Steps in Waste Minimisation
A systematic approach begins with commitment from the CEO or senior management and the appointment of a team with defined key performance indicators. The next step is to quantify and cost your wastes. The best options can then be ranked, costed and implemented. Reporting on successes provides feedback and maintains momentum. It also enables future targets to be set.
Step 1- Commitment All successful waste minimisation programmes begin with senior management commitment. This ensures that all individuals within your organisation work together in a positive manner to gain maximum benefit from the initiative. Start by identifying one or two areas which will bring about immediate savings for your company.
Step 2 - Assessment Most companies find it beneficial to appoint a team leader or "champion" to co-ordinate and facilitate their waste minimisation programmes. Involving teams and champions helps to increase staff awareness at all levels and motivates individuals to take action and participate.
Carry out a waste audit and collect data on quantities of waste generated and the disposal costs. Collecting baseline information is an extremely important phase of a systematic waste minimisation programme for two reasons. First, the baseline information should be a benchmark against which to measure future improvements and cost savings. Second, the information is crucial for identifying priority areas and setting achievable waste reduction targets.
Information should be collected in a systematic manner to ensure that as complete an initial assessment is made as possible. Begin a paper or electronic database of all information collected.
To start the assessment, use a process flowchart to map your company's inputs and outputs. Start by looking at your company or site as a whole and identify the main raw materials and utilities used - and the wastes produced. Determine the cost of each input and output, the quantities of materials used and the costs associated with different forms of wastage. This will identify the areas of business producing most waste, and which therefore require priority attention in a waste minimisation review. Use information which is readily available or make best estimates initially.
Remember waste is not just discarded materials. It includes the cost of wasted raw materials, rework, lost production time, waste treatment costs, wasted labour, loss of materials to atmosphere and to the drain, as well as the excessive use of energy and water.
A waste survey helps to identify areas that may have been missed from process mapping. This is a valuable tool to produce a mass balance of the materials used by the company or site. Waste survey teams are most effective if they include representatives from process or site services, production and management. Use graphs, charts and simple diagrams to present findings.
The quantities of all raw materials, energy and wastes should be provided for an annual period. Note that the units should be consistent, for example for different solid materials, for energy consumption and for water/effluent - this allows them to be compared in a meaningful way today and in future years.
Step 3 - Rank Options Identifying priority areas for waste reduction follows the data assessment phase. An assessment table can be used to summarise all the key data collected about your company's inputs and outputs. This will allow you to identify priority actions and rank options which will provide the best cost savings through improved efficiency and waste reduction. Use a ranking system to identify priority areas to tackle in terms of cost savings and also highlight obvious areas for waste reduction.
Step 4 - Prepare and Implement an Action Plan Finally prepare an action plan to implement your step-by-step approach to waste minimisation. Make sure that the action plan includes realistic and achievable waste and reduction targets which have been agreed by top management. Involve all staff when implementing the action plan and provide regular feedback to them. Provide feedback to all your staff – this will help to keep momentum going for the waste minimisation programme and encourage staff to look for future waste minimisation ideas and initiatives. Review progress against targets at least once a year.
