Waste Management Systems: A Complete Guide
This guide explores the main components of waste management systems and how software can contribute to making each stage of the process as seamless as possible for your business.
10 minutes
Written by Amy Fallon, Waste management solutions specialist
Waste management involves the collection, storage, transportation and disposal of waste materials produced by a business during its day-to-day operations. This can be a time-consuming and complex challenge, with strict regulations attached, which is why many industries rely on trade waste companies, skip hire services and other waste disposal specialists to manage the responsibility on their behalf.
No matter which type of waste your business is responsible for handling, taking a systematic approach and supporting staff with the right tools is crucial to streamline processes, allocate resources more efficiently, reduce the risk of human error and deliver maximum cost savings.
This guide explores the main components of waste management systems and how software can contribute to making each stage of the process as seamless as possible.
What are waste management systems?
A waste management system takes an efficient structured approach to handling, collecting, transporting, processing and disposing of waste. This includes strategies for reducing environmental impact, promoting recycling and ensuring compliance with regulations to manage waste efficiently and sustainably.
However, not all waste management companies use the same approach. Many still rely on legacy systems and manual recordkeeping, which leads to paperwork and endless spreadsheets and problems with version control and data accuracy. Paper-based filing systems place a huge burden on internal resources, particularly when a company is managing a dispersed workforce and various fleets of vehicles.
In terms of compliance, being able to provide a clear, ‘ready-to-share’ audit trail at all times is a major advantage for waste specialists. The spotlight on the circular economy, Net Zero and landfill tax has never been stronger, and businesses that don’t take the necessary steps to cover all their bases are likely to face legal action and financial penalties.
Today’s best waste management systems are designed to streamline job management, enhance visibility of pending actions and completions, monitor stock control and optimise scheduling and route planning.
Advanced waste management tools can also be integrated with other core business processes and software – such as order processing, payments, finance and reporting – to ensure seamless end-to-end workflows across various areas of the organisation.
Why is waste management important?
Whether it’s related to trade waste, skip hire or hazardous disposals, effective waste management is essential in safeguarding the environment, protecting public health, conserving resources, and promoting sustainable development. Even without a major incident, local authorities may audit the quality of waste management systems against strict regulations to ensure risks are being properly managed. Businesses that don’t have a watertight system or clear audit trail in place may face significant legal and financial consequences as a result.
More and more focus is also being placed on resource conservation and recycling. Not only is this key to reducing the consumption of raw materials and strain on natural resources, it also makes sound business sense by enabling companies to do more with less.
Customers of waste management companies are also increasingly demanding more data and insights from operators to satisfy stakeholders and shareholders.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of regulations and guidance governing waste management industries:
6 benefits of an effective waste management system
- Operational efficiency – Digitising everyday processes and enabling teams to work from a centralised, cloud-based system makes it far easier to coordinate vehicle fleets, manage orders and minimise lead times at each stage of the process.
- Resource utilisation – Full visibility and real-time monitoring of organisational workflows enables managers to reduce idle time, plan routes more efficiently and deploy equipment and labour to where it is needed most.
- Cost savings – A good waste management system reduces the risk of costly mistakes stemming from data inaccuracies or poorly maintained spreadsheets. It also allows managers to automate core processes and spot more opportunities for recycling and waste reduction, which reduces costs associated with landfilling and incineration.
- Data insights and reporting – Real-time dashboards and reports help to visualise data around daily activities like vehicle and container tracking. This allows businesses to make informed decisions based on accurate performance and profitability data, and also takes away the stress of tracking consignments and sourcing information to demonstrate compliance.
- Integration and scalability – Your system should join the dots between order processing, delivery and invoicing, offering modules that integrate with one another and that are easy to scale as your business grows or you diversify into other areas.
- Customer service – customers with the ability to manage their accounts in a way that integrates with your back office systems frees up your teams and delivers a more responsive experience. Taking it to the next level, the ability to easily share data and insights in a secure, accurate and near real-time way gives waste management businesses a competitive advantage
Types of waste management
Waste management software facilitates more precise categorisation of waste types; from there, companies can determine how to appropriately handle each waste stream, while ensuring full compliance with industry regulations.
For waste management companies, having a system that enables better identification and disposal of recyclable materials can be a huge benefit in terms of reducing disposal costs and improving their carbon footprint.
General Waste
General waste – also known as municipal solid waste (MSW) – includes materials like paper, cardboard, plastic, glass and non-hazardous household waste. All businesses have a responsibility to manage general waste, and it is typically collected through curbside bins or communal containers and undergoes disposal or recycling processes.Hazardous Waste
Hazardous waste refers to materials that pose a risk to human health or the environment. Items such as chemicals, solvents, electronic waste, batteries and medical waste are common examples of hazardous waste that are subject to specific regulatory guidelines to ensure safe handling and disposal.
