Understanding the Business Advantages of Plastic Recycling
With the Government increasingly putting pressure on the commercial industry to cut down on landfill and carbon emissions by introducing stricter regulations and escalating landfill taxes, plastic recycling is an important factor for any business to look into as it can bring significant savings.
At present, as much as 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes of collectable post-use PVC waste is produced annually in the UK, with the majority of this is sent to landfill. This is particularly bad when it comes to plastic waste, since this material is generally not biodegradable, meaning it cannot be broken down by nature’s processes.
The biggest volume and most easily collectable post-use PVC waste comes from the construction sector, including companies that deal in flooring, windows, pipes, ducting, barge boards and gutters. Then there are other forms of plastics such as HDPE (which is used for such materials as drainage, pipes and fixings), PP for crates and LDPE for film packaging and damp proof materials. All of these different plastics can in most cases be effectively recycled for re-use, rather than polluting the earth.
Now that I have introduced the concept of plastic waste and it’s recycling, the following guide will explore outline the main advantages that going Green when it comes to this type of substance can bring to your business, as well as give you some key tips to make the most of your efforts.
Benefits of Plastic Recycling
By separating different plastics for recycling and re-use, your organisation can save a substantial amount of money in the way of landfill costs, material purchases and performance, not to mention giving your brand a boost by developing an eco-friendly reputation. Here is a summary of the advantages to be had:
Cost Savings:
· Your business will see a significant saving on landfill taxes (which are ever on the rise as the Government tries to meet waste reduction targets).
· On-site segregation of your plastic waste will saves on collection costs as well as the skip volumes your company pays for each month.
· Reclaimed plastic sheeting, piping or panelling that is added to virgin material is much more affordable – in fact products made from reclaimed plastics such as timber substitutes, offer the equivalent quality to more expensive virgin plastic.
Doing Your Bit for the Environment:
· Recycling plastics does not use up the same amount of energy that goes into forming a plastic product from scratch, which reduces carbon footprint.
· Reduced amounts of plastics sent to landfill mean less damage to the environment since plastic does not easily decompose naturally.
· Less waste sent to landfills also minimises the carbon footprint involved in the transport and associated pollution of plastic materials.
Branding Reputation:
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· These days, consumers are increasingly keep to see corporations behaving responsibly, so ‘Going Green’ will boost your brand credibility and can be a key USP (unique selling point). If your company gains a reputation for re-using or recycling plastics and other waste materials, this will go a long way towards earning public confidence, plus in boosting your reputation when bidding for new works and making your organisation more appealing to top talent employees.
· The Government has introduced a National Procurement Strategy which requires authorities to build sustainability considerations into their procurement contracts. As a result of having a sustainable approach to waste, especially in the construction and demolition industries, you will automatically gain that extra edge in a competitive marketplace.
Tips for Developing a Successful Corporate Plastic Recycling Scheme
With some key know-how, your company can implement a plastics recycling program without much effort – in fact it is easier than many might think:
· Define the different plastic waste streams that your business generates. If in doubt, your waste management contractor will be able to advise you on this.
· Calculate the volumes of each type of plastic that is generated each month – this will help you set realistic reduction goals and boost the effectiveness of your recycling contractor. Now days, you can even buy waste management software which will help you plan and monitor the amounts of plastic waste your company produces and segregates.
· Choose a suitable way to store your segregated plastics so they do not become contaminated. Balers are an excellent solution for this, since they compact waste into convenient small parcels that will not take up too much space on your premises.
· Also allocate dedicated skips for different types of plastics and clearly mark these with signs describing what can and cannot go into each skip. You can download this kind of signage free at www.wascot.org.uk/construction/colourcoding.htm.
· Opt for a specialist waste removal company to collect separated plastic materials.
· Inform and thoroughly educate you staff as well as subcontractors as to your recycling aims and strategy so that they are clear on what is expected.
Conclusion
With a small amount of forethought, recycling plastic will deliver significant cost saving benefits to your business, not to mention reduce your company’s carbon footprint. In addition to the above tips, for further advice on ways to effectively minimise plastic waste, visit www.envirowise.org.uk.
About the Author: George Rebstrum is an adviser on recycling plastic for businesses.
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