Eco Active Waste Audit

Government of Jersey

23 Feb 202302:11

Summary

TLDRThis script offers a step-by-step guide to conducting a waste audit in a workplace. It emphasizes the importance of selecting an average day, conducting a risk assessment, and informing staff and cleaning personnel. The process involves emptying and weighing waste, ensuring safety measures are in place, and recording findings. The script concludes with analyzing results to identify areas for improvement in recycling practices and waste reduction, and suggests implementing changes and tracking progress through regular audits.

Takeaways

🧑‍💼 Conduct a waste audit to assess and improve waste management practices at your workplace.
📅 Choose an average day for the audit without revealing the exact date, but inform staff that it will occur.
🔍 Perform a risk assessment and inform cleaning staff to avoid altering waste disposal routines before the audit.
🗑️ Ensure all bins are emptied at the end of the audit day to accurately weigh the waste produced.
📦 Bag and label waste securely to maintain the integrity of the audit data.
🔒 Store waste safely if it cannot be audited immediately to prevent contamination or loss.
🧤 Provide gloves for helpers and remind them of potential hazards like sharp objects in the waste bags.
⚖️ Weigh each bag of waste and record the findings meticulously.
🗑️ Dispose of the waste in the usual manner once the audit is complete.
🔑 Identify strengths and areas for improvement in current waste management practices.
📣 Communicate the audit results and proposed improvements to all staff members.
🔄 Implement the improvements and follow up to ensure the audit's impact is sustained over time.
📈 Conduct multiple audits for more accurate results and tailor waste recording methods to your specific workplace.
📊 Use tally charts or other visual aids next to bins to help track waste production effectively.

Q & A

What is the purpose of conducting a waste audit?
-A waste audit is conducted to assess the types and amounts of waste produced in a workplace, which helps in identifying areas for improvement in waste management and recycling practices.
How long does a waste audit typically cover?
-A waste audit is conducted over a 24-hour period to provide a snapshot of the waste generated in a typical day.
What is the first step in preparing for a waste audit?
-The first step is to select an average day for the audit without informing everyone of the exact date, but informing staff that a waste audit will take place at some point.
Why is it important to inform staff about the waste audit?
-Informing staff ensures they are aware of the audit and prevents them from altering waste disposal habits, such as throwing waste away the night before the audit.
What is the role of a risk assessment in a waste audit?
-A risk assessment helps identify potential hazards associated with the waste audit process, ensuring the safety of all participants and compliance with health and safety regulations.
How should waste be handled and stored during the audit?
-Waste should be emptied from bins, bagged securely, and labeled properly. If waste needs to be stored overnight, it must be stored safely to prevent contamination or health hazards.
What safety measures should be taken during the waste audit?
-Participants should be provided with gloves, and everyone should be reminded to be cautious of sharp items that could be in the waste bags.
What should be done with the waste after the audit is completed?
-The waste should be disposed of in the usual manner, following standard waste disposal protocols.
Why is it important to identify strengths and areas for improvement after the audit?
-Identifying strengths and areas for improvement helps in understanding current waste management practices and guides the implementation of better recycling and waste reduction strategies.
How can the results of the waste audit be utilized effectively?
-The results should be shared with all relevant stakeholders, and improvements should be implemented based on the findings. It's also important to follow up and keep records for comparison with future audits.
What are some top tips for conducting a waste audit?
-Conducting more audits increases accuracy, understanding the unique context of the workplace is crucial for effective waste recording, and using tally charts or weighing bins can help in accurately measuring waste.

