What do you hope to accomplish with your waste audit? Lower costs, improved efficiencies, and meeting sustainability goals are just a few of the benefits of conducting a review of your waste and recycling systems and services.
A waste audit is a formal process used to quantify the amounts and types of waste being generated by a business. Most basic audits review the materials being recycled and land filled, the equipment and containers used, and the hauling services provided.
Cost savings is the main reason most business ask for a waste audit. More than 90% of businesses are over-paying for disposal services, and an experienced auditor can help find those savings, plus increase scrap and recycling income where applicable.
Working towards Zero Waste and sustainability goals is another reason companies choose to do a waste audit. An audit reveals your current situation in regards to the types of waste materials you generate so a plan can be developed to reduce, reuse, or otherwise divert as much as possible from the landfill.
The type of audit you use will depend on the type of waste, where it is located, and what you want to get out of the process. Are you looking to cut costs? If so, a basic visual audit with a review of your service levels, equipment, and hauler contracts will work.
You may also want to measure the effectiveness of your existing waste management systems and identify opportunities for improvement. Collecting information from a waste audit will help with base line data so you can demonstrate and report on future improvements.
A more in-depth waste audit, called a Waste Characterization Study, should be done if you are working towards a Zero Waste Goal. This study takes a closer look at what's actually in your dumpsters. The audit will help identify cost reduction opportunities, but also provides detailed data on volumes and material.
A basic expense reduction waste audit will cost you nothing. BWM Consulting has a proven track record of finding savings of 20-50% for our clients. Because of that, we are comfortable doing the work with no upfront fees from you.
Because we only take a percentage of the savings found, (and only after you see the savings on your bill) your waste budget will still be less, even after paying our fee. This gives you the risk-free opportunity to have your costs and services reviewed with little to no time from staff.
A more in-depth study or customized audits and reporting can be done on an hourly or contract basis. Our pricing is competitive and our service is professional and courteous. Please tell us the sustainability needs and goals of your organization, and we can help you understand the steps necessary to reach those goals.