Facilities Manager's Desk Reference, 3rd Edition

35Waste Management

35.1 Introduction

Waste is a man‐made problem! Waste can be defined as any discarded substance or object for which the owner has no further use or need. It applies to materials, services and products. Waste is classified by the harm it can do and its origin. It can be controlled waste (e.g. household, industrial, commercial), hazardous waste (e.g. dangerous, toxic, flammable, irritant, carcinogenic, radioactive, chemical, clinical) or inert waste (e.g. some building materials).

An effective waste management process is essential to comply with ever‐strengthening legislation and environmental concerns. The ‘producer pays and the polluter pays’ principle underpins the legislation in Europe. There is a requirement for an organisation to consider all areas of its operation from specification and procurement of all goods and materials to demolition and disposal (the life cycle of products and services). The UK recycles around 45% of its municipal (household) waste, 70% of packaging waste is recycled or recovered. Although this is some way off the ideal of zero waste going to landfill, there is plenty of scope to increase the energy obtained from waste, improve the amount that is recycled and reduce the amount sent to landfill. As materials are increasing in price and resources are becoming scarce, a new approach to waste management is needed. Priorities include reducing the use of single‐use plastics and increasing the amount of energy obtained from waste.

A waste ...