WasteWise Workplace

The WasteWise workplace programme was introduced in 2004 as a strategy for reducing waste generated at North Shore City Council facilities. The five key objectives are to:

• identify the types and amount of waste
• raise staff awareness of waste issues
• create and promote the use of in-house sorting and reduction systems
• foster sustainable WasteWise behaviour and encourage the transfer of these behaviours from the workplace to the home and vice versa
• “lead by example” in the business sector

Reducing waste in the workplace

Do a waste audit

The term ‘waste’ includes residual, reuse and recycling materials and an audit is the best way to measure how much waste is being generated; what it’s composed of; and how much could be avoided, reused or diverted for recycling. There are two types of waste audits – a visual audit and a sort and weigh audit. The general steps involved in conducting a waste audit include:

1. Identify all the on-site waste disposal points
2. Identify who collects the waste and when
3. Determine how you are going to assess the waste stream
4. Choose a typical waste generation period
5. Do not inform staff that a waste audit is to be conducted as this can alter their standard waste disposal practices
6. Identify the quantity of each type of waste and its source

For more information on these steps and to view a waste audit manual, download the following PDF -  www.zerowaste.co.nz/assets/BusinessSolutions/wasteaudit.pdf

After the waste audit

1. Determine the cost of waste and potential savings
2. Communicate the results of the waste audit to staff
3. Involve staff in finding solutions for reducing waste
4. Identify ways to reduce the waste by following the Prevent, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle hierarchy
5. Rank opportunities to reduce waste
6. Develop plan with measurable targets and timelines
7. Get management sign off for implementation plan
8. Communicate implementation plan to staff
9. Implement plan
10. Reward staff for reducing waste
11. Review plan
12. Report to management
13. Start process again

When designing a recycling system, keep it simple – simple to use, simple to understand and simple to manage. Talk to your staff about creating waste. We all do it, but are we really aware? Find out how and why it is created and what could be avoided or reused.

Office waste reduction initiatives

Paper reduction, reuse and recycling

1. Set up a paper and cardboard recycling system. Try www.ronz.org.nz and the Yellow Pages for commercial operators who provide paper and cardboard recycling services. Also see details about the North Shore City Council paper and cardboard recycling service
2. Check that computer applications allow for double-sided printing and minimise ink usage
3. Set printer’s default to double-side printing
4. Minimise inappropriate use of paper e.g. printing off one sentence from an email
5. Encourage staff to fit as much as possible on paper by using smaller fonts and spacing as appropriate, particularly with drafts
6. Reuse paper for note paper before recycling
7. Monitor paper usage – some new printers and copiers can track the quantity of paper used by each department
8. Reduce the number of waste bins in the office rather than supplying one waste bin per desk

Recyclable plastics, glass bottles, and aluminium and steel cans

Set up an easy to use recycling system. See details about the North Shore City Council recycling service or go to www.ronz.org.nz and the Yellow Pages for commercial operators who provide recycling services.

Disposable cups and utensils

Replace disposable items with reusable ones. If you have to use disposable materials, make sure they can be recycled. You will be surprised how much less you send to landfill and how much you save.

Paper towels

Consider replacing paper towels with a retractable cloth towel system or electric air dryer. Although paper towels from the kitchen can be used in worm farms, it is not recommended using paper towels from staff or public bathrooms due to hygiene issues.

Organic waste

Collect daily organic waste from your staff room or cafeteria and consider:

• starting an onsite worm farm
• encouraging staff to take collective organics home for composting
• organising a daily commercial collection

Check out North Shore City Council’s Create Your Own Eden page for all you need to know about organic waste.

Batteries, mobile phones and toner cartridges

Start a separated collection system. Contact appropriate recycling companies for collection. Some collect for free.

Factory waste

There are a number of commercial recycling operators that can offer recycling services to businesses that create factory waste.

Typical types of factory waste include: 

1. pallets
2. shrink wrap
3. strapping
4. cardboard
5. plastic packaging

If you would like to know more about the North Shore City Council business advisory service please contact the Business Advisor – Waste Minimisation via Actionline, phone (09) 486 8600 or
email actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz.