Need to up your waste game? You've come to the right spot.
With the help of Friendly — specialising in behaviour change programs that lift waste and recycling performance — you can make a start on improving your waste management in the workplace with four simple steps.
1. Understand what's your current level of performance and barriers to why the desired waste behaviour isn't performed in the following areas:
- Structural — how are your bins arranged or designed? Are your bins in an appropriate location(s)?
- Behavioural — what are people doing?
- Knowledge — are your people informed on the waste management practices in your office? How is waste performance and the value of ‘doing the right thing’ communicated? Are new starters informed about the waste streams and proper behaviour around managing their waste when they join?
- Cultural — what is your company's culture around sustainability? How much do people care, and about what?
Some barrier examples: Are recycling bins often contaminated? Is there much awareness or conversation about waste amongst staff? Is waste signage present on all bins, and is it clear and consistent?
By understanding the value drivers and barriers to people's behaviour, it can help you tailor your approach to strategically address the barriers and build upon what people value.
Recommendation: start with smaller, achievable goals that can be measured and easily communicated to your workforce. We are all familiar with having New Year’s resolutions that rarely get achieved, so break it down into something less daunting. Make it an opportunity to celebrate small wins, every step towards progress counts.
3. Assess available resources, time, and expertise.
It is important for someone to be responsible for the sustainability initiative or program to achieve progress or success. Consider and identify who can lead/manage, deliver/do, and support/influence your efforts.
4. Build your engagement plan
Behaviour change doesn’t happen overnight or within 21 days. It takes at least 9 weeks of consistent effort for a behaviour to change. If you want to see tangible, long-lasting impacts, your workplace needs to be engaged strategically for the minimum period of time.
Need more help around engaging your workplace on doing the right thing around waste? Reach out to your Eco-Concierge team here.