Businesses handling hazardous waste must comply with these regulations at all times. Adequate training for employees on waste management procedures is essential, as is maintaining accurate records of activity and transportation.
Recyclable Waste
Recyclable waste is any material that can be collected and reused to create new products. Common recyclables include paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, glass and certain metals. Recycling initiatives are essential to reduce landfill waste, conserve resources and minimise environmental impact.
Organic Waste
Waste such as plants, food scraps, and paper products which can be decomposed into organic matter. This organic matter can then be used in agriculture for example.
Liquid Waste
Liquid waste cannot be accepted into landfill sites (2010 Environmental Agency regulations). Waste such as restaurant grease traps, commercial holding tanks and byproducts and runoff from industrial processes and production fall under this category. Regulations require that all liquid waste streams undergo appropriate treatment before being discharged into watercourses, including sewers.
Waste management strategies
Reduction
Waste reduction is a proactive strategy that aims to limit the amount of waste produced at its source. This involves limiting the consumption of resources, adopting more sustainable practices and encouraging the use of products with less environmental and public health impacts.
Waste management software helps by providing data and insights for customers, for example waste analysis, helping them assess their processes and activities on a regular basis to identify areas where waste can be reduced, leading to long-term sustainability benefits.
Reuse
A reuse strategy aims to extend the lifespan of products or materials by employing them for the same or different purposes. The goal is to conserve resources, reduce the need for new production and minimise the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and disposal.
Waste management software facilitates better tracking of reusable materials , simplifying the next steps in the disposal process.
Some examples include selling on reusable materials such as soil and stone from incoming waste.
Recycling
Recycling refers to the process of collecting and converting waste materials into new products. It’s a crucial strategy for managing waste sustainably, conserving resources and reducing the environmental impact associated with the extraction and processing of raw materials.
The visibility provided by waste management systems is a huge benefit in identifying and monitoring waste mixtures for the next step in the processing journey, whether recycling or landfill.
Waste management glossary
| Term | Meaning |
| Waste management | The systematic handling, storage, treatment, and disposal of waste materials to minimise environmental impact. |
| Recycling | The process of converting waste materials into reusable materials to reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials. |
| Landfill | A designated area where waste is disposed of and covered with soil, minimising its environmental impact. |
| Incineration | The controlled burning of waste materials to generate energy, reducing the volume of the waste. |
| Hazardous waste | Waste materials that pose a substantial threat to human health or the environment due to their toxic nature |
| Biodegradable waste | Organic waste that can naturally decompose, returning nutrients to the soil without causing harm. |
| E-waste | Electronic waste, including discarded electronic devices and equipment, often containing hazardous materials. |
| Waste-to-energy | The process of generating energy from waste materials through incineration or other technological methods. |
| Circular economy | An economic system that aims to minimise waste and make the most of resources by promoting recycling and reusing. |
Discover Cutting-Edge Waste Management Software
Digitising waste management systems and processes is quickly becoming an industry standard as businesses seek greater control over operations and look for ways to streamline internal processes. Greater efficiency, improved cash flow and cost savings are some of the benefits that can be realised.
The Government is also looking to roll out more digital reporting in future, for example mandatory digital waste tracking, so transitioning to a fully digital system now future proofs your business.
Our waste management software unlocks the full potential of your waste management operations by enabling you to efficiently track and plan operational logistics through cost-saving digital processes.
Take a look at how our waste management software could help your business or book a demo of the software to see it in action and speak to a waste management software specialist.
Efficiently track and plan operational logistics with waste management software
Waste management FAQs
How can waste management businesses ensure compliance with environmental regulations?
Effective waste management starts by understanding the applicable regulations a business faces at local, regional and national levels. Companies should run regular waste audits against this criteria to assess the types and volumes of waste they produce and process, which then feeds into planning appropriate storage and disposal for different waste materials.
What role does technology play in optimising waste management processes for organisations?
Waste management software helps businesses streamline their operations and disposal workflows. Specialised platforms assist in route optimisation, scheduling and data analysis. Real-time data dashboards enable companies to gain valuable insights into capacity, route planning, inventory levels, equipment and completions. The right software will make it easier to pull reports that demonstrate compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Is waste management software easy to scale with a business as it grows?
Yes, modern waste management systems are usually designed with scalability in mind. It’s worth doing your research to find a solution that can adapt to handle bigger data volumes, additional service routes and more complex waste management needs as your business grows or diversifies. Look for agile solutions that offer the ability to plug in complementary modules and functionalities as and when needed, as this helps to keep costs down and ensures the same software remains viable in the long term.
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