How can you identify and prioritize waste reduction opportunities with an EMS?

Waste reduction is not only good for the environment, but also for your business. It can help you save costs, improve efficiency, and enhance your reputation. But how can you identify and prioritize the best opportunities for waste reduction in your organization? One way is to use an environmental management system (EMS), a set of policies, procedures, and practices that help you monitor and improve your environmental performance. Here are some steps to follow:

1 Assess your current situation

The first step is to understand your current waste generation and management. You can do this by conducting a waste audit, which involves measuring and analyzing the types, sources, and destinations of your waste. A waste audit can help you identify the areas and processes where you produce the most waste, and the potential environmental impacts and costs associated with it. You can also compare your performance with industry benchmarks and best practices, and identify any legal or regulatory requirements that apply to your waste management.

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Peter Otávio Costa .'. CPESG / CPC-A

CEO da Eco Mundi Consultoria e Gestão | Palestrante | Mentor | Professor | Advogado Socioambiental | Perito Judicial Ambiental
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A correta gestão de resíduos envolve diversas etapas e conhecer as particularidades de cada uma delas é um fator estratégico para a elaboração de um SGA realmente efetivo. A primeira é o diagnóstico de todos os pontos que envolvem a gestão de resíduos, incluindo os tipos de resíduo gerado, a quantidade, a periodicidade, os procedimentos de segregação, identificação, acondicionamento, coleta, transporte e correta destinação final. Deve-se conhecer a legislação, normas e diretrizes aplicáveis a cada segmento e principalmente quais os órgãos envolvidos na parte de fiscalização, licenciamento e controle de todos oa stakeholders. Esse diagnóstico inicial é fundamental para a elaboração de um SGA eficiente, eficaz e em conformidade.

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Sougata Bera
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-Conduct a waste audit and ensure regulatory compliance. -Set clear waste reduction objectives aligned with goals. -Engage stakeholders for diverse insights. -Prioritize high-impact areas for improvement. -Implement technologies and quantify significant waste streams. -Train employees, establish monitoring systems, and benchmark performance. -Explore innovative solutions and conduct cost-benefit analysis. -Document and report progress regularly within the EMS framework.

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Mohammad Salman

Business Consulting / Sustainability Management
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An Environmental Management System (EMS) facilitates the identification and prioritization of waste reduction opportunities through a cycle of assessment, identification of environmental impacts, compliance with legal requirements, goal setting, monitoring progress, and continuous improvement. This structured approach helps organizations systematically reduce waste and enhance environmental performance.

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2 Set your goals and targets

The next step is to define your waste reduction goals and targets, based on your waste audit results and your business objectives. You can use the SMART criteria to make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, you can set a goal to reduce your paper waste by 20% in one year, or to divert 80% of your organic waste from landfill by composting. You should also assign roles and responsibilities for achieving your goals, and allocate the necessary resources and budget.

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Sagar Siripuram

WELL™ AP | ActiveScore AP | IGBC™ AP| LCA consultant | Sustainable materials | Circularity | OPFA fellow 2023 | UPG Sustainability Leader/Champion 2023 |
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Assess your current situation by conducting a comprehensive review of environmental aspects, waste generation, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement. Use tools like environmental audits, waste audits, and stakeholder surveys to gather data and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats relevant to waste reduction within your organization.

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3 Implement your action plan

The third step is to develop and implement an action plan to achieve your waste reduction goals and targets. You can use the waste hierarchy as a framework to prioritize your actions, based on the environmental and economic benefits of each option. The waste hierarchy consists of five levels: prevention, reuse, recycling, recovery, and disposal. Prevention is the most preferred option, as it involves avoiding or reducing waste generation at the source. Reuse, recycling, and recovery are the next options, as they involve extending the life or value of waste materials. Disposal is the least preferred option, as it involves sending waste to landfill or incineration.

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4 Monitor and review your progress

The final step is to monitor and review your progress towards your waste reduction goals and targets, and to evaluate the effectiveness of your action plan. You can do this by collecting and analyzing data on your waste generation and management, and by using indicators and metrics to measure your performance. You should also communicate your results to your stakeholders, such as your employees, customers, suppliers, and regulators, and celebrate your achievements. You should also identify any gaps or challenges, and make adjustments or improvements to your action plan as needed.

Using an EMS can help you identify and prioritize waste reduction opportunities in a systematic and structured way. It can also help you integrate waste reduction into your overall environmental strategy, and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you identify and prioritize waste reduction opportunities with an EMS?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Assess your current situation

2 Set your goals and targets

3 Implement your action plan

4 Monitor and review your progress

5 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Consulting

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How can you identify and prioritize waste reduction opportunities with an EMS?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Assess your current situation

2 Set your goals and targets

3 Implement your action plan

4 Monitor and review your progress

5 Here’s what else to consider

Environmental Consulting

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