What is Zero Waste to Landfill?
Zero waste to landfill is a strategy where all the waste an organisation produces is disposed of away from landfill. It’s about deriving value from waste rather than sending it to rot in the ground. Alternative disposal methods are used such as recycling, recovery, reuse, incineration, and generating energy from waste.
Businesses aim to significantly reduce how much waste they send to landfill and eliminate the practice where possible. This helps contribute to a circular economy and operate more sustainably. It differs from zero waste, which is an initiative to reduce the volume of waste produced and requires changes to business processes.
Discover what zero waste to landfill is, how it works, and why it’s important for businesses to adopt the strategy.
Why is zero waste to
landfill important?
Operating a zero waste to landfill policy is important as there are many reasons why landfill is bad. Waste can take many years to break down in the ground depending on the material – some can take thousands of years to decompose. As this occurs they release toxins and leachate into the ground, air, and water.
Landfill sites also release methane, which is a greenhouse gas that’s 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere. It’s a significant contributor to climate change. There are also health hazards, fire and explosion risks, and the social impact of landfill sites due to unpleasant odours.
Working towards zero landfill is more environmentally friendly. It contributes to the circular economy by ensuring resources are reused in various ways rather than waste rotting in landfill. This saves energy and materials as fewer new materials are required with waste converted into valuable resources.
Businesses also save on commercial waste costs by adopting a zero waste to landfill strategy. You’ll pay less landfill tax for the disposal of your commercial waste as it’s recovered, reused, or disposed of via other methods. Depending on the materials you may be eligible for a recycling rebate too.
How to achieve zero
waste to landfill
Achieving zero waste to landfill certification won’t happen overnight but there are some steps you can take to transition towards it. These offer solutions to help reduce how much waste your organisation produces, and the volume sent to landfill to save your company money and operate in an eco-friendly way.
Follow these steps on your journey to become a zero waste to landfill company:
- Conduct a waste audit – review the types and volumes of waste your business currently generates and assess the amount sent to landfill for disposal. This should highlight any areas where you can find alternatives to landfill for the likes of any recyclable materials and organic waste. Use the data from an audit to improve your waste management processes and minimise landfill use.
- Increase commercial recycling – the results from your audit may show areas where you can separate and recycle waste materials rather than disposing of it with general waste that could end up in landfill. Arrange the use of more or bigger recycling bins to separate at the source and recycle.
- Explore reuse opportunities – think about any ways you could reuse waste materials and products either within your organisation or elsewhere. This might include donating items or repurposing them for use in your processes.
- Reduce waste – an efficient way to minimise what you send to landfill is by reducing how much waste your business creates in the first place. Review your working processes and determine ways to cut back on waste production where possible.
- Choose a sustainable waste partner – work with licensed waste carriers that provide commercial waste disposal options away from landfill, such as Business Waste. We aim to recycle, reuse, and recover waste where possible and provide a free duty of care certificate confirming the disposal method and location.
- Seek certification – there are various outlets that provide zero waste to landfill certification, such as the Carbon Trust Standard for Zero Waste to Landfill.
What are alternatives of landfill?
Eliminating waste completely from any business is almost impossible. However, there are many alternatives to landfill for ways to process commercial waste in a more sustainable manner. It depends on the material but they’re better for the environment rather than sending rubbish to rot in the ground.
Consider these alternatives to landfill:
- Recycling – converting waste into new materials is a green way to go and everything from paper and cardboard to glass, metal, and some plastic types are all recyclable.
- Energy from waste – there are many energy from waste plants that capture carbon from waste to generate energy. There are also anaerobic digestion facilities that do similar for food waste.
- Reuse – reusing waste materials avoids it going to landfill and saves on the energy and transportation required for recycling.
- Incineration – burning waste materials isn’t great for the environment but it’s necessary for dangerous materials such as clinical waste.
- Composting – organic materials can be composted on a large scale as a natural way to recycle the likes of garden waste and food waste.
Work towards zero waste to landfill
with Business Waste
At Business Waste, we work on a zero waste to landfill policy. This means we find solutions to get rid of your commercial waste in a sustainable manner away from landfill where possible. We can assess your needs and advise on the best options to recycle, reduce, and recover your company’s waste.
Get in touch with one of our friendly experts today to learn more about working towards zero landfill. Discuss your needs and we’ll advise on the next steps and provide a free quote for waste collection and disposal away from landfill. Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online today.
Learn more about sustainable waste management in our help guides.
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