Photo by Nicholas Dreeszen
Commercial waste management is part of the process when you run a business. Regardless if you’re a small or mega-corporation, you should be responsible for disposing of the waste coming from your establishment. Learn about the types of commercial waste and how to dispose of them correctly.
Commercial waste disposal can vary, depending on your business’s recycling needs. You can either go the traditional way or hire a group of professionals like Affordable Cleaning Services for commercial cleaning in Iowa City. If you live in the area, you’re in luck! They are readily available to care for your cleaning needs and other related services like commercial waste disposal.
With all the options available right now, you must choose wisely. But if you desperately need a helping hand, ACS is there to lend one. Professional cleaners have way more organized waste management plans. You can also look for any recycling programs near you that would be convenient for your business. Keeping your business afloat is about more than just making and maintaining profits. Responsible waste management also plays a huge part.
Everything you need to know about commercial waste
A lot of you may know what household waste is like. Everything goes to the trash, whether it’s edible or not. Commercial waste is similar, except that the garbage is different since they are the byproduct of businesses. The scale of the trash it generates, from offices to shops, varies and can come from small, medium, and large companies.
Strict waste management guidelines require everyone, both residential and business owners, to be able to distinguish the difference between household and commercial waste. It helps so that they can be careful in thinking about what, which, and where to dispose of their garbage.
Types of waste from commercial establishments
Commercial wastes are categorized into five primary types: general, food, construction, clinical, and hazardous. The last one has a different waste management system that is complex and more strenuous, but waste management involves similar methods that need careful handling.
General waste
Paper and plastic are universal types found in residential homes and office buildings—the receipts and job orders that are unneeded anymore, scraps of outdated documents from shredders, etc. Commercial places like restaurants and fast food chains generate a mix of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste that is recyclable. Unfortunately, some of them still end up in landfills or shipped someplace else.
Food waste
As mentioned, this is one of the most dominant commercial wastes and the typical ones we dispose of in garbage bins. Food establishments, grocery stores, and even farms generate a lot of food waste that is difficult to control; since they end up spoiled, damaged, or unsellable, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you notice a truck with a sign that says “Perishable Goods,” it can carry food, beverage, or something with a short shelf life.
Construction waste
Concrete, steel, wood, tiles, sawdust, etc., are byproducts of extensive construction activities. However, they must be discarded due to their composition. Some professionals specialize in handling construction waste disposal. On-site, there are designated roll-off containers for collecting all construction waste. The budget for this can be expensive compared to other commercial waste.
Clinical waste
Hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities generate harmful clinical wastes such as disposable surgical equipment, gloves, human tissue, organs, and body fluids. Another thing to consider is the risky disease transmission; hence an ordinary person without experience handling clinical waste should be careful.
Hazardous waste
While clinical waste can be considered hazardous, this type of waste usually pertains to solid, liquid, or gas wastes that threaten public safety and the environment. Industrial facilities like factories and retail businesses generate chemicals, acids, bases, and flammable and toxic wastes, including metals that are unsafe for ingestion and physical contact.
A business’ role in responsible commercial waste management
Everyone should have a collective urgency to manage commercial waste effectively. Apart from following the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle rule, some scraps do not apply. Sorting and collecting is one of the basics of waste disposal so that none of us contribute to the worsening condition of our planet.
Since businesses are one of the largest waste producers in the world, we cannot place the burden on consumers alone. Business owners should have a system for collecting and sorting waste. Even organic ones should have separate disposal containers and facilities. And if you run a business that generates a lot of waste, you need to be aware of your city’s regulations regarding commercial waste disposal.
Recent Comments