Training your teams to sort: Sustainable impact guaranteed !
Companies produce a phenomenal amount of waste each year. A quantity that represents about 750 million of garbage per year, all sectors combined. Sorting waste is a challenge for the planet, but also a source of savings when sorting is well prepared, carried out and managed. Currently, 46% of the French work in offices and each one of them produces between 120 and 140 kg of waste on site, per year. Companies must therefore mobilize their teams to involve them in to sort wastes. Find out what to do for training your teams in waste sorting.
The Challenges of Waste Sorting in Companies
Waste management – including sorting, collection, recovery and disposal – involves many challenges for businesses. In addition to improving their environmental performance, effective waste management helps meet stakeholder expectations, reduce costs and ‘improve brand image.
Below we list the main internal and external issues associated with waste management in companies to help you understand and training your teams to sort.
Internal Issues:
- Cost reduction : Less waste disposal and storage expenses, raw material recovery.
- Operational Efficiency : Internal flow optimization and process improvement.
- Regulatory compliance : Compliance with laws (7 stream sorting, bio-waste, hazardous waste, waste register, etc.) to avoid penalties and fines.
- Employee engagement : Awareness of sustainable practices through selective sorting and zero waste initiatives.
- Talent attraction : Younger generations are favouring companies with a strong environmental commitment.
External Issues:
- Image and reputation : Responsible waste management strengthens the company’s credibility with customers and partners.
- Stakeholder Relationship : Transparency and engagement build trust with clients, investors and local communities.
- Competitive advantage : A well-managed waste management policy becomes an argument for differentiation and retention.
- Reduced carbon footprint : Less waste, more recycling and eco-design = reduced CO² emissions and conserving natural resources.
- Circular economy : Developing partnerships to enhance materials and promote sustainable practices.
Understanding Waste Sorting
Before training your teams to sort and adopting environmentally responsible practices, it is essential to understand waste sorting. This means knowing the types of waste generated in your company and the sorting instructions in force. Here are the basics to get started :
Waste categories:
Waste is divided into four main families:
- Recyclable (paper, plastic, glass, metals).
- Non-recyclable (soiled packaging, non-recyclable plastics).
- Organic (food leftovers).
- Specific (batteries, electronic equipment).
Each requires appropriate treatment.
Sort Instructions:
They vary by region and provider. It is essential toidentify local rules and raise awareness through posters and training.
Business waste analysis:
Identifying the types of waste generated allows adopting solutions adapted to the specific needs of each sector (offices, catering, production).
Benefits of sorting:
- Less environmental impact.
- Reduced waste management costs.
- Improvement of the company’s image through a responsible commitment to the environment.
Barriers to Awareness
Lack of knowledge : Lack of training and confusion on sorting instructions are hampering employee engagement.
Resistance to change : Entrenched habits and perception of a complex process limit the adoption of sorting.
Lack of infrastructure : Insufficient or misplaced sorting points complicate the implementation of selective sorting.
Lack of management involvement : A lack of exemplarity or prioritization by management leads to disengagement of employees.
Lack of follow-up and recognition : Without visible results or appreciation of efforts, motivation decreases.
Ineffective communication : Vague or infrequent messages make awareness less impactful.
Cultural constraints : In some contexts, ecology is not seen as a priority, limiting adherence to sorting.
Strategies to Educate Employees on Waste Sorting
Create an environmental committee of volunteer employees
This environmental committee, made up of employees from various departments. This will play a crucial role in promoting green initiatives within the company. Its primary mission will be to oversee environmental projects, plan outreach activities and foster seamless communication between employees and management. Organizing workshops, conferences and awareness campaigns. The committee will aim to engage all employees in an environmentally responsible approach. This collaborative approach will encourage sustainable practices and strengthen everyone’s involvement in protecting our environment, which is essential for a better future.
Implement sorting solutions in all areas of the company
The implementation of recycling bins is a mandatory measure, simple and the most visible way to support and training your teams to sort within your company.
- Place recycling bins in all common areas
- Make sure these bins are clearly identified and that employees understand how to properly sort their waste.
- Check that the bins are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities!
Implement a composting system for food waste
Composting food waste is a great way to reduce the amount of organic waste generated in your company. Leftovers, peels, flowers faded from your office…
All natural waste, as well as certain processed products (such as tea bags, coffee filters or disposable tissues from organic farming), can be poured into a composter. Greenoffice has specially created a Bio-collect bin to address this need. It is the perfect solution to help you better recycle, optimize and reduce your bio-waste.
Create a mini waste sorting guide to display in common areas
Create a clear, visually appealing and easy to understand waste sorting guide. You will be able to display it in the common areas of the company. Like break rooms and corridors, in order to remove your employees from doubt and improve sorting at the source.
This guide should explain in detail which materials can be recycled, composted or disposed of.
Ensure the guide is regularly updated to reflect changes in sorting practices.
Implementation of Adapted Infrastructures with Greenoffice
Successfully training your teams to sort, having the right infrastructure is essential. With GreenOffice, you benefit from modern, ergonomic and customized sorting solutions to meet your company’s specific needs. Whether it is aesthetic and functional sorting furniture, connected terminals for precise waste tracking, or modular systems to adapt to different spaces, GreenOffice supports you in creating a sorting environment. These intuitive infrastructures, combined with educational tools, simplify the daily routine and encourage your employees to actively engage in an eco-responsible approach.
Engaging Employees with Concrete Actions
Training its teams to a sort, requires concrete actions that make waste sorting simple, accessible and motivating. Some effective strategies include:
- Organize awareness campaigns : Set up interactive workshops or information sessions to explain the issues of recycling and the benefits for business and the environment.
- Install suitable infrastructure : Provide clear and ergonomic sorting solutions. As personalized and connected sorting stations, to simplify the daily recycling gestures.
- Create Goals and Challenges : Launch Eco-Responsible Challenges. Like reducing plastic waste or achieving a precise sorting rate, and reward the best performing teams.
- Appoint Sorting Ambassadors : Designate employees to volunteer as recycling referents. They will be able to motivate their colleagues and answer questions about good practices.
- Report results : Regularly share figures related to recycling in the company. Such as the amount of waste sorted or CO savings made, to show the impact of everyone’s efforts.
- Integrate recycling into corporate culture : Make recycling a strong value by combining it with actions such as reducing plastic use or participating in local environmental events.
By combining awareness, appropriate equipment and collective commitment. You will empower your teams to make a difference and embrace the values of recycling on a daily basis.
The Concrete Benefits Observed
Implementing a waste sorting policy in the workplace brings tangible environmental, economic and social benefits.
- Reduced waste management costs : By sorting better, you limit the amount of non-recyclable waste, which is often more expensive to dispose of. It also helps to optimize collections and reduce associated costs.
- Improved ecological footprint : Recycling materials such as paper, plastic or metal reduces raw material demand and limits CO emissions. This contributes directly to the preservation of the environment.
- Regulatory compliance : By complying with legal obligations related to sorting and recycling, the company avoids fines and aligns itself with applicable environmental standards.
- Employee Engagement : Teams feel more involved in a responsible approach, which strengthens cohesion and motivation at work. This can also have a positive impact on the company’s attractiveness for new talent.
- Corporate Image Enhancement : A company engaged in recycling and sorting practices improves its reputation with customers, partners and investors. This strengthens its credibility as a responsible actor.
- Creation of value through waste : Some sorted materials, such as metals or paper, can be resold or transformed into new resources, thus generating additional revenue.
- Innovation and differentiation : By investing in modern solutions, such as connected waste bins or waste tracking tools. The company adopts an innovative posture and differentiates itself from its competitors.
