Commercial Waste Audit Program
Squamish CAN provides comprehensive Commercial Waste Audit services. Waste audits help businesses reduce waste, improve recycling practices, and identify potential cost savings.
A waste audit is an independent investigation into an institutional, commercial, or industrial facility or multi-family residence building’s current waste management system. It is an excellent tool for understanding what is in a facility’s waste and where that waste is generated.
During a waste audit, Squamish CAN staff sort through landfill waste, recycling, and/or organics bins and categorize the contents. Data is compiled and analyzed to identify patterns and trends in overconsumption or contamination. These patterns lead to customized solutions for improvement. Our audits deliver actionable insights and practical recommendations to align waste management practices with sustainability goals.
Benefits of a Commercial Waste Audit:
Waste audits offer businesses many benefits, including:
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Cost Savings: Cut waste disposal costs by reducing the number of visits from your hauler. Send it to recycling or reduce over-ordering to prevent the waste instead.
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Environmental and Regulatory Benefits: Keep waste out of local landfill by composting food scraps and other organic waste. Stay on the right side of local bylaws by recycling and disposing of hazardous waste according to regulations.
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Operational and Reputational Improvements: Make waste areas more streamlined and cleaner through effective bin placement and signage. Use concrete data to track progress on goals and appeal to eco-concerned customers and residents.
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Data-Driven and Customized Solutions: Gain actionable insights into key drivers of your building’s waste issues. Implement tailored strategies, such as better signage and training or finding local or sustainable product alternatives.
What to Expect:
Squamish CAN’s Commercial Waste Audit packages offer full service waste management insights and coaching tailored to your unique business needs. As such, we work with each client through several stages to build a personalized service and ensure positive outcomes.
1
Initial Meeting and Site Assessment
This involves understanding client priorities and desired takeaways. A facility walkthrough documents existing waste management practices, collection, and disposal systems to contextualize audit findings. Additionally, auditors gather details about current waste service providers, schedules, and contracts.
2
Waste Audit Execution
Staff will sort and categorize all waste materials by source and material type. Data can be collected on a single day to provide a snapshot, or over multiple days for a more detailed picture of the waste streams. Weighing the waste provides maximum accuracy, and photographs provide useful examples of the items found.
3
Analysis and Reporting
After the audit, the client will receive a written report with a detailed breakdown of waste composition. Areas for improvement will be identified, with an eye to making them clear, understandable, and easy to implement.
4
Results Review and Coaching
At the end of the audit process, the client will be provided with the findings and recommendations. At the follow-up meeting the client can ask questions about the findings and receive coaching on how to implement recommendations.
For questions or to schedule an initial consultation, please contact us:
Shannon Friday (she/they), Zero Waste Manager
Email: shannon@squamishcan.net
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