Waste Management Outsourcing – The Value Of Your Management Firm’s Industry Insights
In-Depth Understanding of the Best Waste Disposal Methods
Why is an in-depth understanding of the best waste disposal methods available in each of your locations important? Options make all of the difference. Do you know the following for each of your company’s locations:
• How many Waste Haulers are operating.
• How many of the Haulers operate Landfills.
• How many of the Landfills are certified to accept your type(s) of waste.
• What types of waste disposal methods do they offer.
• How many Haulers offer “Zero Waste” options.
• Who are the most trustworthy and cost-effective Haulers.
The answers to the above will vary by Market. Do you think the single person or small group running a self-administered Waste program is going to have this in-depth understanding? Not a chance! The in-depth understanding that a “good” 3rd Party Waste & Recycling Firm has, will not only maximize cost reductions, but will also help improve their Client’s Environmental Sustainability, as well as keep the client in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Expertise Regarding Available Recycling Programs & Facilities
why is the expertise of knowing what recycling programs & facilities are available in each of your locations important? The simple answer is the more “weight” you can take out of the waste containers, the less you pay the haulers. The more recycling your locations do, the less waste is produced. Sounds like a simple concept, right?
The big question is does the single person or small group running a self-administered waste & recycling program know all of the available recycling options in every area where they have locations? Again, not a chance! The recycling “boom” is consistently creating more and better recycling opportunities throughout the country.
Today, there are “many” more options for recycling programs. Below are a few to get you thinking:
• Cardboard
• Shrink Wrap
• Plastics
• Glass
• Wood Pallets / Crates
• E-Waste (Electronic Waste)
• Universal Waste (Light Bulbs, Batteries, etc.)
• Paper / Shredding
• Food Waste / Composting
• Oil / Grease
This is a short list that just scratches the surface. There are recycling “experts” that do not know what recycling programs are being offered in all parts of the Country. So don’t think that your self-administered program is going to fare any better.
The “good” waste & recycling management firm will not only know all of the available recycling programs throughout the country, but they will also be on the cutting edge of what new programs and facilities are planned. As a matter of fact, a “good” management firm will be able to “create” new recycling programs by taking a type of waste and contacting recycling companies to figure out a way to recycle it.
The management firm’s expertise regarding available recycling programs & facilities will assist their client’s in maximizing their recycling efforts, which will significantly reduce their waste costs. This will also significantly improve the client’s environmental sustainability by reducing the amount of waste going to landfills.
Ongoing Waste & Recycling Program Oversight and Reporting
So what typically happens to a self-administered waste & recycling program? Well, since waste & recycling is usually such a “low” priority, once an RFP or program has been put in place, for the most part it is forgotten. There are so many other higher priorities that waste & recycling easily becomes an afterthought until next year or 3 years later when the next contract cycle comes up. Are you familiar with the saying “whatever you want to manage, you have to measure”? This applies to waste & recycling as well. The typical scenario in a self-administered program is that shortly after the contract / program is in place, the program guidelines become fuzzy and the process begins to breakdown. Also, if no one is keeping a consistent watch over the proverbial “hen-house” then all sorts of issues begin to arise. The guidelines are forgotten, employees and vendors go back to the “same old same old”, and unaccounted for charges, price increases, fees, surcharges, etc. can occur.
One very valuable aspect of a “good” waste & recycling management firm is their ability to consistently track and manage the progress of a client’s plan. They have the resources (manpower and technical ability) to make sure the program is meeting or exceeding its goals. Their account management and customer service departments stay in constant contact with key corporate and location contacts to reinforce the program goals. Their AP department keeps an eye on all hauler invoices to make sure no “additional” charges, price increases, fees, surcharges, etc. Are ever allowed on the client’s invoice. As well, their resources track and report all waste related information in their CRM (customer resource management) tools, which they are able to use to track and manage the positive progress of the program. Remember, “whatever you want to manage, you have to measure”? Having a “good” management firm will definite keep the program on track. They will be able to measure progress so as to keep it moving in the right direction.