It's time to create wealth from waste

One businessman’s challenge is another’s business opportunity – or so I have found since starting Cromwell Polythene some 30 years ago. It doesn’t always work of course and I’ve had more than my share of insurmountable challenges over the years. But waste management – and in particular, the diversion of waste from landfill – viewed by some as a troublesome chore, represents a significant opportunity for the cleaning and janitorial sector.

 New waste regulations

In the UK, Scotland is leading the way in ensuring that all its waste is separated and/or treated, rather than going to landfill. Driven by its zero waste commitment, the new Waste (Scotland) Regulations will introduce measures that require food businesses generating 50kg or more of food waste per week (except those in rural areas)  to present recyclables – metal, plastic, glass, paper and card – for separate collection from 1st January 2014. Typically, a 120 litre bin will hold approximately 60kg of food waste. 

The new regulations classify a food business as: "An undertaking, whether for profit or not, and whether public or private, carrying out any activity related to the processing, distribution, preparation or sale of food”. Compliance is a prerequisite, as criminal proceedings can be brought, punishable on summary conviction by a fine of up to the statutory maximum. Individual companies may rely on their existing waste contractors to ensure compliance but while it may already be commonplace for all businesses to separate some waste for recycling – office papers or cardboard, for example – in future all occupants and workers, including cleaning and janitorial contractors, will need to be educated in the ‘ways of waste/what goes where’ to avoid being caught.

A wide choice of containers

To facilitate all of this recycling, the various waste fractions will need to be efficiently separated, collected and stored for collection. Fortunately, help is at hand in the form of many different types of waste containers – bins, boxes, liners or bags (food preparation areas will need pedal operated bins to comply with food hygiene regulations). 

Food waste containers may require bin liners made from biodegradable and compostable plastic, so that they, too, can be composted.  These are widely available to fit a range of bin sizes but buyers should ensure they bear the EN13432 certification marks ‘OK compost’ and the ‘seedling logo’, as imitators are not unknown.

Dry recyclables are more straightforward to deal with and can be bagged for convenient, clean and hygienic storage, ready for collection. While employing the same materials and production technology as the ubiquitous black bin liner, recycling bags are more often specified in natural (clear) or colour tinted material (recycled, naturally) so that contents are easily identifiable. Users should still look for standard quality marks like the Cleaning and Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA) Manufacturing Standard Accreditation Scheme for refuse sacks or Cromwell Polythene’s own ensa mark, which guarantees performance across a range of design weights.

Between these two ranges cleaning and janitorial buyers are guaranteed the widest possible choice of quality, performance and cost. As for the new waste management challenges with which we are all faced and which, inevitably, will only grow in magnitude, look at it as a great business opportunity to sell more bags – we do!