Waste management and pollution checklist

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Key steps for SME success

Adopting sustainable waste management practices can help small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), like yours, reduce waste and costs, limit environmental impact and boost both your reputation and bottom line. Use Export Development Canada’s (EDC) checklist below to get started or improve your current practices.

Step 1

Assign responsibility

Who in your company has overall responsibility for waste management?

To ensure accountability and buy-in, appoint a senior figure in the company to lead the effort to improve and oversee your waste practices.

Resources

We recommend the following resources:

Waste management and pollution 101: EDC Guide for SMEs

Step 2

Understand your waste footprint

Curious about the size of your waste footprint? Knowing how much waste your business generates—and what the biggest sources of waste are—can help you set a baseline and take tangible steps toward improvement. You can review your waste activities yourself or work with an outside expert who can conduct a waste assessment.

Examine all of your waste streams. These include office waste, organic waste (e.g., food, yard and paper), hazardous and non-hazardous waste (e.g., batteries, motor oils, paints), solid waste (e.g., computers) and liquid waste (e.g., chemicals, oil and grease).
Check your bills from waste hauling companies to understand your costs and amount of waste you produce. Once you know the size of your bin and number of weekly pickups, you can calculate your waste production.
Leverage advancements in waste management data. Sensors in waste disposal bins can give real-time information on bin capacity, fullness levels and contamination, helping you optimize your service and reduce the number of waste trucks on the road.
If you find that waste is a big problem for your business, consider reaching out to a waste consultant. A third-party firm (rather than a waste hauling company) can be a good resource to provide unbiased data, a breakdown of all your waste streams and recommendations to reduce trash levels and costs.

Resources

We recommend the following resources:

Step 3

Reduce your consumption

One of the best—and arguably cheapest—ways to reduce the amount of waste your business generates is to reduce what it purchases, manufactures and consumes. By consuming and throwing away less, you’ll make a big dent in your trash output.

Once you’ve reviewed your waste activities, try to find out if the same items are being wasted regularly and determine if you can purchase less without compromising your operations.
Review how you store raw materials to see if there’s a way to preserve their shelf life, so you buy less and waste less.
Consider going paperless. For example, switching to online processes can save thousands of sheets of paper every year. Offer customers online payment and billing options.
Get rid of single-use plastics, like plastic cups, plates, cutlery and soap dispensers, which end up in landfills every year. Find sustainable alternatives that are compostable.

Resources

We recommend the following resources:

Compost Council of Canada

Step 4

Investigate reuse and recycling options

There are many programs to reuse products you no longer want and there may be more products than you think that qualify for recycling.

Cellphones, computers, paper and office supplies can often be donated to schools, day cares and community organizations. Artists sometimes look for scrap materials, like wood and metal. Contact your local recycling council for ideas and contacts.
E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream in the world and its management is a big environmental challenge. There are many services that will pick up old laptops, cellphones and monitors, and provide the assurance that all data is securely destroyed.
Beyond using your blue bin, there are several innovative ways to recycle everyday items your business uses. Several startups in Canada are recycling agricultural waste, plastic, furniture, batteries and more, and converting them into new parts and materials.

Resources

We recommend the following resources:

Step 5

Understand waste regulations

Understanding rules and regulations can help you avoid fines and penalties. For example, Canada has taken actions to reduce landfill methane emissions and developed regulations to ensure businesses do their part.

Learn about regulations concerning the management and movement of hazardous waste and hazardous recycled materials.
Understand legislation governing chemical substances, pesticides and products.
Explore Canada’s actions related to waste and greenhouse gases.

Resources

We recommend the following resources:

Step 6

Educate and train your staff

Your employees may be in the best position to reduce, reuse and recycle the materials you use in your business every day. By getting them involved, you not only amplify your waste management efforts, you also demonstrate your environmental commitment to a workforce that’s increasingly conscious of their employers’ sustainability efforts.

Teach your employees how to prevent waste and minimize consumption. For instance, encourage them to only print what they need, reuse binders and file folders, and eliminate single-use cups. Consider offering incentives to spark employee involvement.
Empower your employees to contribute ideas and identify new opportunities to prevent waste and pollution.