In UK businesses, the true cost of waste can be up to 4 percent of turnover. However, resource efficiency initiatives have shown that by implementing materials reduction measures as part of a wider resource efficiency programme, this figure can often be reduced by 25 percent. The resulting cost savings go straight to the bottom line. To reduce waste in any organisation, it is necessary to understand where and how it occurs, and how much it is really costing. Becoming committed to resource efficiency is an attractive idea but, in practice, many organisations do not know where to start or how to ensure continuing success.
This publication is designed to be a first step towards tackling resource waste and becoming more resource efficient for these organisations. Included in this guide is a blank map (or site plan). Armed with this, the first stage is to walk around your site and mark on the map the visible and potential areas where waste is generated. The second stage is to start putting some figures to these materials and resources – this publication tells you how. The third stage is to record your material use and then to start reducing it. At the end of this guide are sources of further information that will help organisations become committed to ongoing resource efficiency and be successful at reducing waste.