes, including wheelie bin hire, skip hire, RoRo skip hire, compaction systems, and grab hire. We can also arrange collections at a time that suits you, ensuring minimal disruption to your daily operations. 

Get in touch to discover how we can help streamline your business’ waste management processes.