Less waste to landfill a priority
Effective on-site waste management services benefit customers across all industries, according to Juan-Mari Davies, EnviroServ projects manager for on-site waste management.
“On-site separation of waste and service offerings are at the centre of integrated waste management solutions as is clients’ awareness of the prevention of generation and reuse of waste,” says Davies. EnviroServ’s goal is to assist customers in going green and moving up the waste hierarchy.
Rowan le Roux, sustainability manager for Polyoak, which is committed to zero plastics to landfill by 2030, agrees, saying Polyoak is currently rolling out an internal training initiative called “Zero Waste” to educate and motivate more than 2,000 of its employees about the importance of recycling.
As part of this initiative Polyoak is working closely with its waste management partner to install custom designed recycling bins on its sites to optimise separation of waste at source, to maximise recycling and eliminate waste to landfill.
Le Roux says last year more than 500 Polyoak employees and family joined forces across the country to pick up nearly two tonnes of waste, diverting a significant amount from landfill and leaving local beaches and communities in a tidy state.
Also supporting the call for zero plastics to landfill is Tuffy, which is committed to the sustainable development of the industry, the economy and the ways in which resources are utilised, according to marketing director Rory Murray.
“Our product is made from 100% recycled material and as such assists in easing pressure on landfill. The inclusion of an infographic on our packaging ensures this is explained clearly thereby influencing responsible in-store purchasing decisions and effectively transferring the message that we are the South African manufacturer of 100% certified recycled refuse bags with the product also being fully recyclable.”
Murray says Tuffy brands, the pioneers in 100% recycled refuse bags, has gone out of its way to assure consumers of its claim to be manufactured from 100% recycled material and the post-consumer waste content (PCW) of its products.
Tuffy has obtained official certification verifying its claim of a being manufactured from 100% recycled material and containing a minimum of 70% PCW content in its products.
Davies says another way EnviroServ contributes to decreasing waste to landfill is the waste-to-energy project.
“EnviroServ joined forces with the Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Project, known as Bio2Watt, to enable us to provide a comprehensive, legal and affordable zero-to-waste solution to our customers.
“Bio2Watt uses organic waste to create a renewable energy source. EnviroServ takes a waste stream, which might have been landfilled, analyses it and if it is suitable, takes it to Bio2Watt.”
EnviroServ uses specialised equipment to separate waste from its packaging, both solid and liquid. The packaging is then sent for recycling and the organic liquid or solids goes to a biogas facility.