in part by the escalation in costs since the Landfill Tax Regulations 1996 increased the financial burden of sending waste to landfill, with costs now at £80 a tonne in tax on top of fees to contractors. The common interpretation is that at least 99% of generated waste is diverted away from landfill, and instead is either recycled, reused, composted, or sent to energy for recovery.


“New research into the


psychology of recycling will continue to play a part in how we think about waste and recycling.”


Of course, the viability of achieving ZWTL is greatly affected by what type of waste you’re handling. Cardboard and plastic? Easy. IT equipment and office furniture, however, requires a lot more consideration.


THE 5-STEP WASTE


we focused on meeting short term targets. Private ownership gives us the flexibility to think long.


This is exemplified by our approach to developing our business in accordance with sustainable principles – this ethos is applied right down the supply chain. We work in partnership with suppliers and clients to aid them in achieving their own sustainability goals to save energy and reduce waste. CSR, and demonstrating environmental stewardship, is undoubtedly good for business – not only for public image, but also when pitching for new business.


ZERO WASTE


TO LANDFILL One such scheme aimed at reducing companies’ carbon footprint is the ‘zero waste to landfill’ (ZWTL) policy. An increasing number of companies claim to comply, but what exactly does ‘zero’ mean? Not to be confused with a broader ‘zero waste’ policy, ZWTL is a specific, actionable goal. The upsurge in zero landfill policy has been caused


www.tomorrowscleaning.com


HIERARCHY The ability to facilitate a zero landfill policy is far easier in some sectors than others. Retail is particularly well-suited, whereas sectors such as healthcare present greater challenges with medical waste. In 2013, OCS won a five-year contract to supply waste management services to the 350,000sq ft Harvey Shopping Centre in Essex, diverting 333 tonnes of waste – including card, plastic, coat hangers, pallets, metal and mixed recyclable – from going to landfill every year.


All operations incorporate the FIVE- step waste hierarchy. This ranks waste management options according to what is best for the environment, with top priority going to preventing waste in the first place, and lowest priority being landfill or incinerations without energy recovery.


However, although achieving a zero landfill policy is a great aim, focus is now shifting from zero waste to landfill to that of improving resource management to prevent waste in the first place. Waste prevention sits at the top of the waste hierarchy, and


can come in many forms – including re-use, re-manufacture and re- deployment options, this encourages an alternative to simply disposal at end of life. This promotes what is called a ‘circular economy’, which not only benefits the environment, but also has long-term financial advantages too.


THE PSYCHOLOGY


OF RECYCLING The methods of achieving zero landfill are becoming ever more inventive – in fact, studies are now focusing on how psychology can positively influence the way we recycle. The results are fascinating: a team of psychologists recently ran a study based on disposable coffee cups, and the results revealed that people were significantly more likely to recycle their take away cups when their names were spelt correctly on them. The reason? Apparently we’re loathe to trash something that is tied to our personal identity. Clearly, small modifications can influence big changes in behaviour.


So how can these benefits be rolled out on a large scale by contract cleaners? OCS launched an initiative to promote recycling inspired by studies such as the aforementioned on coffee cups. For example, in a building that we manage, by replacing all black bins with bright recycling units, an average 80% (up from 60%) of the waste that left the building was recycled, and the remaining 20% went to a waste-to- energy plant. Our goal is to eventually recycle 90% of all waste, leaving the buildings we service. With small changes and psychological nudges, the opportunities are boundless.


So what does the future hold for waste management? The ever- mounting pressure from climate change will inevitably continue to impact legislation, so too will the burden on organisations to play their part in reducing our carbon footprint. New research into the psychology of recycling will continue to play a part in how we think about waste and recycling. And of course, as with all aspects of modern society, new technologies could well be on the horizon that will revolutionise how we deal with the things we throw away.


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