How to Dispose of Waste Responsibly

Everything may appear to be
correct. As far as you know, your waste material is being dutifully bagged or
placed in wheelie bins and, every fortnight, your waste management supplier
comes along in a van and takes it away. Job done!

That would appear to be the
end of the matter. But if things aren’t being correctly handled – especially if
you run an establishment which generates a variety of hazardous and
non-hazardous waste – then you could inadvertently be storing up a whole heap
of trouble.

Here are some fundamental
questions. Are you sure your waste is properly segregated to avoid any cross
contamination?  Are your storage bins
properly locked? What does your waste supplier do with the waste when it is
collected? (not simply where it goes, but how exactly is it being transported?)  

Whether we like it or not,
when it comes to waste, everything we do is driven by legislation. The essence
of that legislation is that you, as the proprietor, have a duty of care to
ensure that the correct procedures are being followed. The buck stops with you.
The same applies for nursing or care homes, doctors’ surgeries, dental clinics,
cosmetic surgeries, as well as many other places of work where hygiene is
paramount.  

This may be something with which
you are au fait. But, from experience, we come across numerous situations throughout
Kent, Sussex, Surrey and London where business operators are struggling to
comply. Most times this is not deliberate. The majority of cases we encounter
are where proprietors think they are in tune with the guidelines – because
their waste supplier is telling them so – when, in fact, the processes being
adopted are either borderline correct or plainly wrong.

And these aren’t merely
situations involving small waste management operators.

So if you have any concerns
that all may not be as it should be, it could well be worth seeking a second
opinion.

At WGS Waste, many of our
longest standing client relationships have evolved as a result of unease
surrounding a previous waste management provider. Sometimes this is due to the
perennial bugbear of over-charging. But other gripes include irregular
collections with suppliers having to be chased to come and collect, or even waste
which has been left behind altogether.

And this is before we even
consider the collection and disposal processes.   

We have the tools – the
time, the experience and the dedication – to ensure you stay compliant. So that
you can do what you do best – caring for your clients and patients.

We can offer you all the
guidance, tuition, check lists and reminders to keep everything running
smoothly.

Often the most contentious
issues concern the correct segregation and disposal of waste and we’ll tackle
these subjects in our next and future blogs.

In the meantime, if you
need any help, or are unsure about your current waste management arrangements,
then please call WGS Waste on 01892 725609.