Conducting a Waste Assessment

To properly develop your recycling and waste reduction plan, you have to first have a clear idea of the type of waste you are producing currently.

You want to be able to answer the questions:

• WHAT is generated as waste?
• WHERE is each type of waste being generated?
• WHEN is the waste generated?
• HOW much is being generated?
• WHY is it generated in the first place?
  

There are two methods of conducting a waste assessment:

A general “Visual Waste Assessment”
This method records a general overview of your business’ waste stream, and is better suited for smaller organizations because it requires less labor and cost.

• Begin with your central garbage areas or dumpsters and examine the waste, then continue with a walk-through of your facility looking at the contents of individual waste containers.
• Record the types of materials found and estimate the percentage it represents in your total waste stream.
• For a more detailed picture, you can break your assessment down according to workgroups or departments.
  

A detailed “Waste Sort Assessment”
This method records a detailed account of your business’ waste stream, through specific sorting and weighing of all types of materials in your waste stream.

• Begin with selecting a sampling of waste which is representative of your average waste stream and determine the total weight.
• Sort this sample by required recyclable material and unrecyclable/trash.
• Divide the weight of each recyclable material into the total weight of the starting waste sample to determine the estimated percentage breakdown of recyclables in your waste stream.
  
• Using these percentages and the sample evaluation time period you can accurately estimate your needs in regards to the number of recycling and trash containers, their location and placement, and frequency of pick-up by your collector/hauler.