New Year, Greener Goals: How to set up a sustainable New Year Resolution for your business

Waste management company helps firms set up a New Year Resolution for their business.

The start of a new year is the perfect time for your organisation to set fresh goals to improve its recycling and waste management practices. It’s even more timely as Defra’s simpler recycling plans for 2025 are on the horizon and the UK’s 65% recycling rate target for 2030 edges ever closer.

Divert offers inspiration to improve your company’s waste management practices in the new year with these eight recycling resolutions.

1.     Give up single-use plastic

Single-use plastic products aren’t recyclable and many end up in landfill. Some single-use plastics were banned in the UK from the start of October 2023, including cutlery, plates, bowls, trays, and balloon sticks. However, many businesses still provide plastic bags and use disposable containers. Make a resolution to remove all single-use plastic from your operations and replace it with recyclable materials.

2.     Commit to two recycling audits

Conduct an audit of your current commercial recycling activities early in the new year. This should highlight what types of recyclable waste your business produces, where you already recycle rubbish, and areas for improvement. Use the audit results to introduce new bins if necessary. Carry out recycling audits every six months to ensure your recycling rates are improving and to identify any other opportunities.

3.     Set recycling rate goals

Having a defined aim helps your business focus on ways to improve its recycling, track progress, and identify any opportunities. Set goals such as improving your overall recycling efforts by 50%, recycling all paper waste, or ensuring no recyclable rubbish ends up in general waste. Tailor the goals based on your organisation at the start of the year and make time to review them every few months.

4.     Use the best bins for your business

From March 2025, all UK businesses will legally need to separate glass, metal, plastic, paper and card (can be combined), and food waste. Get a head start by introducing bins for each recycling stream sooner. Assess how much you produce of each material to determine the best bin sizes to use and how often you need them collected from your site.

5.     Become a paperless business

Make this the year your company finally ditches paper for good. Many businesses have already gone fully digital and doing so means you’ll create less paper waste. A few ideas to move towards being a paperless organisation are:

·       Offer email receipts

·       Move catalogues and newsletters online

·       Place QR codes on tables instead of menus

·       Advertise on social media rather than with leaflets

·       Send out pay cheques online

To get inspired with some most sustainability goals read our full blog on https://www.divert.co.uk/8-recycling-resolutions-for-your-business-in-the-new-year/ .