42+ Sample Waste Management Plans

What Is a Waste Management Plan?

A waste management plan is a record that addresses the refuse of solid, liquid, and gas. It also includes both hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials that are the byproducts of organizational projects and processes. It lists the activities and actions to handle waste from the moment of its inception up until its final disposal. Factors like the collection, transport, treatment, and disposal of garbage materials, along with the monitoring and regulation of the waste management process following waste-related laws, technology, and economic mechanisms, must be present. Each organization presents a well-structured project management plan under government statutes and legislations.

According to the Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste, and Recycling made public by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 reaches 292.4 million tons. It amounts to 4.9 pounds of waste produced by a single person in the United States. While some trash can be recycled and composted, a staggering 50 percent or 156 million tons are in landfills.

Five Types of Wastes

It is essential to keep our environment clean, and having a waste management plan established that. Maintaining clear surroundings allows people to live healthy and comfortable. People, factories, processes, and animals contribute to waste production every day and are an unavoidable part of civilization. There are five classifications of wastes, and people and organizations must be aware of these.

Liquid waste: These types of wastes accumulate from various households and industries, and it includes grease, oil, sludges, washes water, detergents, dirty water, and even rainwater for disposal. Liquid wastes are under two classifications, namely non-point and point source waste. Manufactured liquid wastes fall under the point source waste, while non-point source waste refers to natural liquid wastes. There are three methods to remove liquid wastes, either by containment, treatment, or disposal. Containment involves storing the liquids in tanks or barrels, while treatment means the wastewater is composted and reused as fertilizers. Meanwhile, when the two options are unachievable, disposal comes in.Solid waste: Solid waste includes garbage found in industrial and commercial settings, and solid wastes fall into categories. Plastic wastes include bags, containers, jars, and bottles found within companies and houses. Most plastics are non-biodegradable wastes and cannot be recycled, so it is good practice to segregate plastic wastes. Paper or card waste consists of packaging materials, newspapers, cardboard, and other paper products. Unlike plastic, paper is recyclable. Tins and metals are in various forms and are present in households. Metals can be recycled, and consider taking them to scrap yards or recycling depots near your area. Several companies recycle glass and ceramic wastes, and the only hurdle here is segregation.Organic waste: These types of waste are everyday household objects and include food waste, garden waste, animal droppings, or rotten meat. Over time, organic wastes turn into manure through microorganisms. However, these wastes cannot be easily disposed of as it produces methane and must be inside a green bin for proper disposal.Recyclable waste: Discarded items like furniture, paper, metals, and organic trash are recyclable wastes and can undergo conversion into reusable products. Instead of disposing these items into the garbage and straight into landfills, there are appropriate bins where you can place recyclable wastes for transport to recycling depots.Hazardous waste: Wastes that are flammable, toxic, corrosive, and reactive. These items harm people as well as the environment and must have proper disposal. Disposing of hazardous waste can be through recycling, incineration or destruction, pyrolysis, or disposal at a landfill. In selecting any of the choices, it is advisable to call for assistance from a waste removal company to guarantee safe and suitable disposal.

The Five R’s of Waste Management

As people living in one ecosystem, it is our duty and responsibility to manage our wastes in a sustainable manner that influences the earth positively. It is helpful to remember the five R’s of waste management, namely, refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle, to do our responsibility in keeping our earth healthy. Incorporating this methodology into your business reduces waste and boosts recycling efforts.

Refuse: The first step into waste management focuses on refusing waste production for your business. Learning to refuse waste is challenging, but it is the most effective way to minimize waste. Lessen waste materials by resisting the use of single-use plastics or wasteful, non-recyclable products. It is also ideal to speak with the procurement team of the company to make it happen. It’s also worth noting that when you do business with vendors, refuse to use unnecessary packaging and opt for eco-friendly alternatives. In making practical purchasing decisions and setting quality standards and expectations for items during the early stages of production, it becomes easier for the organization to refuse unnecessary waste materials.Reduce: The second step is about reducing the use of harmful, wasteful, and non-recyclable products. Reducing the organization’s dependency on these kinds of merchandise saves money and leads to lesser waste materials ending up in landfills, associating with negative environmental impacts. All substances that are not deemed hazardous fall into landfills, and the quicker these landfills fill, require more spaces for waste storage. Limiting the use of single-use containers makes for a more sustainable future for generations to come. Utilize practical measures for your business by using the back sheet of papers when printing or writing notes to cut down on paper wastes. Reuse: Using single-use plastics has been a common practice in the past years that considerably impacts the world at present. It has generated a throwing away culture that normalizes consumer behavior in predominantly disposing of plastic wastes after using them once. The problem here is that this feeling of immediate convenience becomes a habit. It is becoming a crisis because the amounts of plastic products reach a critical level and have been the initial source of the world’s immense environmental changes. It is beneficial to reuse items in workplaces instead of purchasing new ones to reduce using single-use plastics. Try and look through various equipment, tools, and materials present in the daily company logs utilized in everyday activities and resorts using compostable or reusable options upon availability. Once you have identified the essential items for everyday company use, focus on similar implementation practices for packaging, product containers, and any related materials.Repurpose: If there is no way to refuse, reuse, or recycle an item, it is best to find a way to repurpose it. The idea of repurposing an item involves taking the object meant for one purpose and utilize it for another. Upcycling is the term used for the act of repurposing coined by the eco-community. It also gives light to items or materials that serve other purposes and requires you to think outside the box. You can start repurposing items like leftover cardboard boxes as storage boxes, leftover or slightly damaged cups or mugs as stationary holders, or binder clips to hold wires or cords together. Any items that you can turn into repurposed items are a significant help to better waste management. It is also helpful to designate a space where employees can drop off materials or items on a list for repurposing. Try and encourage employees to save these items and go through the objects as you go along.Recycle: The last step in the waste management process is recycling. Once you have exhausted all your resources and methods through the first four steps, recycling comes in. Ensure that the company thrives in its waste management process and eco-friendly ventures by creating an environment that uses everyday items that undergo recycling. For a company to learn to value this part of the waste management process is a significant win. There are still plenty of businesses that do not practice recycling their items. If your company is still in the process of keeping the environment clean, begin with collecting recyclable materials on your worksites like cardboard, paper, plastics, cups, and organic substances. Find ways to incorporate all of the steps necessary for the organization to have an efficient waste management plan.
 

