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Sustainable options for Waste in the UK >
Engineer out Waste through
Management / Policy
2- Engineer
out Waste through Management / Policy
There has been considerable success with regards to
prevention of pollution “Comply with your duty of care, Use an authorised waste
carrier, Check your carrier is registered, Use waste transfer notes, Pre-treat
waste for landfill, Follow hazardous or special waste controls, Have a permit or
licence[ix]”
and under EPR, in the same way waste can be stopped before it is created, by
using more efficient processes, less packaging etc.
|
Sensible use of packaging is a good start.
Also engineering out waste full processes in
a
good solution.
Every effort should be made within a company to ensure purchasing
acquires “durable, concentrated, reusable,
high quality[xi]”
materials that minimise waste. |
Approach 1 -
EMS:
Waste reduction can be achieved through Environmental management Systems.
Environmental Management Systems are at present optional
system a company can adopt, auditing can be expensive and this discourages many
SMEs from implementing, Qwangos Such as WRAP should offer funding to SMEs to
help establish EMS and maintain annual audits, this will help reduce waste, as
well as number of other environmental benefits.
Pros:
EMS can deliver good results, if implemented well.
Cons:
Audits are costly and regular, resulting in higher opex.
Approach 2 -
EPR:
Compliance with Environmental Permit Regulations in much the same way as
EMS
implementation leads to the reduction waste. At present only permitted
activities are legally obliged to comply with EPR. However, including a broader
range of activities under EPR will mean that more waste will be illuminated.
This would also lead to more jobs in the EA, and therefore a greater income for
the NDGB.
Pros:
Compliance
with EPR is a good way to self assert that you are going along the right
track in terms of waste minimisation.
Cons:
There is
stigma attached to regulations, people see them as confining and restricted
rather than helpful, and therefore there will be limited uptake, in no
permitted activities.
Case Study -
Rolls Royce Filton:
RR used
to receive aluminium ingots imported from South America; these were then
machined in to engine parts. In machining over 40% (by weight) of each ingot was
lost as swarf. RR entered negotiations with their supplier and now receives
ingots in a variety of shapes which better match their needs, this has over
halved the amount of waste created, and also it has made the manufacturing
process more efficient[xii].
RR also have found a market for the waste aluminium swarf,
which is considered too low quality for reuse in aviation, swarf is sold to make
tin cans and golf clubs, for which it is considered sufficiently high quality.
An example of de-cycling.
Case Study - Herman Miller: Herman Miller, Inc. has saved over $1 million annually, in part, with reusable or carbonless furniture packaging. The company also holds workshops to educate employees about waste prevention[xiii].
[ix] http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/businesses/88625.aspx
[xi] http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/ReduceWaste/Business/QuickTip.htm
