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Step
2: Perform a Waste Audit
Find
out what to recycle and how your business may save
money by reducing waste.
What
is a Waste Audit?
An audit is a simple assessment of the type and
quantities of waste that the business generates.
It can help you decide which materials can be recycled
and how many collection containers will be necessary.
Why
Do a Waste Audit?
Not all hotels or restaurants are the same. The
amount of waste and recyclables produced is affected
by variables that differ from one business to the
next. You need to examine your own waste stream
before adopting new programs to assure a good fit
with your business.
How
to Conduct a Waste Audit
One approach is to sort and weigh several samples
of your trash over time. This effort will provide
a good accounting of your waste stream composition.
Another method involves a review of purchasing and
waste removal records. These records can help you
to develop a decent estimate of your waste materials.
Look for high-volume materials such as corrugated
cardboard, and for high-value materials such as
toner cartridges and aluminum cans. These types
of materials make good candidates for waste reduction
and recycling. Walk through the facility noting
what type of waste is discarded in each area. A
walk-through will help you determine the size and
placement of collection bins.
What
You Will Find
The type and mix of wastes that your facility generates
will be unique. The box below shows some typical
materials found in restaurants and hotels. Use a
chart like the following one to keep track of your
waste audit. Steps 3 and
4 will help you further
identify materials in your waste stream for reuse
and recycling.
|
Typical
Wastes
|
| Office
Area: office paper, corrugated paper or
cardboard, other paper, beverage cans and bottles |
| Dining
Area: beverage cans and bottles, newspaper,
uneaten food |
| Kitchen:
food waste, grease/oil, packaging waste like
corrugated cardboard, pallets, steel cans, aluminum
cans, glass and plastic bottles |
| Guest
Rooms: newspaper, magazines, bottles, cans
|
Reassess
Your System
A key reason for starting a recycling program is
to reduce waste collection costs. After implementing
your recycling program, you need to conduct a second
waste audit to see if your program has significantly
reduced the amount of waste generated. If it has,
you may want to reduce your collection schedule
or the size of your container to save money on refuse
disposal costs.
|
Materials
|
Disposal
Lbs/Month
|
Cost
of
Disposal
|
Recycle
Lbs/Month
|
Cost
of Recycling
|
| Computer
Paper |
|
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| Ledger
Paper |
|
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| Mixed
Paper |
|
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| Corrugated |
|
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| Newspaper |
|
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| Magazines |
|
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| Glass
Containers |
|
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| Aluminum
Cans |
|
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| Steel
Cans |
|
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| Scrap
Metals |
|
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| Plastics |
|
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| Pallets |
|
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| Batteries |
|
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| Food
Waste |
|
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| Other |
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| TOTALS |
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Recycling