How to Create an Effective Waste Management Plan

Many companies seek to find environmentally friendly solutions and interventions to cut down waste products and produce a sustainable way to market their products or services. Reaching those targets may pose to be a challenge to organizations, more often than not. To learn about achieving the road to streamlined and responsible waste management, follow these steps for a comprehensive and cost-effective way for your business.

Step 1: Create a Waste Management Goal Through Collaboration

Using a collaborative approach allows you to develop viable and self-supporting partnerships with the local and government agencies to assist in the cooperation of the recycling systems and solid waste management. It permits your company to increase negotiation between public and private sectors to achieve the best possible plan for improving recycling and waste management practices. At the same time, it helps with reducing the harmful effects of wastes on the environment. In creating a waste management goal, remember that there are two types that the company must consider. First is the company’s general intentions for waste management, and second is the necessary steps to achieve those intentions.

Step 2: Identify the Type and Volume of Waste Then Segregate It

It is vital to know the type of waste and the volume of waste that the company generates regularly. After doing so, segregate the different kinds of garbage into categories, whether they are recyclable or not. It also helps to separate wastes into hazardous materials and chemical compositions.

Step 3: Monitor Waste and Practice a Waste Reduction Program

Active monitoring of waste production helps to identify waste management requirements and look for ways to reduce the generation of waste materials. Introducing a waste reduction program is also necessary for any organization to improve communication and cooperation. It benefits to recognize a waste management coordinator within the company to create a program exhibiting company smart goals.

Step 4: Implement Proper Waste Collection

Ensure that the company’s bin containers are of correct sizes with a regular collection to avoid bad smells and overflowing waste. Waste material must also be correctly labeled for identification to reduce the number of mistakes and to include the wording on bins and trashcans. There must also be proper communication with the waste removal company to gain access into the work area at times agreed by both parties.

Step 5: Utilize Professional Waste Transport Services

It is ideal to hire trained and authorized waste transport vehicles to move the waste from the company premises to the processing plant. It is a lot more efficient as the drivers are competent in case there are unforeseen emergencies arise. It’s also beneficial that the company segregates their trash, as listed in step two, as the recyclable materials can still undergo processes for reuse. Companies that advocate for sustainable growth and production then purchase these processed materials for use.

Step 6: Disposal and Recycling

The last step is when segregated materials fall under unrecyclable wastes and undergo transfer into landfills as mandated by local authorities. These landfills have special restrictions and considerations to prevent further contamination to the environment, especially water sources, soil, piping, and air. Meanwhile, recycling centers receive recyclable materials and create sustainable and eco-friendly products for companies aiming for a safer and cleaner environment.

FAQs

What is the purpose of a waste management plan?

The primary goal of a waste management plan is to prepare a community or an organization for the effective administration of waste, debris, and materials classified by a homeland security incident. It also details the potential amount of reduced waste generated at the outset. It is necessary to have a waste management plan to protect the environment, reduce all types of waste, and help conserve needed energy.

Are there disadvantages to waste management?

Waste management plans generally help with conserving the environment, but it also poses some disadvantages to organizations. Some processes are not cost-effective as it needs money, time, and land to set up. It is also worth noting that there are no standard processes or practices, especially in large corporations and industries. It is also not practiced globally and, as a result, consists of curbing oil spills, ocean disposals, and a decrease in tree felling.

How do you help solve simple waste problems?

There are easy and uncomplicated ways to lessen waste that goes to landfills. Any individual willing to contribute to a cleaner and safer environment can donate clothes, reduce food waste, create meal plans, buy things in bulk, avoid single-use plastics or containers, bring their own bag when shopping for groceries, get into composting, and even purchasing rechargeable batteries. No matter how small, these actions help save the state of our environment and prevent its destruction.

People inside a household or an organization must learn to follow a waste management plan. It helps conserve what remains of our natural resources and ensures the safety of our environment. Through a cleaner and greener surrounding, as a community, the preservation of our ecosystem will prevail. It also helps individuals learn to distinguish various types of waste and the correct waste management process to adopt a waste management plan suitable for the household or organization. As a famous saying goes, cleanliness is next to godliness. Every single person must learn to protect the environment in their own ways, starting with simple things such as using reusable bags. Check out the waste management samples provided in the article above and start your journey to cleanliness.