Year after year, UK households, businesses and construction companies generate immense amounts of waste from their operations. Be it packaging, food, plastics, building materials or debris, the discarded material from modern living adds up significantly. In 2018 alone, the UK created 222.2 million tonnes of total waste, with England accounting for a shocking 84% of this total. Of the total 222.2 million tonnes, 20% came from commercial businesses and industry.
With such vast quantities of waste being generated from a multitude of sources, limiting the amount that is sent to landfill is a challenging yet essential task. It is one that requires detailed planning, multi-channelled disposal and collection systems and specialist techniques, all of which fall upon the shoulders of modern waste management services.
Waste management is a crucial aspect of modern civilisation, preventing disused items and rubbish from piling up around us and keeping our communities clean, safe and hygienic. Moreover, waste management isn’t just for the benefit of humans; ensuring that we continue to improve our techniques of recycling and reusing is absolutely essential for the good of the planet. We are all well aware of the impact that global warming and pollution have on the earth, so working towards a sustainable future is a necessity.
If you operate a commercial business, you may be wondering what your options are when it comes to waste management and how you can ensure that you are contributing to a more sustainable future.
Here at Batesy Skip Hire, we’ve put together a complete guide to your waste disposal options.
Read on to find out more.
What Is Waste Management?
Before we dive into the specifics of waste management and unpack the different areas covered, it is worth gaining a solid understanding of the industry itself. Put simply, waste management refers to the collection, transportation, recycling, disposal and monitoring of all waste produced by human existence. Waste management companies are critical for the sake of animals, habitats, the natural environment and human health.
Alongside the moral and ethical obligations associated with waste management and responsible disposal, there are a number of regulations set out by governing bodies. These detail the ways in which the process of collection, transport, material treatment and disposal must be conducted.
Types Of Waste Management
Of course, waste management isn’t as simple as bin collection and disposal. In fact, there are a number of different areas covered by the umbrella term. Recycling, landfill, incineration and composting are all common forms of waste management, each having its own uses and, in some cases, downfalls.
As a business or commercial organisation, understanding the ins and outs of waste management is beneficial for a number of reasons. Not only does it allow you to be more aware of your carbon impact, but it also enables you to be more conscious of your consumption and work towards being a greener business.
Recycling At A Waste Centre
The first type of waste management we’ll cover is recycling. With more and more businesses and institutions becoming aware of their carbon footprint, recycling is more common than ever, but we still have a long way to go.
As a form of waste disposal, recycling has a hugely beneficial impact on the environment, protecting it from the harmful effects of fossil fuels and soil pollution which result from landfills and incineration. By choosing a waste management service that can recycle your waste materials, you are actively reducing the amount of litter that is sent to landfills, ensuring that it is reused, taking on another physical form and remaining useful to us.
Recycling is undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly system of large-scale waste management and also presents a number of economic advantages. Utilising recycled goods is far more cost-effective than mining, extracting and producing raw materials. What’s more, recycling centres create thousands of jobs, benefiting communities and the economy.
Landfill
Next up, landfill. As one of the most widely used methods of waste management in the world, landfill sites have been used in one form or another for centuries. The process of landfill involves the collection, transportation and disposal of waste by placing it into enormous cavities dug into the earth. Though burying our waste has been the primary means of disposal for generations, it is not sustainable; many towns and cities across the world are having to constantly expand landfill sites to cope with their increasing waste generation.
Of course, landfill sites are by no means lawless; local authorities and environmental organisations work tirelessly to make sure each landfill site is sanitary and as efficient as possible regarding the use of land.
However, no matter the number of regulations and sanitisation measures implemented, landfill sites will always be a serious hazard to the health of local communities as well as the environment. Toxic gases, soil pollution and habitat destruction are just a few of the serious pitfalls of landfill use.
Incineration
Though landfill and recycling are probably the two most widely recognised methods of waste disposal, there are other means. One of these is incineration. Incineration, or combustion, was used to dispose of around 7% of the UK’s waste in 2018 and, though it may not be the dominant form of disposal, it still has its uses.
As the name suggests, incineration involves the burning of solid waste material at high temperatures in order to convert them into heat, gas, steam and ash. Although this form of management does reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, it is still far from perfect. By burning waste materials in large incinerators, greenhouse gases are produced and released into the atmosphere and environment.
Composting
Last on our list of waste management solutions is composting. This is a far more environmentally friendly means of disposal than landfill or incineration and can be performed on any scale, from the garden to much larger sites.
Composting refers to the recycling of organic waste matter such as food and vegetation, allowing the materials to be broken down by natural processes and microorganisms. Composting has a range of benefits as it reduces the amount of waste that goes to landfill and produces some useful byproducts.
When it comes to the management and disposal of waste, recycling and composting are two of the best methods as they facilitate the reuse and repurposing of otherwise discarded matter.
Minimising Waste
Whether you are a small business or a larger organisation, the best form of waste management is to try to reduce the amount of waste you produce in the first place. If we aim to avoid the excessive creation of waste, we can dramatically reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.
Each of us can do our bit to reduce wastage, from recycling to repairing items where possible to avoid having to purchase new things. For businesses, utilising a waste management company that has a keen focus on sustainability and recycling is key.
By actively recycling and entrusting your waste disposal to a specialist company, you can be sure that you are doing your bit to prevent the excessive use of landfills and the destruction of the natural environment.
Commercial Waste Removal From Batesy Skip Hire
As mentioned above, choosing to use a waste management service for your waste disposal needs is the surest way to deal with your waste requirements.
Here at Batesy Skip Hire, we are proud to offer commercial waste removal, eco-friendly waste transfer and waste recycling at our centre in Belfast. With increased pressure on the environment, we do everything we can to ensure that 95% of the waste managed on our site is recycled.
To discover our services and find out how your business could benefit, get in touch with us today.
Call us on 028 90111111 or send an email to info@acebates.com.
