How to improve recycling and waste in your business

There are several ways you can improve recycling in your business, address waste-related issues, and save money. This article offers some helpful tips.

Why should your business recycle and reduce waste?

• It can save you money. A recycling bin is cheaper than a general waste of the same size! For hospitality, ordering the correct amount of produce can save you money in food wastage.
• It can bring new customers. Many people want to spend money at businesses that are socially and environmentally repsonsible.
• It helps the environment. We all need to do our part to make the climate livable for the next generation.

Simple steps to make recycling and reducing waste easy

Your business produces waste every day. Follow these simple steps to make recycling and reducing waste easy for your staff and customers.

1. Set up your bins inside

The best way to increase recycling is to ensure your inside bins match your outside bins (check out the colours on the next page). Using matching colour tape, labels and signage on your inside bins helps you sort recycling correctly before it hits the dumpster. If you have bins that customers access, make sure they are clearly signed.

2. Install signage

Put up colour-coordinated signs for each type of bin outside. (Refer to the second page colours.) To obtain signage, contact your local council or request from your private waste contractor.

3. Do you need more recycling options?

Add recycling streams that are appropriate to your business. Speak to your local council or private waste contractor about options and costs, and find recycling points for other
hard-to-recycle materials.

Standardised recycling colours

Victoria is moving toward standardised colours and bin lids for different types of recycling and waste. Match your inside bins with these colours to help staff understand which bin to use:

• Yellow: mixed recycling
• Blue: cardboard and paper recycling
• Green: food and garden organics (FOGO)
• Purple: glass
• Red: general waste

Other types of recycling (like soft plastic, 10c container deposit scheme (CDS), clothing donation, ground coffee, etc) do not have standardised colours. Make sure you correctly label your inside bins for these types.

How to engage with your business’ private waste contractor

Is your business serviced by a private waste contractor? Follow these tips on how you can solve waste-related issues, save money and increase your recycling:

Why is this important?

• You may be being overcharged in collection fees or overweight fees.
• You can request a new bin set-up that is cheaper and has more recycling options.
• You can get ahead of the increasing waste levy rates and begin improving your recycling now.
• You can take direct action on climate change while educating yourself on your options.
• You can help your community support recycling and decrease waste sent to landfill.

1. Identify the need or problem

You might be experiencing issues with your waste. Consider:

• Are your waste bills expensive?
• Do you throw a lot of recycling in the general waste?
• Do others dump waste at your bins?
• Is the customer service poor when you speak to your waste contractor?

2. If you want cheaper rates:

• Consider swapping a general waste bin to a recycling bin (see number 3). These bins often have cheaper rates.Ideally, you should have one general waste bin and multiple types of recycling.

3. If you want to recycle more:

• Get to know your options. Mixed recycling is good for cans, glass and plastic containers, cardboard is great to recycle delivery boxes and a food organics bin is best for food scraps.
• Think about what recyclables your business produces the most of. Once you know this, you can call your waste contractor and request an appropriate recycling bin. Make sure your contract allows you to make changes without any fees. If your landlord controls your bins, reach out to them to make changes.

4. If you have security issues:

• You can request waste contractors add locks to your bins. This is helpful if you experience dumping near your bins, or if other people use your bins when they are not supposed to. Locks are a cheap way to reduce contamination and dumping by others in your bins.

5. If you are not happy with your contractor, you can find a new one:

• If the service is poor or you feel your contractor is not being honest or transparent about their processes and outcomes, consider changing. Every trader should have a waste plan that is affordable and suitable for them. Begin by reviewing your waste contract for termination information and any associated fees for cancellation or changing your contract. You can easily call other waste contractors that may have more recycling streams available or better pricing. Contact them directly to compare rates.

For more support and information addressing issues with your waste and recycling, reach out to your local council.

This information is supplied on behalf of Sustainability Victoria and the Victoria State Government. This project is being delivered by Reground with support from the lead council, City of Whittlesea, along with 13 other participating councils, and assistance from Sustainability Victoria’s Circular Economy Councils Fund on behalf of the Victorian Government.