How to optimise waste management processes with improved data?

In The Waste Journey, we present seven areas where GHD’s innovative digital tools can enhance data reporting.

Traditionally, determining which disposal facilities to use is accomplished by sending staff to the site to complete audits. However, processing and transporting waste, when completed as individual tasks, have high associated labour costs. In addition, there is a risk associated with using waste disposal sites that are not regulated properly. Companies can be on the hook for cleanup fees and regulatory penalties if the waste is not disposed of properly once sent to the site. Waste disposal facility audit processes help confirm that a waste facility is properly compliant and insured. Better data reduces risk by auditing facilities in a less labour-intensive way. In addition, having multiple documented audits provides power in numbers and can help inform better decisions.

The first step of sustainability reporting is to access existing information to inform metrics. If goals are set without informed data or input from to operations, trying to achieve them after they are already set is extremely difficult. Having a good understanding of the current state of the company through enhanced data is the only way to establish goals properly. If facilities do not capture key baseline metrics in an organised way, it is difficult to apply data to sustainability strategies. Developing a roadmap helps businesses establish and understand the current state. All the information tracked in the waste management process is a critical component. Centralising data with a standardised structure can inform sustainability strategies in a meaningful way. This data can help companies develop messaging on sustainability statements backed by data.

This phase can be improved by engaging a team that understands the disposal market and the various technologies that exist within it. Using an independent third party can create value and cost savings by applying data to reduce hazardous waste disposal costs.

Driven by regulations, shipping without automation involves calling individual vendors to remove waste. Scope 3 emissions are partially associated with emissions that are produced through transportation. Capturing data on transportation methods and the distances travelled can help determine Scope 3 greenhouse gases and track sustainability metrics. In addition, tracking container quantity, size and type helps understand market pricing and enables decisions that can optimise the shipments so that container space is not wasted.

Beneficial reuse options can be found for sites or across portfolios, but there must first be valuable information to analyse to find trends and determine solutions. A good understanding of waste markets is crucial as well. GHD helps facilitate this pairing of information, so you can identify recycling options that are more cost effective than disposal. You can also analyse the costs associated with the recycling options and make informed decisions to prioritise sustainability goals. With good tracking data, you are armed with the ability to justify waste that can be recycled and reused to regulators. Conversely, without data, it can be very costly to do a specific study to analyse the waste and make the petition to accept the waste stream for beneficial reuse.

Most states require specific forms for regulatory report submissions, often making the process repetitive and manual. However, automation can simplify this task. Our digital solutions make it possible for all the necessary data for a regulatory report to be easily accessible so that reports can be generated quickly and efficiently using automated systems. Regulators are also adapting to electronic reporting, transforming a process that once required hours of sifting through spreadsheets and contacting vendors into one that takes just a fraction of the time. Companies are looking to tackle the challenges associated with e-manifests, transitioning to a paperless compliance records process. Establishing a system to capture and track data is key to making this shift and lays the groundwork for a fully electronic system in the future for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) compliance. Additionally, an improved process can help maintain clear records of submissions for various regulators across jurisdictions. These records can serve as a foundation for generating metrics to support sustainability reporting.