Blog - Waste, Technology and Sustainability | RoadRunner

A Few Good Reasons Why Your Business Needs A Waste Audit

Written by Bradford Arick | Jan 26, 2023 4:19:23 PM

 

What if we told you your business could potentially keep costs in check, get insights into employee behavior, and improve diversion goals just by looking at your trash?

Conducting a waste audit for your business can be the first step to realizing a right-sized waste management program. RoadRunner’s customers are often surprised at what a waste audit uncovers about their company, where their waste actually goes, its environmental impact, and how much they’re paying for services. 

Here we explain what a waste audit is and break down several reasons why your company should launch a waste audit in 2023.

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what is a waste audit?

A waste audit is a process in which you collect, examine, and analyze the waste streams for your business. It provides information about the types and volumes of waste your business generates such as paper, plastic, cardboard, organic waste, and things that truly need to be landfilled. 

Your business assembles a team to collect and store waste and recycling over the course of about a week. Data collected from a waste audit can enable your business to reduce volumes among other things. For larger businesses with multiple locations, this can be a vast undertaking requiring cooperation from a number of different teams and departments.

A waste audit is a process in which you collect, examine, and analyze the waste streams for your business.

CLICK HERE for more details about how RoadRunner's Enterprise Team can solve your waste challenges!

why should your business do a waste audit?

 

1. It shows how well your waste management program works

Once your business completes a waste audit, you’ll have a better understanding of how your waste management program is working. 

An audit will often uncover if materials are being placed in the wrong containers. It will show whether those containers are in the right spots throughout your facility and if employees understand what should be placed in each one. 

A waste audit can show your team areas where solutions need to be created for new recycling streams. For example, finding that your business throws out a large volume of electronic waste means you can start exploring solutions to divert it from the landfill.

Additionally, a waste audit tells you what’s working and what’s not working with your waste management operations. Are you paying for dumpster space you don’t need or are your bins too small to handle the volume? Is the pickup schedule right-sized for your needs or does it need to be adjusted? 

Once you have the findings from your audit, your company can then make better-informed decisions in terms of optimizing waste management and meeting diversion goals.

Once your business completes a waste audit, you'll have a better understanding of how your waste management program is working.

CLICK HERE for details on what RoadRunner predicts the 2023 waste industry will look like

 

2. It helps keep costs in check

How much are you paying for waste removal? Are you tired of the extra surcharges just being added to your invoice? Conducting a waste audit can uncover areas in which you can make changes to your existing waste management program. Right-sizing your program and equipment means everything fits the needs of your company as best as possible. You’re not paying for space you don’t need. You’re not paying for unnecessary pickups. Finding new areas where your business can divert waste from the landfill and finding buyers for the material can also offset some of the costs in many cases. 

Inflation is impacting the waste industry in some major ways. Taking a proactive approach to your waste program can keep some of those costs in check.

are you ready to start your waste audit?

Is your business ready to get a better handle on waste this year? Some important parts of an efficient waste audit process include: 

 

• Assembling a waste audit team

• Defining a plan with clear objectives

• Finding the best time to schedule your audit

• Ensuring safety measures, equipment, and tools are set

 

Working with RoadRunner means you have a dedicated team, AI, data, and technology all coming together to keep costs in check for your waste management program. We use our nationwide network of vendors to find solutions that fight inflation for our customers. Along the way, RoadRunner is also helping cut carbon emissions, and we provide transparent reporting data.

Let our team handle the headaches of your waste and recycling.