Prevention not cure is right road to go down

We’ve all seen the recent images of litter-strewn public parks and beaches – the result of some decent weather and an easing of lockdown restrictions. Unfortunately, we’ve also all seen media reports of those public spaces being closed while local council services are being redirected into a mass clean-up.

As a waste management specialist who spends his time ensuring that waste is never a surprise and is always dealt with proactively, this situation has struck a chord with me – as have indications in the press that a bit of anticipation may have prevented this situation and the associated costs, to some extent.

But coming to that conclusion after the fact is not the most efficient result. While we can rest assured that littering will continue, it remains to be seen whether a reactive clean-up will be repeated, at some financial and environmental expense, or whether councils will have the forward planning and financial capacity to control the situation.

But why am I writing about public parks? Simply, the outcome of what we’ve seen can be transferred to any industry, including offshore energy.

To ensure waste does not adversely affect operations or cost more than it should, it is important to plan ahead.

Taking control of a situation through early proactive engagement results in better outcomes and, in the relevant circumstances, continuous improvement.

We’ve all looked at our bank balance and wondered where all the money has gone. We then amend outgoings and behaviours to avoid a recurring situation. Or, at least, we’re supposed to. This applies to effective waste management.

I’ve seen how early engagement with ASCO’s waste management experts can assist our clients in taking control of their waste

Taking control of a situation through early engagement results in better outcomes

management process. In doing so, they can fully embrace the waste hierarchy and realise their environmental objectives, with circular economy as the ultimate goal.

In achieving this, the power of waste data reports cannot be underestimated. Yes, they are a regulatory requirement – but more than that they are critical in gauging the performance of an asset’s waste-related equipment; understanding its efficiency, helping to optimise performance and ensuring compliance.

But what difference will this make on a dayto-day, practical level? The impact is significant across all aspects of waste management, but here’s a great example which illustrates how proactive waste management processes can impact in unexpected ways:

A client’s waste report consistently indicated a problem. Further investigation of the report highlighted that food waste was causing a number of issues, resulting in additional manpower, time and money being spent to ensure cleanliness.

“Is the kitchen macerator working properly?” I asked. Investigation confirmed that it no longer functioned. Why not? Because it had been unable to cope with certain types of food waste, including chicken bones. The solution to repair the macerator was an obvious one. The less obvious additional solution we provided was revising the type of food purchased, thus reducing the likelihood of future breakdowns.

You probably thought I was going to discuss waste water, NORM, drilling slops or any of the various waste material ASCO manages on a daily basis for our clients. And yet this story encapsulates ASCO’s three obsessions of safety excellence, service excellence and sustainability – providing a textbook example of the very specific level to which proactive waste data analysis can impact upon an asset’s waste management process – saving time, money and manpower.

Time and again, ASCO’s services provide transformative results, and we know that proactivity is key to the success of the entire waste management journey.

It’s a well-worn phrase, but prevention really is better than the cure when it comes to effective waste management and the road to a circular economy.

ADVICE: Simon Turner prefers to think proactive.