Businesses’ attempts to reduce costs and waste of consumable janitorial products is nothing new and methods of doing so evolve with time. These products include everything from soap to toilet paper to trash can liners and reducing usage will not only save money but also minimize environmental impacts. One of the products most commonly discussed as of late are trash can liners as there are many simple ways to cut back on their usage.
Eliminate the Liner
Trash liners are really only necessary in situations where the trash being disposed of is liquid, food or potentially-contaminated waste. Plenty of trash cans within businesses only ever catch paper and other dry trash- a liner in these cans can easily be eliminated altogether without any consequence to its removal from the building. The janitorial service then dumps the contents from these liner-less cans into a single larger liner collecting waste throughout the facility.
Many businesses also find that pest and odor problems result when food trash is thrown out in individual desk trash cans. Removing the liner motivates employees to only dispose of food waste in the appropriate kitchen receptacles that are equipped with a liner. This solves multiple issues all at once.
Centralize Waste Centers
This practice can be implemented in any size facility but naturally has the greatest impact on cost and product waste in larger office settings. In lieu of an individual trash can at each desk, one central garbage can for every group of so many desks is allotted. Most employees don’t generate enough trash to justify a can all to themselves. Eliminating individual cans eliminates the need for liners and in a big enough facility, can even reduce janitorial service costs. If the cleaning crew only empties 30 larger, centralized cans each evening instead of 300 smaller desk cans, the time saved can be rather impressive equating to dollars saved.
Reducing the Environmental Impact
Businesses of all shapes and sizes are joining the movement to reduce their environmental impact and for good reason. Whether you are a LEED certified facility or just an organization trying to be more conscious of your carbon footprint, reducing the amount of trash liners consumed can have a significant impact on the environment. Plastic trash liners can take up to 300 years to fully disintegrate while releasing toxic materials into the soil and groundwater, eventually entering the food chain. Plastic liners can also have hazardous effects on wildlife, especially in oceans and waterways where they can choke and smother sea-life.
Many members of the younger generations already have the environment in mind with daily life activities. Getting them on-board is quite easy and is also respected when it comes to protecting our planet’s well-being. Being an eco-conscious business can be just one more attractive talent recruiting tool to these groups.
What environmentally conscious practices does your business employ? What have you found that works in reducing the costs of consumables within your workplace? Reach out to us on-line at www.tedescoservices.com with your ideas or questions regarding janitorial services that we can be of help with.