The guide to improving waste management in the warehouse

Did you know that today, more than 90% of waste from industry and commerce is recycled and 60-70% of this waste is recycled? The efforts made in recent years by companies in terms of waste treatment and disposal have therefore been considerable.And are you at your best in terms of waste management in your warehouse? Find out in this article how to manage the 5 waste streams in your warehouse, from good practices to essential equipment. MicrosoftTeams-image (4)-1

Why should you be interested in waste management in your warehouse?

First of all, as you may know, all companies are now legally obliged to carry out advanced waste management. In line with the law on energy transition (dating from 2015 ), the French Environment Code requires that all companies have to manage their waste in a sustainable manner

Paper and cardboard
Metal
Plastic
Glass
Wood

the objective is to recover as much waste as possible. Once the service provider responsible for the selective collection of these different flows has removed the waste, it takes it to a recovery centre, where it can then be transformed into recycled products, compost or energy. Each year, companies must receive a certificate from their service providers attesting to their annual collection and recovery

Good to know: The sorting of office paper is also compulsory for organisations with more than 20 employees, but small businesses are also encouraged to do so, to ensure that they participate in the circular economy!

What strategy should you use to manage waste in your warehouse?

To ensure that your 5 waste streams are properly managed, discover an action plan based on ADEME’s recommendations.

Take stock of your warehouse

First step: analyse your waste collection needs. To do this, you need to assess the volume of waste your warehouse produces, separating the 5 different streams in your calculation. Proceed by multiplying the volume of the collection bin you use by the number of waste collections per week. Repeat the same process for each of the 5 waste streams. This will give you a good idea of the costs of having a service provider handle your waste

Good to know: Your local Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) or Chamber of Trades and Crafts (CMA) can help you carry out a diagnosis of your current waste management, and estimate the costs of managing it.

finding the right treatment and recovery service providers

Secondly, you will need to find the service providers that are best suited to your needs. Be aware that some company waste, similar to household waste (green waste, organic waste, etc.), can be collected by your local public services: start by finding out whether you can use these services. For your other types of waste, you will need to find a private service provider. To do this, you can turn to players such as the Syndicat National des Entrepreneurs de la Filière Déchet (National Union of Waste Sector Contractors ) or the Fédération Professionnelle Des Entreprises du Recyclage (FEDEREC)

Good to know: Some private service providers may refuse to take charge of your 5 waste streams if the volume to be handled is too small. If this is your case, launch a local collective initiative (for example with other companies close to yours), to gather your different waste streams and have them collected in a grouped manner.

implement

selective sorting in the warehouse

Ready to ensure optimal waste sorting in your logistics warehouse? To do so, you will need to..

Install the right equipment in your warehouse. The objective is to separate the 5 flows at source, to ensure that they are properly sorted. You will find out later in the article what equipment you need to acquire to do this.
Make your operators and staff aware of the sorting of these 5 flows. Waste management is still not self-evident for many people: make sure you set up small training sessions to enable your employees to use the right collection bins.
Clear signage in the warehouse: posters calling for waste separation near the packing areas and clear labelling of the collection bins: nothing is too much trouble to ensure that waste is collected and separated properly.

apply daily monitoring of your 5-stream management

A good waste management strategy in the warehouse requires constant and careful monitoring. In particular, think about providing micro-training in the management of the 5 streams for your new employees or service providers. And don’t forget to ask your collection service provider for your annual waste collection and recovery certificate!

Good to know: Eco-responsibility requires regular internal communication to be applied properly. Do not hesitate to communicate internally regularly on the results of your waste management, and to open a dialogue on the best way to limit the environmental impact of your warehouse.

what equipment is needed to implement good management of the 5 waste streams?

For optimal waste management in the warehouse, you will need to have the right equipment. In particular, think about installing the following in the warehouse.. gestion-5-flux-conteneurs clearly distinguishable containers or bins for the 5 waste streams. If your waste management inventory has been carried out properly, you will have a clear idea of the volume of waste that your containers should accommodate. Choose bins with the appropriate volume: from cardboard sorting bins to 60-litre sorting bins or 100-litre containers, there is a wide choice, depending on your needs. gestion-dechets-sac-poubelle Different coloured bin liners to ensure that selective sorting is properly implemented sac-poubelle-recycle-gestion-5-flux Recycled bin liners for the green binSpecific containers for hazardous waste (e.g. in the pharmaceuticals sector)

Recygo : une solution clé-en-main pour la gestion de vos 5 flux dans l’entrepôt

Besoin d’une solution tout-compris et simple à mettre en place pour assurer la collecte et le traitement de vos différents types de déchets ? La solution Recygo, en partenariat avec RAJA, peut vous accompagner.

5 types de collecteurs existent, pour trier les cartons, les papiers confidentiels, les gobelets, les bouteilles et canettes, ou encore les cartouches d’imprimante.

Une fois vos collecteurs sélectionnés, vous les installez dans votre entrepôt, et les remplissez à votre rythme. Dès que ceux-ci sont prêts à être collectés, vous vous rendez sur le site web Recygo : votre facteur prend alors en charge la collecte de vos déchets à la date de votre choix. La solution vous permet, chaque année, de télécharger votre attestation de valorisation des déchets collectés.

to go further in the eco-responsibility of your warehouse

Do you want to go further in the eco-responsibility of your warehouse? Remember: the best waste is the one you don’t produce! To reduce your waste production, take an interest in limiting the use of raw materials in your supply chain. To do this, you can

Use the right packaging: reusable packaging, bio-based packaging, packaging with integrated cushioning, or simply packaging that is really adapted to the size and volume of your products: there are many solutions to ensure that you use just the right amount of raw materials.
Educate your teams on eco-responsible practices: your operators must know how to choose the right weight/volume packaging, or use the right amount of cushioning to ensure that your products are protected in an eco-responsible manner.

in short, an audit of your current packaging strategy can help you to significantly reduce your waste in the warehouse, and therefore the costs associated with it. If you need support in this process, contact RAJA’s advisors, and start finding greener logistics solutions now!