Simple Swaps

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What are Simple Swaps?

Simple Swaps are small (and simple!) changes that can be made both in the workplace and at home. The production and distribution of plastic has a huge carbon footprint, which is heightened by the sale of plastic products marketed as disposable, but are destined for landfill after a single use. B&M Waste Services Simple Swaps could make a significant difference to your waste reduction, as well as saving you money too!

How can I incorporate these swaps into my business? 

There are many simple swaps that can be used in the workplace to both reduce and re-use waste produced. In addition to the environmental benefits, the reduction of plastic and unnecessary waste can benefit your business in terms of cost saving, efficiency improvements and enhanced brand reputation. Using sustainable suppliers is another tool that can be implemented into your business. Ensuring that builders on site take any waste materials with them, reduces the need for you to dispose of additional materials.

Waste reduction swaps

Reducing the amount of waste that your business produces shouldn’t be a task. Below, you can find some Simple Swaps that will reduce your waste output.

• LED lighting- LED lights can be up to 80% more efficient than normal lights, with 95% of the energy converted to light.
• Rechargeable batteries– Remote controls, clocks and calculators can all be powered by rechargeable dry cell batteries.
• Remove plastic cutlery & straws- Removing plastic cutlery and straws from staff canteens and kitchens will dramatically reduce the amount of waste produced, as well as helping the vital project in reduction of plastic waste.

Waste re-use swaps 

Waste re-use is a fantastic way of reducing waste output from your business. Simple reuse swaps can make a big monetary difference, as well as making your business greener.

• Glass milk bottles- Using a local milk man will reduce plastic milk carton waste, by washing and reusing the milk bottles.
• Re-fillable ink cartridges- Re-fillable ink cartridges reduces the amount of plastic waste, as well as being a cost-effective swap.
• Bottles & Cups- Re-useable coffee cups and water bottles are a fantastic way to reduce waste. Offering staff a water filling station encourages staff to stay hydrated and promotes reducing plastic bottle waste. Chains such as Starbucks and Costa now offer discount on drinks, for bringing your own coffee cup to drink from.

Waste Facts

• In 2016, 200 plastic bottles were found per mile of UK Coastline.*
• Single-use plastic bottles, cans and glass account for 40% of all litter (by volume)*
• 260 million plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year in the UK*
• Plastic cotton bud sticks are the 6th most common item found on our beaches*
• 2.5 billion people throwaway coffee cups every year*
• Many coffee cups are often non-recyclable, due to the thin plastic film lining inside*
• 100 billion individual disposable plastic utensils are used every year*

Can B&M Waste support me with this?

Of course we can! There are plenty more Simple Swaps that can be implemented into your business and Simple Swaps audits are available with B&M Waste Services. We can carry out a FREE audit on your business, to address where you could make the changes needed to reduce your waste output, not only will this improve your environmental impact, it could also save you money through re-using products and reducing the amount of bin collections that you need.

To view our ‘Plastic Packaging Facts’, click here. 

To view our Simple Swaps Brochure click here.

Request a FREE Waste Audit by filling in the form below.