Easy steps for a business to reduce waste:

Process for waste reduction at a business
Office waste reduction initiatives
Factory waste
Useful websites to assist businesses to reduce waste
Join a North Shore City Business Resource Efficiency Programme

Process for waste reduction at a business

Do a waste audit:

Waste includes residual, reuse and recycling materials.

1. Identify all the on-site waste disposal points.
2. 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 let staff know that a waste audit is to be conducted as this can alter their standard waste disposal practices.
6. Identify quantity of each type of waste and it’s source.

A Waste Audit Manual can be viewed on: http://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.

Office waste reduction initiatives:

Paper

1. Set printer default to double sided printing.
2. Ensure computer applications allow double sided printing and minimise ink usage.
3. Fit as much as possible on paper – eg smaller fonts and spacing as appropriate, particularly with drafts.
4. Reuse paper for note paper before recycling.
5. Minimise inappropriate use of paper eg printing off one sentence from an e-mail.
6. Monitor paper usage – some new printers and copiers can track the quantity of paper used by department.
7. Set up a paper and cardboard recycling system. Go to 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 (include a link)
8. Significantly reduce the number of waste bins in the office not one waste bin per desk.

Recyclable plastics, glass bottles and steel cans

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

Disposable cups and utensils

Replace disposable items with reusable washable cups and utensils.
If have to use disposable cups use cups that can be recycled and set up a recycling system.

Paper towels in toilets

Replace with retractable cloth towel system.

Organic waste

Set up a recycling system. Consider the following:

1. Company worm farm
2. Staff take home for composting or worm farm
3. Commercial collection.

Batteries and mobile phones

Set up a collection system.

Toner cartridges

Set up a recycling system.

Fluorescent lighting

Set up a recycling system.

Recycling and collection systems

Ensure system is working correctly through monitoring and auditing.


Factory waste

The difference between factory and office waste is that factory waste is made up of different types of wastes and potentially larger waste quantities.

Typical types of factory waste:

1. Pallets
2. Shrink wrap
3. Strapping
4. Cardboard
5. Plastic packaging.

There are a number of commercial recycling operators that can offer recycling services to businesses. Go to www.ronz.org.nz or the Yellow Pages.

Useful websites to assist businesses to reduce waste:

Recycling Operators of NZ at www.ronz.org.nz

• Recycling directory
• Recycling symbols

WasteMINZ – www.wasteminz.org.nz

• Links to waste exchanges
• Waste Awareness magazine

Zero Waste NZ Trust – www.zerowaste.co.nz

• Waste audit manual
• Newsletter

Plastics NZ – www.plastics.org.nz

• Information about plastics and the plastics industry

REBRI – www.rebri.org.nz

• Information about reducing construction and demolition waste

Join a North Shore City Business Resource Efficiency Programme

Apply to join:

EnviroSmart
North Shore City REBRI Projects

For further information

If you would like to know more about the North Shore City Council business resource efficiency programmes please contact Annabelle Ellis, Senior Advisor – Resource Efficiency on: