Waste management
home is challenging and time-consuming. However, the impact can be far-reaching, from hygiene to resident wellbeing to compliance. Smart waste systems are a future-proofed solution, designed to streamline your processes and reduce costly mistakes.
Choosing the right supplier The backbone of any smart system is a supplier that understands care environments. You need a partner who is reliable, responsive, and proactive. A smart supplier will review your collections with you regularly and make recommendations that save you money and stress.
Getting the basics right Smart waste management starts with the fundamentals: Are your bins the right size? Oversized
bins take up space and cost more. Undersized bins overflow, attract pests, and cost you more in excess weight charges. Are your collections too frequent or too
sparse? Reviewing your schedule ensures you are not overpaying or running into hygiene risks.
Using Your supplier’s tools If your waste provider offers a portal or app, use it to your advantage. You can often: n View and download Waste Transfer Notes.
n Report missed collections. n Request extra bins or changes to your service without needing to call or email. n Track your upcoming collections.
It puts control back in your hands and gives you time back to focus on more important tasks. Smart waste systems are affordable and
scalable. Providers offer modular systems that can be expanded according to specific needs. Begin by reviewing key areas such as the kitchen, then extend the same waste
The introduction of these changes has had a large impact
segregation checks to every part of your care home, reviewing the process in each section to ensure compliance and necessary training is delivered. Consistency across all areas is essential to avoid contamination risks.
Training your team Training your team is the foundation for long-term success. The quality of your recycling outcomes will depend almost entirely on how well your staff understand, engage with, and commit to the process. Here is how to set them up for lasting success.
Step 1: Early, clear communication The first step in change management is clarity. Inform your team early on about what is coming, when it is coming, and most importantly, why. Explain that this is not just about ticking compliance boxes – it is about cleaner environments for residents and cost-saving for the business. Use various communication methods to suit different staff preferences. That might include a kick-off meeting, follow-up emails, team WhatsApp messages, printed flyers in staff rooms, or posters by the rota board. Also, ensure that part-time and shift workers are included in all training and updates. Do not assume one announcement is enough – keep the message alive across weeks and months.
Step 2: Tailored, role-specific training Not all staff handle waste in the same way, so training should never be one-size-fits-all. With a shocking 30 per cent of the mixed recycling processed at a materials recovery facility either contaminated with, or simply
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being, food waste, kitchen staff in particular need detailed guidance on how to manage it correctly, and how to prevent liquids or packaging from contaminating food waste in the first place. Domestic teams need clarity on how
to separate recyclables during cleaning routines. Care staff need to know what happens with personal hygiene waste or the disposal of PPE, as these often require different handling. It is essential to avoid contaminating recycling or general waste streams with clinical waste, as this can create compliance risks and increase disposal costs. Interactive, department-specific sessions help boost retention. Focus on practical demonstration rather than long presentations. Staff should leave knowing exactly how to sort waste and how to avoid contamination.
Step 3: Make training flexible and accessible Staff turnover and reliance on agency workers are a reality in care settings. That is why flexibility is key. Consider creating short refresher videos accessible by QR code; you can stick these in induction folders. Visual learners benefit from diagrams and posters that can be positioned next to the bins. Others prefer hands-on practice. Make sure your system can cater to both. That way, whether someone is full-time or covering a single shift, they will have the tools to get it right.
Step 4: Appoint waste experts Every home has those few staff who naturally take the lead. By harnessing that skill and appointing waste leaders, who
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