| 1. Shop around a little: The larger organisations will | | | | 4. When is your waste collected? If your waste is |
| call this "benchmarking" and there is no reason | | | | all much the same, but collected in a number of |
| why you cannot carry out the same basic | | | | containers, you may be able to save money by |
| exercise. If you have used the same waste | | | | reducing the number of collections. This could be |
| management company for a number of years, | | | | done by obtaining a larger container, or even a |
| you have probably gone through a number of | | | | compactor, and having much larger amounts of |
| annual price rises. A simple phone call to other | | | | waste collected less frequently. This could also be |
| waste management companies in the area will | | | | achieved by having more containers on site, but |
| soon give you an idea of whether you are paying | | | | collected less often. |
| far too much. If you have a good relationship with | | | | 5. How is your waste collected? The cheapest |
| your existing supplier, there is nothing to stop you | | | | way to pick up many types of waste is by |
| approaching them with this new information and | | | | having the least number of containers |
| renegotiate. Sitting back and accepting | | | | permanently sited on an organisation's premises. |
| inflation-busting compounded price increases, | | | | This way, the contractor visits the container on a |
| however, will only lead to you paying a lot more | | | | fixed schedule, rather than having to collect the |
| than your competitors do. | | | | container and exchange it for another one. This |
| 2. What is your waste? If you realise that most | | | | change can reduce the transport costs involved |
| of the waste you produce is light-weight, clean | | | | by half, but is not suitable for all classes of |
| materials such as paper and cardboard, then there | | | | wastes. |
| is no reason why you should be paying as if the | | | | 6. Who is collecting your waste? You need to |
| waste were something completely different. Such | | | | make sure that the company collecting your |
| materials should not end up in landfills, as they are | | | | waste is properly registered and licensed to do so. |
| easily recyclable, reducing the comparative | | | | Otherwise, you could be liable to severe penalties |
| processing cost for the waste management | | | | if your chosen waste management company fails |
| company. Even if your waste is non-recyclable | | | | to carry out their task legally. This could lead to |
| and does finally end up in landfill, then the light | | | | substantial fines, which you would be liable for, not |
| weight means you should not have to pay as | | | | the contractor. Saving money by using unlicensed |
| much as you perhaps are doing. | | | | waste management companies will not save you |
| 3. Where is your waste? If your organisation is | | | | money in the long term when you are surprised |
| spread over more than one site, it is possible that | | | | by a hefty fine! You have the right to ask for |
| you are paying too much. By having a number of | | | | copies of your contractor's waste management |
| containers over a number of sites, your waste | | | | licenses to carry and manage waste. |
| management contractor must empty each | | | | 7. Finally, why do you produce waste? It may |
| container at each site every time. This obviously | | | | seem obvious, but is there anything you could be |
| costs more than having all waste at one site. If | | | | doing to reduce the amount of waste you |
| you have any movements of vehicles between | | | | generate? An effective waste management |
| your sites, then attempt to use those | | | | company should be able to advise on such |
| movements of empty space to bulk up all of | | | | initiatives that enable you to minimise the waste |
| your waste at that point and have it collected | | | | your organisation produces, reducing the need for |
| from there. | | | | further services and saving you money. |