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MAKING
WASTE WORK
“ As sheet metal manufacturers continue to work towards environmental stewardship , increasing efficiencies and refining processes , sustainability cannot be considered from a single angle .”
Building sustainability into waste management processes will help metal workshops to survive in challenging times . A sustainable waste management programme can make the difference for sheet metal manufacturers .
Having spent most of my career around the waste industry , specifically in industrial and commercial metal waste , I am convinced that incorporating sustainability into waste management processes is key to helping metal workshops survive in a challenging economy . In fact , those who do it well are ahead of the game , not only surviving but also seeing significant profits whilst feeling good about improving the planet .
So , what is sustainable waste management ? Instead of collecting , transporting and disposing of waste , sustainable waste management incorporates solutions that won ’ t harm the environment or human health and will reduce the consumption of precious natural resources .
By
Nicola Guest , ( for Waste Mission )
Sustainable waste management revolves around a hierarchy , a practical guide for managing waste sustainably , prioritising waste management options from the most preferable
( prevention ) to the least preferable ( disposal ) in this order :
1 . Reduce the initial amount of waste generated . 2 . Re-use where possible . 3 . Recycle what can ’ t be re-used . 4 . Sell what can be sold . 5 . Only then , dispose of what ’ s left .
Counting the benefits
Imagine a business process / cycle where there is zero waste . When everything is reused , repaired or recycled , this is known as a circular economy . It ’ s a radical departure from the linear “ take , make , waste ” model .
50 | ismr . net | ISMR April 2024