Waste

Every business produces waste from a small office to a large manufacturing plant, which has both a financial and environmental cost associated with it.   With increasing waste disposal costs, landfill tax and Duty of Care for your waste businesses can save money by reducing the amount of waste produced. 

Waste activities such as recycling and recovery use energy, therefore business should always priorities waste reduction as opposed to waste reuse and recycling.  This can be achieved through a strategic approach to waste minimisation. 

Strategic Approach to Waste Minimisation

• Reduce your use of raw materials. 
• Review your activities and processes where you may be able to cut down the amount of waste.
• Where applicable design any packaging so that it can be reused.
• Reuse waste you produce until it no longer holds a value then recycle the remaining material. 

There are a number of organisations which provide advice and guidance on how to minimise waste, dispose of your waste and exchange and trade your waste materials. 

Environmental Business Advisor

Norfolk County Council provides free and impartial environmental advice for Norfolk businesses. Norfolk County Council Business Advisor can advise you on issues such as what kind of materials can be recycled, how to properly dispose of waste, whether or not you need a waste carriers license, help and updates on policy and legislation.

The Environmental Business Advisor is a free service provided to businesses in the Norfolk area and this advice can range from simple questions such as where a business should take their waste, to more complex issues such as help with environmental legislation or environmental standards. 

Eastex

Eastex provides businesses, organisations, and individuals with a free online materials exchange system. Working on the principle that one organisation's waste is another's raw material by automatically matching these parties via the internet, unwanted materials can be passed on or sourced efficiently, either once or as an ongoing arrangement. Material exchange can deliver real financial savings for businesses, organisations and individuals and keeps potentially useful materials in circulation.

National Industrial Symbiosis Programme (NISP)

The National Industrial Symbiosis Programme operates through industrial symbiosis which brings together companies from all business sectors with the aim of improving cross industry resource efficiency through the commercial trading of materials, energy and water and sharing assets, logistics and expertise.  The programme helps companies take a fresh look at their resources. 

WRAP

WRAP works with businesses and individuals to help them reap the benefits of reducing waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way. 

WRAP offer manufacturing companies a FREE initiative called Rethink Waste, which helps manufacturers' reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and save money.  Their experience has shown that manufacturers taking action to reduce waste and improve their resource efficiency can save up to £1,000 per employee. 

Other Sources of information

The National Waste Directory for Business is a database of licensed waste recycling companies in England and Wales. 

The website provides a comparison chart, which identifies, which sites can deal with your waste requirements. The website also provides a map of where the sites are located from your chosen point of origin and provides directions to and from the site. 

Norfolk Business Waste and Recycling Directory.  Norfolk County Council developed the Norfolk Business Waste and Recycling Directory.  The directory provides information on licensed waste disposal sites operating within or near Norfolk, and the types of waste they will accept.

Business Link provide a wide range of advice on waste management including, waste responsibilities, managing waste effectively, managing hazardous waste, recycling and other options and site waste management plans. 

Environment Agency provides a range of waste related subjects.