--- title: 8 insights into waste management data description: Here are 8 essential attributes that you should expect from your waste management data. It is important that you know exactly where your waste is going. image: https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(11)-1.png --- [![wasteplan logo_white and yellow](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hs-fs/hubfs/AAA%20-%20NEW%20BRAND%202023/wasteplan%20logo_white%20and%20yellow.png?width=270&height=70&name=wasteplan%20logo_white%20and%20yellow.png "wasteplan logo_white and yellow")](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/) # 8 insights into waste management data By [Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/author/bertie-lourens) 23rd May 2019 [Waste Management](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/waste-management) [![8 insights into waste management data](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(11)-1.png)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/8-insights-into-waste-management-data) **Thomas Redman once said, “Where there is data smoke, there is business fire.” In today’s world of business, data is everything. As companies strive to keep ahead, in constant pursuit of their innovative mojo, data insight will increasingly help inform better business decisions. Here are 8 essential attributes that you should expect from your waste management data:** ## 1. Accurate and reliable Your data needs to give you a realistic, inerrant overview and insight into your company’s [waste management practices](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/reuse-reduce-recycle-renew-the-journey-to-zero-waste-to-landfill-part-1). Only then can you understand what’s needed to set [strategies](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/is-south-africa-getting-smarter) and optimise best practice behaviour. ## 2. Readily accessible Your data should be accessible on demand and readily available at all times. You should have a digital platform that offers easy access to all relevant data insights, along with an approachable [waste management partner](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/how-to-choose-the-right-waste-disposal-company-checklist), who can help steer direction and inform decisions. ## 3. Up-to-date Accuracy is also time-bound; and so information needs to offer the most current snapshot of your business landscape. [Data](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/is-south-africa-getting-smarter)is only relevant if it reflects the ‘here and now’ reality of your organisation. ## 4. Diverse in presentation Data insights should not have to come [with a dictionary](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/say-what-waste-management-terminology-guide); they should be easily read and comprehensible across the board. This means that they should be interesting to look at - enriched with graphs and charts that substantiate its findings. --- **Interested to know more about how you can save? Let’s set up some time to discuss it. [![Setup consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4001940/3c7befff-6026-46f1-8559-68a95bb1267a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4001940/3c7befff-6026-46f1-8559-68a95bb1267a)** --- ## 5. Comprehensive You should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for - immediately - when you access your company’s data. For example, [how much waste have you produced](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/reuse-reduce-recycle-renew-the-journey-to-zero-waste-to-landfill-part-2) in general as an organisation? [Per site](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/where-does-your-waste-go-infographic)? What kinds of waste are you producing? What is the central point of generation? Data should be captured on a broad spectrum so that you can interrogate down to the most specific of categories. ## 6. Contextual You need more than raw data; you need to understand the [industry at large](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/is-south-africa-getting-smarter), and how your company performs relative to it. It’s no good getting cold feedback that lacks any interpretive context. You need relevant statistics and insight into market trends so that you can make sense of where you are and where you want to be. ## 7. Customisable Every company has a unique set of needs that drives and informs its direction. Your data should be designed to suit your particular package. Information needs to be amenable and flexible by design, custom built and tailored to move your business forward. ## 8. Importable And lastly, [streamlining](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/dont-waste-your-waste-how-to-make-money-from-your-waste) your data is a necessity. You should be able to easily import your information into your reporting system, if needed. --- **Subscribe to our blog and join the conversation on how we can build better, greener businesses. [![Sign me up](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4001940/b4c312f9-0441-43f0-b20c-6987735ced51.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4001940/b4c312f9-0441-43f0-b20c-6987735ced51)**   ### **Sign up for our monthly newsletter** [![What can you recycle](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4001940/1be954d0-27f0-48ea-9a4d-8c5fc5ac7f2d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4001940/1be954d0-27f0-48ea-9a4d-8c5fc5ac7f2d) ### CATEGORIES - [Waste Management (53)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/waste-management) - [Cost Efficiency (12)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/cost-efficiency) - [Social Responsibility (11)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/social-responsibility) - [Recycling (8)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/recycling) - [Compliance (7)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/compliance) - [Waste Legislation (4)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/waste-legislation) - [ESG (2)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/esg) - [Insider (2)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/insider) - [SHEQ (1)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/sheq) - [SMARTMATTA (1)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/smartmatta) See all ### RECENT POSTS ### Previous Post Don't trash your brand: The real impact waste has on your business ### Next Post Reuse, reduce, recycle, renew: The journey to zero waste to landfill \[Pt2\] ![Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design.png) ### *Author* Bertie Lourens [More posts by Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/author/bertie-lourens) ##### SUSTAINABILITY - [ESG](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/esg-environmental-social-and-governance-explained-by-wasteplan/) - [Sustainability Indicators](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Sustainability%20Indicators) - [Sustainability Audits](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Sustainability%20Audits) - [Health and Safety](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Sustainability%20Audits-,Health%20and%20Safety,-Corporate%20Social%20Investment) - [Corporate Social Investment](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/#:~:text=Corporate%20Social%20Investment) - [Iso Certification](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/iso-certification-waste-management/) ##### SITEMAP - [Resources](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/resources/) - [GAP Analysis](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/waste-management-services/waste-audit/) - [View our disclaimer](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/mail-disclaimer/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/terms-and-conditions/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/privacy-policy/) - [PAIA Manual](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PAIA-Manual.pdf) - [Careers](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/careers/) ##### ABOUT - [The WastePlan Promise](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#promise) - [Our Values](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#values) - [Sales & CRM Team](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#team) - [Nika](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/about/#nika) ##### CONTACT **[Book a waste gap analysis](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/waste-management-services/waste-audit/)** to find out how we can reduce your waste to landfill. - [086 111 6699](https://ycik.co.za/staging/wasteplan-and-smartmatta-customer-testimonials/#) - [info@wasteplan.co.za](mailto:info@wasteplan.co.za)   We manage waste on-site in a way that it will save you money, assist you with compliance and reduce waste to landfill. We sort and recycle as much as possible before disposing only the minimum waste to landfill. [![Waste Plan Logo](https://ycik.co.za/staging/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/wasteplan-logo-blue-and-white.png)](https://ycik.co.za/staging/)     ![BBBEE_comp_white](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Website%20work/BBBEE_comp_white.svg)   ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Bertie Lourens", "url" : "https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/author/bertie-lourens" }, "dateModified" : "2020-03-12T06:17:40.425Z", "datePublished" : "2019-05-23T08:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "8 insights into waste management data", "image" : [ "https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(11)-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/8-insights-into-waste-management-data", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/WastePlan%20logo_white%20bg__116x26mm_2023.png" }, "name" : "WastePlan Holdings PTY Limited" } } ```