Waste Audit
Waste is a symptom of an inefficient process.
In order to do their bit for the society as well as environment companies need to periodically re-evaluate their waste management and
recycling practices. Developing a complete Environmental Management System is an exhaustive task and in case your company does not have one
our advisers will help you in understanding its importance and role of auditing in its formulation. As our main aim is to recycle as much paper
as possible our advisers shall visit your site and analyze waste management practices of your employees. Using our adviser’s observation
we shall prepare a brief report which will identify the various elements that make up your residual waste ending in a landfill and suggest
ways of minimizing it.
Waste Audits shall help the company in following ways:
- establish baseline or benchmark data
- characterise and quantify the waste streams
- verify waste pathways
- identify waste diversion opportunities
- identify source reduction opportunities
- assess effectiveness of current systems to improve efficiency of waste management system
- obtain detailed data on waste generation allowing more accurate product costing.
FAQs :
What is a waste audit?
To reap positive results audit needs to be independent, objective, credible and transparent and same is true for waste audit too.
In order to reduce the volume of waste, you need to know more about the waste you generate.
Audit not only helps you in identifying the type, amount and content (hazardous or toxic) but also the source
thereby helping in minimizing it. You will also review your purchasing and management practices and discover where
they need improvement. This will assist you in reducing your waste management costs. A thorough waste audit
will provide relevant information pinpointing the location of waste generation and the type of waste most
commonly generated. From the waste audit, you can determine where and how to reduce the volume of waste.
The waste audit will also provide information on how to introduce or increase recycling as another means
of waste reduction. The waste audit will guide an individual or team, through a series of steps in
gathering this information toward the goal of waste reduction and reduced waste costs.
[back to top]
Why do I need a waste audit?
With ever increasing load on landfill and scarcity of raw materials one needs to follow waste hierarchy at all times. Waste hierarchy is as follows:
This hierarchy gives you an insight as to why waste management is important and thereby auditing. Other than this there
are many good reasons for conducting a waste audit: reducing costly material discards and waste volume, regulatory requirements,
reducing waste volume destined for landfills or incineration and its associated cost, and a positive environmental image, are but a few.
Source reduction will ultimately impact raw material, waste disposal and treatment costs. Source reduction looks at the design, manufacture, purchase,
or use of materials or products (including packages) to reduce their amount and/or adverse impact before they enter the waste stream.
Conducting a waste audit leads to source reduction and recycling, which contribute to financial benefits (savings), and will also conserve: landfill space,
energy in the manufacturing process, and natural resources. Waste reduction will enhance a business’ environmentally friendly image and increase customer
confidence. In addition, waste reduction can improve overall efficiency and productivity in the workplace. For all these reasons, a waste audit is a cost
effective tool for doing business today.
[back to top]
What does a waste audit involve?
The waste audit process can be performed in six-steps:
[back to top]