Outlines

00:00

🚮 Conducting a Waste Audit for Improved Recycling

This paragraph outlines the process of conducting a waste audit to enhance recycling efforts and reduce waste. It involves weighing different types of waste over a 24-hour period to calculate the weekly, monthly, or yearly waste production. The steps include choosing an average day for the audit, informing staff without specifying the exact date, and conducting a risk assessment. It's important to inform cleaning staff and ensure bins are emptied at the end of the audit day. Safety measures such as gloves and awareness of sharp items are highlighted. After weighing and recording the waste, the findings should be analyzed to identify areas of good practice and potential improvements. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of sharing results and implementing changes. It concludes with tips on increasing the accuracy of audits through repetition and suggests creative ways to track waste, such as using tally charts next to bins.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Waste Audit

A waste audit is a systematic process of measuring the types and amounts of waste generated by an organization or individual over a specific period. It is central to the video's theme of waste reduction and recycling. In the script, the waste audit is described as a simple method to weigh different types of waste over a 24-hour period, which helps in understanding the waste generation pattern and formulating strategies for improvement.

💡Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects, which is a key concept in the video's message of waste management. The script emphasizes the importance of proper recycling practices and suggests that a waste audit can identify areas where recycling can be improved, such as ensuring bins are in the right place and people are recycling properly.

💡Risk Assessment

A risk assessment is a systematic evaluation of potential hazards and the likelihood of adverse events occurring. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a preparatory step for conducting a waste audit, ensuring the safety of staff and compliance with health and safety regulations. It is crucial for planning how to handle waste without causing harm.

💡Cleaning Staff

Cleaning staff refers to the employees responsible for maintaining cleanliness in an organization. In the script, it is mentioned that they should be informed about the waste audit to avoid any interference with the process, such as throwing waste away the night before the audit, which could skew the results.

💡Bins

Bins are containers used for storing waste. The script describes how bins should be emptied and their contents weighed during the waste audit. Bins are also mentioned in the context of being strategically located for ease of use and recycling.

💡Gloves

Gloves are protective gear worn to prevent direct contact with waste, which could contain harmful substances or sharp objects. The script advises handing out gloves to helpers during the waste audit to ensure safety while handling waste bags.

💡Sharp Items

Sharp items refer to waste materials that have the potential to cause cuts or injuries, such as broken glass or metal. The script reminds participants to be cautious of sharp items that could be in the waste bags during the audit.

💡Waste Disposal

Waste disposal is the process of getting rid of waste materials by placing them in appropriate receptacles or facilities. The script instructs to dispose of the waste in the usual way after the audit, emphasizing the importance of proper waste management even after the audit is completed.

💡Improvements

Improvements refer to the positive changes that can be made based on the findings of the waste audit. The script suggests identifying what is being done well and what could be improved, such as better recycling practices and bin placement, to reduce waste generation.

💡Follow-up

Follow-up is the act of monitoring and ensuring that the results of an action or process are implemented effectively. In the script, it is stressed that after conducting a waste audit, one should follow up on the findings and implement the suggested improvements to make the audit results count.

💡Tally Chart

A tally chart is a simple tool used for counting and recording data. The script suggests using a tally chart next to bins as a method for recording the waste produced at a site, which can help in tracking waste generation over time.

Highlights

A waste audit helps in reducing waste and improving recycling practices without manual sorting.

Conducting a waste audit involves weighing different types of waste over a 24-hour period.

The audit's results can be used to calculate weekly, monthly, or yearly waste production.

Select an average day for the audit without informing everyone of the exact date.

Inform staff about the upcoming waste audit without specifying the day.

Perform a risk assessment, possibly with the help of a health and safety officer.

Notify cleaning staff about the audit to avoid waste disposal the night before.

Ensure all bins are emptied at the end of the audit day for accurate results.

Bag and securely label waste to maintain organization during the audit.

Weigh each bag of waste and record the findings for analysis.

Dispose of waste in the usual manner after the audit is completed.

Identify areas of good performance and areas needing improvement in waste management.

Ensure proper recycling practices and optimal bin placement for convenience.

Communicate the audit's findings and proposed improvements to all staff.

Implement the improvements suggested by the audit to make a positive impact.

Follow up on the audit's results to ensure continuous improvement in waste management.

Keep records of the audit results for comparison in future audits.

Increase accuracy by conducting more audits over time.

Every workplace is unique, and staff are best suited to suggest improvements in waste recording.

For bins without bags, weigh the bin empty and subtract its weight after use.

Use a tally chart next to bins to track waste production effectively.