--- title: Don’t waste your waste | How to make money from your waste description: With a national economy in flux and climate change banging at the door, there’s no room for a ‘business as usual’ approach to leadership. image: https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(13)-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/) # Don’t waste your waste | How to make money from your waste By [Bertie Lourens](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/author/bertie-lourens) 14th March 2019 [Cost Efficiency](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/tag/cost-efficiency) [![Don’t waste your waste | How to make money from your waste](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(13)-1.png)](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/dont-waste-your-waste-how-to-make-money-from-your-waste) **We get it - it’s tough out there. With a national economy in flux, global markets in shift, and climate change banging at the door, there’s no room for a ‘business as usual’ approach to leadership. You have to make your company ultra agile - less hull, more sails - to steer your organisation through tumultuous 21st century change.** Practically, that means you need to save [costs](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/where-does-your-waste-go-infographic) and reduce your waste streams, so that both your business and the environment benefit. But how? Glad you asked. Here’s a guide to get you going: **Start with a gap analysis** Look at all the areas where you’re producing waste. How do you [dispose of it currently](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/waste-reduction-vs-waste-disposal-and-reducing-your-carbon-footprint)? Could any of it be reused or [recycled?](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/recycling-johannesburg-city-takes-action) Are your business activities as efficient and streamlined as they best can be? From food waste to production processes, leave no stone unturned when conducting an honest, thorough analysis of your current practices. Bring in an expert if you’re unsure how you could improve - and believe us, there are often creative solutions you might not have considered. ## **Get perspective** Have a look at industry guides and see how your company’s performance compares to that of others in your industry. Look for best practice examples to inspire and help you think outside the box when it comes to waste reduction. ## **Educate, educate, educate** There’s no point implementing a waste reduction campaign if your staff isn’t on board and empowered to run with it. Be sure that a solid communication plan is in place, which involves online educational and marketing tools, as well as regular face to face meetings. ## **Make a plan** Identify those areas where you spend the most on waste (like energy consumption, raw material usage, waste disposal and so on). Sit with your staff and unpack the strengths and weaknesses of your current methodologies. Maybe old equipment needs upgrading, staff need training, or you’re just applying antiquated, wasteful working practices? Work out a strategy with articulated goals and deadlines, and then begin to apply it with complete company buy-in. (That plan could include:) **Cutting down on excess packaging** Getting rid of single use packaging can [save your company millions](http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/smm/wastewise/wrr/cost.htm). Rather trade in disposables for renewables where you can. Identify the ‘excess’ in your packaging and quantify the incentivising costs you’ll save if you eliminate them from your production cycles. **Recycling your e-waste** Promote e-waste recycling as an incentive in the office. Put out bins where staff are encouraged to bring their old electronics from home or the office, and articulate its financial benefits as part of your broader business strategy to reduce waste costs. **Managing your organic waste** If you’re serious about moving towards [zero waste](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/reuse-reduce-recycle-renew-the-journey-to-zero-waste-to-landfill-part-1), you have to get serious about recycling your organic, or compostable, waste. Food waste from canteens and pause areas can easily be composted on site, and the finished compost can be used in the company gardens and pot plants. And lastly… ## **Think entrepreneurially** Within your various waste streams, there are money-making gaps abound. Whether it’s your [food waste](https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/the-corporate-conscience-channeling-food-waste-for-social-benefit), e-waste, or other inorganic materials that can be sold off for recycling, there are ample opportunities to profit from third party partnerships with your waste management provider. --- Interested to know more? [Book a consultation session](https://www.wasteplan.co.za/contact-us/) with our team of experts to learn how you can streamline your waste streams and financially benefit from your savings. **Subscribe to our blog to stay in touch with us, as we co-partner in this zero waste journey.** [![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 Why we choose to reduce waste, not just remove it ### Next Post Setting the record straight | Waste management myths ![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" : "2021-07-14T14:47:51.465Z", "datePublished" : "2019-03-14T11:02:00.000Z", "headline" : "Don’t waste your waste | How to make money from your waste", "image" : [ "https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(13)-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.wasteplan.co.za/blog/dont-waste-your-waste-how-to-make-money-from-your-waste", "@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" } } ```