In our article, ‘A Day in the life of a Waste Management Inspector’, Certified Sustainable co-owner, Rod Challis, explained how, when waste management companies cannot dispose of waste in the UK, it’s shipped abroad.
And in one case, a business that thought their waste bags were being recycled in the UK by their waste management company, ending up on the news after they were found in China!
So, why are we revisiting this topic?
Because recently, BBC News filed a special report on recyclable UK waste ending up by the roadside in Turkey.
We already know UK recycling is ending up abroad, but the BBC report uncovered that the UK sends more plastic to Turkey than any other country in the world – a staggering 160,000 tonnes per year.
It should be being recycled, but the recycling plants in Turkey are unable to cope with the amount they’re receiving, so it’s handed to less reputable firms who dump or burn it by the roadside.
The report backs up its claims by showing packaging from Tesco, ASDA and other leading UK supermarkets. And, although these brands may not be physically dumping these products themselves, does that make them any less culpable? It’s terrible PR for them nonetheless.
Watch the report: Why is UK recycling being dumped by Turkish roadsides?
Honestly, really think about it. And if you come to the conclusion:
“It’s up to the waste management company. If they don’t recycle it, it’s not my problem.”
You’d be wrong.
When it comes down to it, it’s your logo and your business name. Regardless of whose fault it is for ending up by the roadside, the buck stops with you. And unless you’re a global superpower like Coca-Cola,
PepsiCo, Unilever or Nestle, who are responsible for dumping over 500,000 tonnes of plastic between them every year, you’re not going to bounce back from the devastating PR heading your way.
The negative impact of being seen as environmentally insensitive can lead to:
● Loss of contracts
● A downturn in profits
And it could, quite possibly, destroy your business.
So, how can you make sure your waste doesn’t end up on the news?
That’s an easy one.
Your business and the waste management company you use need to be fully audited to make sure your waste is being disposed of ethically. And the easiest way to do that is through Certified Sustainable.
A Certified Sustainable accreditation gives you have full control over the fate of your business waste.
Not only are you audited by one of the leading waste management experts in the industry (that’s us, by the way). But you also gain access to the CS Portal, which gives you detailed audit results and strategies, including:
● The volume and type of waste your business produces
● Where your waste goes and how much is recycled
● Problem areas and opportunities for personal improvement
● Inefficiencies where costs can be reduced
● How to improve your environmental performance
All of which allows you to receive a Certified Sustainable accreditation to prove you’re serious about your environmental duties and your commitment to saving the planet.
The positive PR of doing the right thing can increase public confidence in your business and lead to new client opportunities too.
So, what are you waiting for?
