4 Waste Management Tips for Supermarkets

06 Jun 4 Waste Management Tips for Supermarkets

4 Waste Management Tips for SupermarketsAs businesses around the country strive to improve their environmental efforts, the importance of recycling in the retail industry has never been more apparent.

Supermarkets feature some of the highest volumes of recyclable materials used as packaging for their products, highlighting how important it is for these businesses to utilize efficient waste management strategies.

In doing so, supermarkets can effectively increase recycling and reduce the billions of dollars’ worth of recyclable containers and packages (much of which are used in supermarkets) that are thrown away each year in the country.

There are many simple but effective measures that can be used to improve your recycling efforts.

Here are 4 waste management tips for supermarkets:

Encourage Reusable Bags
Many countries throughout Europe have implemented fees for plastic and paper bags found in supermarkets, leading to a massive reduction in the use of these bags that are typically thrown away after a single use.

For instance, Scotland introduced a 5 pound charge for plastic carrier bags in 2014 and saw an 80% reduction in the first year alone!

So, try to encourage the use of reusable bags! Whether paper, plastic, or canvas, you can offer incentives for customers that bring their own bags to the store, or simply place a small charge of single use bags that will encourage them to bring their bags when shopping.

Invest in Recycling Equipment
There are many types of recycling equipment that a supermarket can invest in to improve their waste management processes. Perhaps the best type of hardware for a supermarket is a baler, which compresses cardboard containers and other recycling materials common in a supermarket.

In doing so, you can reduce the volume of recycling waste, allowing you to store it for longer on site. This reduces the number of trips to a recycling center and can increase the overall volume of recycling.

Offer More Recycling Options
It’s important to offer both customers and employees more recycling options. To do this, simply add more recycling bins in and outside of the store, allowing customers and employees to put their waste in recycling bins rather than just general waste.

The more recycling options available the better, such as including disposal bins for things like fresh produce, plastics, cardboards, metals etc.

A Different Approach to Disposing Food Waste
One of the more overlooked waste issues in a supermarket is with fresh produce. With a short shelf life, fresh food makes up a large bulk of waste produced by supermarkets, and amply throwing these away with general waste is unnecessary.

For example, fresh food waste can be collected and stored for composting rather than sending to a landfill site. Local waste management services will likely be able to arrange composting bins and the removal of the waste, ensuring all food waste is put to good use!

Another option would be to donate foods that soon expire. Consider partnering with a local charity or food bank where you arrange for regular donations of excess foods and items that would otherwise be thrown out – it greatly reduces waste and builds a strong relationship with your local community!

H-West Equipment, Inc is a provider of recycling equipment, based in Orange, CA.  We sell and service every piece of equipment necessary, from Balers to Compactors, to ShreddersConveyors, and much more throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and Northern Mexico. We also provide parts and expert service throughout the same coverage area. For a consultation, or to schedule service, reach us through our contact form or call us at our corporate office in Orange CA at (714) 289-7733 today!