4 Ways to Manage and Reduce Industrial Waste
Manufacturing units and factories are a necessary evil for modern society. On the one hand, these industrial facilities produce various products that make human life easier and more comfortable.
Simultaneously, these establishments are responsible for generating a plethora of hazardous, non-biodegradable, and non-recyclable industrial waste. Needless to say, when this waste isn’t disposed of in the right way, it pollutes the air and water in the area, thereby affecting its biodiversity.
Even if part of the waste makes its way to landfills, it ends up producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This, in turn, exacerbates environmental issues, such as global warming and climate change.
It’s a matter of grave concern considering that industrial establishments in the U.K. produce more than 41 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste every year. It is, therefore, essential for today’s businesses and factories to minimize industrial waste generation.
Also, it’s crucial to manage and dispose of the waste in such a way that it doesn’t harm the environment. Many renowned companies, including Intel, Texas Instruments, and Estee Lauder, have implemented measures to recycle industrial waste.
If you run an industrial unit or business, it’s high time you develop and implement proper waste management strategies. Apart from reducing your company’s carbon footprint, this will help you adhere to any federal or local environmental regulations in your area.
But minimizing industrial waste and its environmental impact isn’t as simple as installing separate bins for different types of waste. It requires a change in the company ideology and mindset. The key is to put eco-friendliness and sustainability at the forefront of your operations.
In this blog, we’ll outline a few effective strategies for industrial waste management and reduction. Let’s take a look.
1. Build a Dedicated Green Team
Industrial waste management is a complex process that involves various steps, such as waste segregation, waste treatment, recycling, composting, etc. In the absence of a dedicated team, the onus of reducing and disposing of the waste doesn’t fall on anyone in particular.
This is one of the key reasons why companies fail to implement their waste management initiatives. It is, therefore, important for you to build a “green team” combining employees from different departments who will provide different perspectives to your waste management strategies.
Also, this team will be responsible for implementing and monitoring the performance of various initiatives. You can even ask them to devise ways to optimize various business processes for minimal waste production.
2. Take Care of Packaging
Between your raw materials and end products, your company produces a plethora of waste in the form of packaging materials. Of course, you can’t eliminate product packaging altogether. Instead, you can devise ways to minimize the environmental impact of your packaging.
Many companies are paving the way by using eco-friendly materials, such as cardboard boxes, instead of plastics for packages. You can take this up a notch by developing plantable packaging. Apart from reducing waste, it’ll also help distinguish your company as an industry trendsetter.
As for the packaging of your raw materials, try to reuse or recycle most of them. You could even consider handing it over to a reliable scrap dealer. Alternatively, you can make a conscious decision to work with vendors who use sustainable packaging.
3. Reduce Paint Waste
As a factory manager or owner, you’re likely more focused on reducing the waste produced during various manufacturing processes. But in this rigmarole, you might be ignoring other serious waste products that are generated to run your business. Industrial floor paint is one such product.
Painting your manufacturing unit results in empty or half-filled paint cans that need to be disposed of. Even if you manage to store the remaining paint, it’ll become dry and unusable by the time you’re ready to use it again. Also, industrial paint releases volatile organic compounds, alleviating air pollution and the greenhouse effect.
The best way to minimize this kind of waste is to use high-quality and durable industrial floor paint from a reputed supplier. It eliminates the need to frequently repaint your manufacturing units, thereby cutting down on the waste. You could also consider using recyclable or eco-friendly industrial paint.
Additionally, make sure you dispose of paint cans and packaging in an environmentally friendly way. This could involve reusing the cans as storage containers for raw materials. Or you could recycle them into raw materials for one of your manufacturing processes.
4. Segregate & Compost
Despite your best efforts, your factory is going to end up generating some amount of industrial waste. If you want to reduce its environmental impact, you must dispose of it in the right way. The first step is to prioritize waste segregation by installing separate bins for hazardous, biodegradable, and recyclable waste.
Next, make sure the hazardous waste is processed to remove toxic chemicals before it’s released into the air or water. Also, contact other local businesses that can use your recyclable waste to build their products. Lastly, compost the biodegradable waste instead of sending it to the landfill.
What steps are you taking to make your manufacturing unit sustainable and eco-friendly? Share your suggestions in the comments section below.
