Waste Management’s Role in the Circular Economy

Establishing a waste management program for your business or community is one of the best ways you can contribute to the circular economy.

Here’s everything you need to know about waste management’s role in the circular economy (and how to get involved).

What Is the Circular Economy?

Our current economic model is all about taking resources, making products, and disposing of those products when we’re finished with them. In this current model, we send 9.5 million tons of reusable waste to landfills every year.

In fact, just 8.6% of everything we use gets recycled, yet our use of resources has tripled since 1970—and if we don’t change something, this could double again by 2050. This is problematic because there’s simply not enough space or resources to sustain current demand.

The circular economy is an economic structure that intends to eliminate waste by keeping reusable resources circulating. It’s a policy that promotes:

• Sharing
• Leasing
• Reusing
• Repairing
• Refurbishing
• And recycling

It’s about keeping products and items in use for as long as possible. A circular economy is not only beneficial for the environment, but it has proven economic benefits as well. In fact, research suggests that moving to a circular economy could offer $4.5 trillion in economic opportunity.

Whether you’re operating from a pragmatic and environmentally-conscious standpoint, adapting some principles from the circular economic model just makes sense—especially when looking at the long-term.

Waste Management’s Role in the Circular Economy

A comprehensive waste management program is critical for the overall effectiveness of the circular economy since how we handle waste is one of the most significant issues with our current economic model.

For the circular economic model to work, we have to find ways to minimize our overall material consumption. We must look at our current waste patterns and find ways to fill the gaps. And, rather than relying on raw materials, we have to find ways to use recycled resources in our manufacturing processes and to handle our waste more responsibly.

So, rather than tossing out unused textiles, electronics, and materials, we have to create partnerships to put them back into circulation when possible.

How to Become Involved in the Circular Economy

To do your part in the circular economy, you need to find a partner with the ability to navigate the waste industry to find all the nuanced resources needed to establish a truly effective program.

In other words, you need to partner with a company that can custom tailor a waste management program to fit your organization’s or community’s unique needs. This program needs to prioritize recycling and reuse, and when it comes to the circular economy, there needs to be a plan in place for recycling and reusing everything.

For example, if you’re a manufacturing company that makes candles, you don’t just need a plan to recycle your glass votives. You also need a recycling plan to handle the leftover wax. Perhaps you donate or sell it to a company that makes lubricants for equipment.

In short, it’s important to create a waste management program that tackles every part of your company’s waste.

With CheckSammy’s nationwide network of haulers, strategic partnerships, and industry experience, we can customize a waste management program that suits your needs and handle the logistics for getting all your items to source-specific processing facilities, ensuring that you’re participating in the circular economy to the greatest extent possible.

Contact us now for more information.