xvEPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5306) EPA530-F-94-006 January 1994 WasteWi$e Tip Sheet ™™ Facility Waste Assessments What Is a Waste Assessment? Why Conduct a Waste Assessment? How Do Waste Assessments Fit into the WasteWise Program? A waste assessment is a systematic way to identify waste reduction oppor- tunities. These actions include preventing waste, purchasing recycled and reduced-waste products, and recycling and composting waste materials. A waste assessment can be as simple as a quick walk-through of your facil- ity or as detailed as a complete review of all purchasing, materials use, and disposal practices. Although the complexity and comprehensiveness of assessments vary, they generally include the following steps: • Reviewing facility operations and waste generated. • Identifying potential waste reduction options. • Assessing the operational and economic feasibility of the most promis- ing options. A waste assessment serves three basic purposes: • It establishes a better understanding of current purchasing, waste gen- eration, and waste disposal practices. • It identifies potential waste reduction options for evaluation. • It establishes a baseline from which to measure the success of the waste reduction program. Many simple waste reduction actions, such as reducing paper consump- tion and switching to reusable coffee mugs, can be implemented without a waste assessment. Such an assessment, however, helps to identify those actions that will have the greatest impact and cost savings. It also helps you document these savings, which can be important in getting con- tinued management support for your program. EPA encourages WasteWise members to conduct some level of waste as- sessment to assist in setting goals for waste prevention, recycling, and pur- chasing or manufacturing recycled products. The complexity of this assessment will depend on the number and type of facilities involved in your waste reduction program, the overall goals of your program, the amount of information you already have on waste-generating practices, and the available resources for conducting an assessment. Recycled/Recyclable Printed on paper that contains at least 50% recycled fiber. ------- What Are the Different Types of Waste Assessments? How Does a Waste Assessment Help in Selecting and Implementing Waste Reduction Actions? How Do I Get Started? What Additional Information on Waste Assessments Is Available From EPA? There are several different types of assessment activities from which you can choose, depending on the scope of your assessment and overall waste reduction program. These include: • Reviewing purchasing records for information such as products that could be purchased with recycled content and the amount spent annu- ally on single-use items that could be replaced with reusable alternatives. • Conducting a facility walk-through, which can reveal important in- formation on operations, such as the extent of current recycling and waste prevention practices. • Performing a limited or facility-wide waste sort to provide de- tailed information on the individual components of a facility's waste. Each assessment method has strengths and weaknesses. For a complete discussion of waste assessment approaches, refer to EPA's Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste. Waste assessments can help you better understand what types of waste are generated at a facility, how they are generated, and how much waste and/or costs can be reduced by implementing specific waste reduction ac- tions. This information can be very valuable in choosing the most feasi- ble and cost-effective actions and in determining what changes in purchasing practices or operations are necessary to successfully implement each action. Once you have narrowed down the options to those you plan to imple- ment, it will be important to involve all affected employees in making the necessary changes. Involving employees in the waste assessment is a first step in getting their support and input on the waste reduction program. Implementation can begin with a pilot program or a company-wide modifi- cation to current operating practices. The waste assessment can help you decide on an appropriate pace for implementation. The assessment also serves as a benchmark for gauging waste reduction progress in later years and ior identifying new waste reduction opportunities. EPA has developed a Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste to assist companies in initiating a waste reduction program and conducting a facil- ity assessment. WasteWise hotline staff also are on hand to answer your questions. Call 800 EPAWISE (800 372-9473). In addition, your Regional EPA, state, or local solid waste agency may have additional resources to help you get started. To order the following EPA document, call the EPA RCRA/Superfund Hot- line at 800 424-9346 or TDD 800 553-7672 for the hearing impaired. For Washington, DC, and outside the United States, call 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323. Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste (EPA530-K-92-004). This is a comprehensive how-to guide on assessing your facility's solid waste and choosing cost-effective waste reduction actions. FACILITY WASTE ASSESSMENTS ------- Sources of Additional Information The KAB Guide to Waste in the Workplace, 1991. Free. A small business' guide for auditing commercial waste, identifying recyclables, minimiz ng waste and managing disposal costs. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. Mill River Plaza 9 West Broad Street Stamford, CT 06902 203 323-8987 Guide to Commercial and Institutional Recycling, January, 1992. $10.00. This guide explains how to establish a waste reduction and recycling program, including conducting a waste audit, employing an eight-step approach to office recycling, and buying recycled products. Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority 25 South Charles Street Suite 2105 Baltimore, MD 21201-3330 410 333-2730 WasteWise is a partnership between EPA and America's leading businesses. Participants set their own waste prevention, recycling, and recycled product purchasing goals WasteWi$e supports company efforts through technical assistance and recognition of participants' successes. We are always looking for good sources of waste reduction information to share with companies. To share your suggestions or for more information about any aspect of WasteWi$e, call 800 EPAWISE (800 372-9473). FACILITY WASTE ASSESSMENTS ------- ------- |