The Value of a Waste Audit

What is the value of a comprehensive waste audit?

It has often been stated “you can’t manage what you can’t measure”.

This is inherently and obviously true, but we so often miss this step in our sustainability journey. The pathway to zero waste is an uphill climb and it is vital to know your starting point.

Every race, every game, every climb has a distinct beginning point and an ultimate goal. If you are unsure of the starting point, or worse, if you believe you are starting at mid field, but in reality, you are starting at our own 1-yard line, then the play call, the execution, and expectations are radically different.

So, the question is simply this.

Where is your starting point?

That is why it is essential to conduct a comprehensive waste audit to determine how far your organization has come and how far you have to go on your journey to zero waste.

What are the components of a comprehensive waste audit?

Well, it certainly includes looking at your waste and recycling streams in detail, but it is far more than that.

Here are the items Okapi Environmental Services include in a Comprehensive Waste Audit.

• YES – we actually DUMPSTER DIVE.
  • Conduct a 3-6 hour external container physical audit.
    • This includes a tarp and multiple items pulled from the landfill container documented with photos and weighed with a hand scale. Items are separated on the tarp to physically illustrate which items are landfill, and what recyclable and compostable items could have been diverted.
    • The same process is executed for recycling containers and compost containers.
    • All findings are documented in pictures, items, and weights.
• Complete documentation of all waste, recycling, and compost containers inside the facility. This includes a placement map and pictures.
• Evaluation of signage of internal containers to determine accuracy, proper languages, and consistency.
•  Evaluation of written processes for chain of custody throughout the process from point of origin to hauling away. This includes maintenance,  janitorial, and purchasing teams to ensure there are no breaks in the process.
• Evaluation of diversion training materials for employees and new hire onboarding.
• Evaluation of outside containers and hauling schedules.
• Evaluation of end destination processing facilities.
• Review and evaluation of diversion reporting documentation.
• Conduct an employee survey to request feedback on existing diversion programs and to gage interest into establishing a green team.
• Conduct personal Interviews of select employees who express an interest in being green team members.
• Provide documentation of the zero-waste audit, going into detail for each landfill item to provide recyclable alternatives.

All this information is downloaded into a final product for the customer with typically over 100 pages of findings, conclusions, and recommendations for improvement in a personal presentation of 90 minutes.

The value of going through this intensive process provides the customer with a thorough analysis of their baseline in all aspects of their diversion process, and the road to improvement.

This process should be duplicated through each of the customers’ facilities as a model for consistency throughout the organization.

This is the first step in an ongoing continuous improvement process by establishing the starting point, the baseline.

Additionally, it provides the corporate office, the employees, the shareholders, and their customers confidence in the consistency of the process which ultimately is reported in the waste diversion results.

To schedule your Comprehensive Waste audit or gain additional information on how this would work for your organization click below.