Waste management in the US remains a problem overall. Surveys show that while the industry is making changes, it’s not catching up with improving inefficiencies in its processes. The US is the second largest producer of waste after China, and one survey found that inefficient processes in waste management and recycling at a city-wide level have resulted in consumers not knowing about recycling or waste management processes, leading to much confusion over how they need to be sorting their waste.

While the waste industry as a whole is facing challenges, individual companies have the unique opportunity to lead the way in sustainability. By taking steps to improve efficiency and standards, ensuring their operations are in line with regulations and recycling goals, and actively participating in effective waste control and management, companies can play a significant role in shaping a more sustainable future.

Complete an Audit

In the first instance, to allow you to see precisely how you are performing and to motivate you with the potential cost savings, you need to perform a full audit of your company. Identify every process and action you make, from the lifecycle of the waste you take on to the type of waste you collect and hold. Understand how long each step takes, what energy you use, and what is involved in getting from A to B to Z. By answering these questions, you can get an overall picture of exactly what is happening and where your inefficiencies are, potentially leading to significant cost reductions.

Once you have identified them, you can examine what changes you can make to move from where you are now to where you need to be.

Adopt Technology

The first step towards a more efficient and effective waste management is the adoption of technology. Waste companies should be embracing a range of industry-specific and general technology to streamline their operations. This not only improves efficiency but also opens up new possibilities for enhancing the overall waste management process.

Garbage route optimization allows companies to assess real-time routes and data to help improve routes, reduce delays and time wasted on collections, offer better service to customers, and use time and staffing more efficiently, not to mention reduce carbon emissions from being on the road and operating garbage trucks.

Using waste management software means companies can consolidate software to track multiple operations, from the above-mentioned route tracking to incoming routes and more, to improve how they assign jobs, collect orders, dispatch trucks, and more.

Technology can help you track the type of waste you’re collecting, assign it to different waste streams, identify opportunities for recycling, and much more. It’s essentially your way of tracking and using data that can drive you to make better decisions based on actual information and not make guesses or assumptions to get the results you need.

Training and Education

It’s crucial to recognize that no matter what changes you implement to improve processes and efficiency, the key to their success lies in your team’s knowledge and skills. Without their full understanding and commitment, these changes could be a waste of resources, undermining the very purpose of implementing them.

You need to ensure you have a thorough and detailed training dedication program in place of desire. Everyone understands what you do, how to sort waste, use the equipment, improve the quality of recyclable materials, and identify any incidents where you can make changes or improvements.

Improved employee knowledge and training lead to an overall greater level of output, fewer mistakes, and more active participation in their job role. This can lead to decreased contamination, improved customer service, and higher adherence to quality control and standards across the board. For instance, a well-trained team can identify potential hazards in waste collection, reducing the risk of accidents and improving safety. Training needs to be done hand in hand with any other HR initiatives to increase effectiveness because, without it, the changes are simply a waste of time and money.

Become More Sustainable 

Waste companies must appreciate the gravity of their impact on the ongoing landfill problems worldwide. This industry is the last line of defense against excessive landfill deposits and waste accumulation.

Adopting a more sustainable approach means that waste management companies can eliminate products that go to waste and can be recycled. This not only reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, contributing to global landfill problems but also helps to lower carbon emissions associated with waste disposal. Adopting sustainable practices within your organization can allow you to uncover opportunities to change how you distribute the waste you collect and, ultimately, where it ends up.

To do this effectively, you need to eliminate waste at the core. This means working with customers to assist them in ensuring they know what can be recycled and how to sort their trash. If you can collect waste already sorted for recycling and non-recycling, you can reduce the time spent sorting through the collection to do it at your facility.

From here, you need to make sure you are putting measures in place that allow for increased recycling training and support for your staff and customers to integrate recycling. Investing in equipment and resources that enable you to increase the volume of recyclables you take in and how you repurpose them can be a good idea. You should also understand how the recycling sector is adapting and innovating so you can further improve what you do and how sustainable you are as a company.

Invest In High-Quality Equipment

If you’re looking to become more efficient as a waste management company, then you need to invest in the best equipment for your sector. High-quality equipment, such as modern appliances and efficient waste collection trucks, can significantly reduce operational costs in the long run. For instance, larger trucks for certain routes can allow you to collect more waste in one trip, reducing time spent on the road and minimizing manual labor. This not only improves efficiency but also saves on fuel and labor costs. Other examples of high-quality equipment could include advanced sorting machines, energy-efficient lighting systems, or state-of-the-art recycling equipment.

Implement A Circular Economy

A circular economy is essentially reusing everything that can be used within your organization. This approach not only helps you reduce waste but also emphasizes your responsibility towards the environment. As a waste management company, you, too, will be producing waste, and this means you need to be aware of the waste you generate in your organization to help lower your overall impact. By implementing a circular economy, you can significantly contribute to environmental sustainability.

Can you identify items that can be donated, sold on, or used within your organization to help extend their lifespan and reduce them coming up in landfills? Can you repurpose old or damaged equipment and tools so they can be used for other purposes, even spare parts for repair, or can you donate them to local businesses if they still work but not in the capacity you need to? Looking at ways you can reduce the impact of the waste you produce, not just on your clients, can allow you to become more efficient and reduce waste and expense on your part, too.

Partner with Like-Minded Companies

Working with other service providers in your market or who support your organization can allow you to increase efficiencies and ensure that you are maintaining standards across the board. For example, if you collect electrical waste, consider partnering with efficient electrical waste partners to repurpose electronics. Other potential partners could include recycling facilities, energy companies, or environmental consultants.

Working with outsourcing partners to book orders or schedule collection can allow you to make the most of your work day. By outsourcing these tasks, you can ensure that no deliveries are missed, and you can stay on the road with maximum impact instead of handing your trail across town to get to where you need to be. This can significantly improve your operational efficiency and reduce downtime.

Implement Regular Maintenance

Regular and scheduled preventative maintenance is not just a good practice; it’s a crucial step in ensuring your operations run smoothly. Imagine what happens if a truck or tow is suddenly off the road for repairs or your main bailer breaks down. You’re working at a loss and wasting time until you get back up and running. Having a preventative maintenance plan in place, either in-house or through trusted partners, can ensure that all equipment, machinery, and vehicles are serviced and managed prior to them breaking down. This can give you a sense of security, knowing that any faults are quickly identified and resolved before they cause significant disruptions to your operations.

From here, you can reduce downtime, ensure that you are not left stranded due to unexpected repairs and breakdowns, and ensure that everything you need to stay operating is in complete working order.

Improving efficiency in waste management isn’t always easy or straightforward, but it’s not impossible. These tips can help you improvement effective measures and actions that can improve what you do and benefit the environment at the same time.