Garbage Disposal & Sanitation Systems Ltd.
What is Zero Waste?
Friday, September 07, 2012
The Zero Waste International Alliance defines
zero waste as “a goal that is ethical, economical,
efficient and visionary, to guide people in
changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate
sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded
materials are designed to become resources for
others to use.
Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.
Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”
While “zero waste” may be deemed impractical by some, simply looking at the way your organisation operates and improving the use of resources will allow for changes that could lead to long-term benefits. In order to stay competitive, environmental improvement has become increasingly important for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). As resources become scarcer, costs for raw materials, transport and utilities increase, and external pressure to decrease environmental harm increases, SMEs should be determined to increase their environmental performance.
Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, conserve and recover all resources, and not burn or bury them.
Implementing Zero Waste will eliminate all discharges to land, water or air that are a threat to planetary, human, animal or plant health.”
While “zero waste” may be deemed impractical by some, simply looking at the way your organisation operates and improving the use of resources will allow for changes that could lead to long-term benefits. In order to stay competitive, environmental improvement has become increasingly important for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). As resources become scarcer, costs for raw materials, transport and utilities increase, and external pressure to decrease environmental harm increases, SMEs should be determined to increase their environmental performance.
As most organisations, regardless of industry or
sector, have an office or administration of some
kind, we will first look at the common
environmental impacts of a typical office and
provide advice on tackling these. The
environmental impact of a typical office can be as
follows:
. Resource use (e.g. energy, water, office
supplies, etc.)
· Waste disposal (e.g. food, paper, equipment, fixtures)
· Air emissions (e.g. from cooling systems)
· Noise (e.g. car parks, site maintenance)
· Water pollution (e.g. discharges, contaminated run-off or through the use of chemicals or cleaning products)
· Waste disposal (e.g. food, paper, equipment, fixtures)
· Air emissions (e.g. from cooling systems)
· Noise (e.g. car parks, site maintenance)
· Water pollution (e.g. discharges, contaminated run-off or through the use of chemicals or cleaning products)
There are a number of benefits of becoming
green, or operating a green office:
• Reduced costs & ‘carbon footprint’
• Improved resource efficiency & environmental performance
• Improved corporate image
• Employees become more environmentally aware
• Improved resource efficiency & environmental performance
• Improved corporate image
• Employees become more environmentally aware
Over the next few articles, we’ll look at the steps
to greening your office. Check back often!