RETHINK WASTE
COMMON RESOURCE EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES
This checklist is to help you identify some of the more obvious opportunities for waste in your
business. Use it as you walk around the premises and tick where you think there are changes that
can be made to reduce waste and save money. Identify any quick wins and easy actions that can
be taken to improve resource efficiency.
Type of waste
Easy actions
Waste paper in
offices
The average office worker uses between 50-100 sheets of paper per
day – that’s about a ream/2.5kg per week! Aim for 130
kg/person/year or less. Re-use paper, e.g. photocopy double-sided or
use as jotting paper, re-use envelopes where possible.
Computers on with
nobody present
Switch off or put on standby mode. Turn off screen if PC needs to be
left on
Old (38mm)
fluorescent lighting
in use
Replace with energy efficient lighting
Overheated Rooms
Check whether this is a thermostat or thermometer. Remember that
heating costs rise by 8% for each 1% of overheating. Set thermostat
to correct temperature (19oC in offices, 16 oC in warehouses and 1012 oC in stores).
Competing heating
and airconditioning
Ensure you get the best out of your heating and air-conditioning
systems. Do not heat offices above 19 oC and do not cool them below
24 oC. Discourage people opening windows when the air-conditioning
is in use.
Lights left on
An estimated 50% of business electricity bills is for lighting – it’s
cheaper to switch off! Switch off and investigate timer switches.
Spillages of
materials.
Spillage can be dangerous from health and safety, quality and
environmental points of view. Improve handling operations. Improve
training.
Broken pallets
Often businesses buy goods in on pallets, dispose of these pallets as
waste, and then buy more pallets to ship goods out. Repair, re-use or
recycle. Change to plastic returnable pallets if possible.
Natural lighting
obscured by dirty
skylights.
Clean skylights on a regular basis.
Leaks from pipes
and transfer lines.
Check your site for leaks (both from water pipes and any used to
transport raw materials between processes) then repair and leaks
found.
Solvent odours
detectable.
Identify source and secure (e.g. solvent tins without lids).
Tick
RETHINK WASTE
COMMON RESOURCE EFFICIENCY OPPORTUNITIES
Type of waste
Easy actions
Full skips (possibly uncovered in
outside conditions).
Identify sources of waste and implement waste
minimisation procedures. Check whether waste can be
compacted. Cover skips to prevent rain ingress.
Unsegregated bins or skips
Segregate into paper/plastics/metals/wood etc.
Unused materials thrown away
Improve purchasing/re-order procedures and consider
a ‘first in –first out’ stock rotation system.
Waste packaging materials
Check if packaging can be eliminated, minimised or reused.
Old electric motors
Replace with energy efficient motors.
Dirty light fittings
Clean all fittings
Outside areas with lush
vegetation or boggy areas,
possibly indicating leaking
underground pipes.
Replace leaking pipes. Use meters wherever possible
Tick
Remember the following key points:

The true cost of waste is usually between five and 20 times the direct costs (e.g. skip disposal),
and may represent as much as 4% of turnover.

Implementing no-cost or low-cost measures can enhance profits by the equivalent of 1% of
turnover and as much as 3%. Savings for each employee may be as much as £1 000.

Financial, legislative and stakeholder pressures, together with increasing concern for the
environment, are driving businesses towards waste minimisation and greater resource
efficiency.

Waste minimisation is at the top of the waste hierarchy. It is a win-win approach, with benefits
for both business and the environment.

Clean technology can often provide cost-effective solutions to waste minimisation opportunities.

A short ‘walk and talk’ waste survey can identify opportunities for cutting costs. This helps to
gain commitment for a longer-term resource efficiency improvement programme.