Minimising waste

4 April 2002



How many businesses would benefit from being more competitive, efficient and profitable? The answer is almost all, and, according to the Government's Envirowise Team, cutting out waste is an easy way to achieve it


Minimising waste can save

laundries up to 10% of site operating costs and that makes good business sense. The true cost of waste is typically 4% or more of turnover, and is much more than simple disposal costs. Looking around the site with a fresh pair of eyes will highlight many waste saving opportunities. Targeted actions will help laundries or drycleaners, large and small, to make

significant savings at minimal cost.

All processes produce waste, and this is especially so in the cleaning service sector. Reducing waste at source means less pollution and higher profits, and each pound saved on the costs of raw materials goes straight to the bottom line. Waste minimisation is rapidly becoming a necessity for many businesses. The good news is that many measures can be taken quickly at little or no cost. With the free help it's offering, Envirowise says all companies can take those first steps with confidence. They can use a systematic and already proven approach to cutting out waste - essentially, that means using resources more effectively and making sure machines are working at their optimum level.

But how do busy managers get started? For companies keen to find out more about what Envirowise has to offer, the free Environment and Energy Helpline, 0800 585794, is a convenient first port of call. Alternatively, look on the new interactive

website www.envirowise.gov.uk.

Envirowise provides free copies of publications designed to help with the practicalities. For instance ET219 Waste Mapping - Your Route to More Profit is an easy to follow guide, full of good ideas and practical suggestions. It explains how waste arises and what can be done to prevent it. The key is to measure, monitor and review each process, and then identify the opportunities for reducing waste. This can be done by, for example, optimising the use of raw materials, such as water or drycleaning fluids.

ET225 Waste Account is another useful publication. All the information needed to assess the exact level of waste in a business is easily found in normal business records. ET225 explains how to find it. Simply complete the form within this leaflet and send it off to the experts at Envirowise. They will analyse the data and reply with advice and suggested publications that may help.

For the computer literate, the IT96 Waste Minimisation Interactive Tools (WMIT) disc provides software for managers to analyse this data immediately. This comprehensive disc also has practical tips and suggestions for encouraging others to get involved too.

Measure, monitor and review

The key to success is to measure, monitor and review - measure how much waste is produced; make improvements and monitor the effect; then review the situation and see if any more improvements can be made.

A small family run launderette in Sheffield, West Yorkshire, found that a waste minimisation programme was just what the business needed to give it a competitive edge and saved around 1% of turnover.

Mr Skelton who owns AK Laundrette and Dry Cleaners joined the local Don Rother and Dearne Waste Minimisation Club. Envirowise strongly supports this club and armed with advice and enthusiasm, the company set about the job. It examined the washing and drying processes closely. After making improvements to the machine washing cycles, to reduce water use in heavily soiled washes, and replacing an old and faulty water pump, the company reports that it now saves more than £500 a year. Details of how the company achieved it can be found in the leaflet CH128 Launderette Saves Money by Reducing Water and Energy Use.

This example shows that it is vital to track water use, repair any leaks and use water efficiently. GG152 Tracking Water Use to Cut Costs describes how to construct a water balance to do just that. This simple technique measures the volume of water entering the premises and where it is used, together with the volume of wastewater produced. Using this information, managers can identify areas within the laundry where water can be saved. Remember, using less water cuts water bills as well as effluent charges.

Interactive WasteWise CD

Envirowise has developed other tools such as the IT313 WasteWise CD-ROM. This has been designed as an easily accessible introduction to the concept of waste minimisation and is fully integrated with access to internet websites. It provides plenty of examples of how to carry out a waste audit, and ideas from companies, first hand, that have already made substantial savings from simple, no cost, good housekeeping measures. Whether managers are experienced or beginners in this area the CD-ROM is an extremely useful tool.

For personal service and advice on the spot, Envirowise also offers the Fast Track visits for companies with fewer than 250 employees. This is a free one day consultancy visit provided by an expert in the field to help prioritise actions. It is then entirely up to the company to decide how to implement the advice given.


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www.envirowise.gov.uk.



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