What can a business do to reduce waste costs?

Reducing waste through more efficient management and improved recycling procedures is proven to cut costs. Below is a quick list of actions a business can take to reduce waste costs in 2026:

• Book a Free Waste Audit:  A waste audit is a quick way to identify opportunities to save money on waste disposal.  Organise an audit with a reputable recycling equipment supplier and a waste collection firm to get a broad list of recommendations. Check their credentials and reputation before inviting them to your site. Book your first one here to get started.
• Make Waste Segregation Mandatory:  Reduce your exposure to landfill tax by ensuring all recyclable materials are separated from general waste. Sorting your waste can reduce overheads because the cost of disposing of material destined for landfill is often much higher than the disposal of recyclable materials. Many businesses in the UK now have a legal obligation to segregate waste so check the latest waste eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website.
• Identify Valuable Waste Material: Enlist the assistance of a recycling specialist to help you identify potential value within the waste you recycle. Many companies in the UK successfully bale cardboard, plastics, cans, bottles and EPS polystyrene in order to receive payment (known as a rebate) when sold to a recycling facility in bulk. 
• Repurpose Waste: Clean cardboard and plastic packaging materials can be repurposed or reused within your business or by a local community group. Good examples of repurposing waste include shredding waste cardboard to create void fill for outgoing parcels.
• Digitalise Procedures: Enlist the help of an IT professional to review your current office procedures to identify tasks that can be completed electronically. For documents that need to be printed, most workplace printers can be set-up to print double-sided as the default setting.
• Donate Unused Equipment: Office equipment made obsolete due to changes in procedures can be donated to good causes or sold to fund the purchase of new equipment. For safety, some types of equipment may need to be tested before they can be donated.
• Consider Buying Used Waste Machinery: You can reduce the cost of sourcing waste machinery for your workplace by considering used equipment instead of new. Refurbished machines can be just as efficient as new machines yet with a smaller price tag. Comprehensive warranties and service plans can reduce your expose to future maintenance costs.
• Investigate Food Waste Composting: Businesses with a large garden at their premises could investigate the feasibility of setting up their own compost bins. Whilst it's a more laborious task than popping waste in a food bin, the resulting compost is an green way to improve soil quality.
• Review Waste Contracts: Always review and renegotiate contracts with your waste provider when the amount or type of waste you throw away changes. Build a relationship with a supplier that allows you to make changes mid-contract to ensure you do not overpay for unused capacity.
• Stay Compliant: Ensure your waste disposal procedures are compliant with environmental legislation and comprehensively documented to avoid fines resulting from improper disposal. Always ensure your chosen waste disposal company have a waste carriers licence.
• Compact Waste: Waste compaction equipment such as the QCR 1100L Bin Compactor is a tried-and-tested way compact waste making it easier to store and dispose of.  

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it covers the main areas that businesses in the UK can find quick wins to reduce overheads. Reducing business waste won't just cut costs, it's also crucial for environmental sustainability and operational efficiency making it a win-win opportunity for all.