Waste Segregation

We are in a time when lawmakers, regulators, consumers and partners all expect – and demand – sustainability and environmental responsibility from businesses. This means that the way that we manage waste has never been more critical and under more scrutiny. And one of the key principles in responsible waste management is waste segregation.

In any commercial environment, whether it’s industry, retail, transport or healthcare, segregating waste correctly ensures public health and safety, legal compliance and environmental protection.

Novus Environmental is here to offer our expertise and explain what waste segregation is, why it matters, how to do it right and how our team can help you stay compliant, sustainable and safe.

What Is Waste Segregation?

Waste segregation means sorting and separating waste into different categories (or streams) based on its type, source and its potential risks to people and the environment. While the exact streams will vary depending on industry and location, the typical broad categories of waste are general waste, recyclables, food waste, hazardous materials and clinical or infectious waste. Many of these categories will have more specific sub-groups of waste within them, but within each the waste will have similar risks and methods of disposal or treatment.

The basic idea behind waste segregation is to make sure that each waste type is handled, treated and disposed in a way that minimises the impact on the environment and maximises the potential for recycling or recovering waste material.

Why Is Waste Segregation Important?

When waste is improperly segregated, it can actually create more waste! If recyclables are contaminated with non-recyclable waste, then waste that could have been recycled and put to further use will have to be destroyed or put into landfill (depending on the nature of the contamination).

Improper waste segregation can also lead to the inadvertent unsafe disposal of hazardous waste and can increase costs for handling, treatment and disposal of waste throughout the process. In severe cases, poor segregation can pose major risks to human health and safety – the consequences of hazardous waste being improperly handled and managed in healthcare or industrial settings can be imagined!

Here are just some of the main advantages of a correct waste segregation procedure:

• Environmental Protection: Correct waste segregation reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills. It minimises pollution and boosts recycling.
• Legal Compliance: Many industries are legally bound to follow strict waste segregation practices. This is especially so for those handling food waste, hazardous waste or clinical waste.
• Public Health & Safety: Proper waste segregation is critical to prevent exposure of workers and the public to toxic or infectious materials, especially in industrial, laboratory or healthcare settings.
• Cost Efficiency: Segregating or streaming waste as close to its source as possible often reduces handling, transport and treatment costs. Segregated waste can be more efficiently treated than mixed waste.

Key Waste Categories and Colour Coding

A proven and widely used method to enable correct waste segregation is the use of colour coding. While useful in virtually all situations, even if it’s just an office segregating general waste and recyclables in their break room, it’s especially crucial for environments where many different waste types with different handling needs are generated.

Here’s a general guide to colour coding for waste segregation:

• Black bags – General domestic waste
• Clear or green bags – Recyclable waste
• Orange bags – Infectious clinical waste that may be treated
• Yellow bags – Highly infectious clinical waste that must be incinerated
• Blue bags or containers – Pharmaceutical waste
• Purple bags or containers – Cytotoxic or cytostatic waste (e.g., from chemotherapy)
• Red bags – Anatomical waste
• Brown bins – Food waste

Using the correct colour coding at every stage of the waste handling process is a key part of safe and legal procedures. If you need advice on waste colour coding, waste handling codes or other aspects of waste segregation, the team at Novus Environmental can help. We can offer guidance and carry out a waste audit to help you implement the right system.

Consequences of Poor Waste Segregation

The consequences of incorrect waste segregation can be dramatic. Firstly, it can result in fines or other penalties for businesses, as well as heavy reputational damage. It also risks environmental contamination and may present a public health hazard.

For instance, hazardous waste mixed with general refuse can lead to the release of toxic substances, fires or chemical reactions. Recyclables contaminated with food or clinical waste must be destroyed or landfilled, rather than being processed properly.

Best Practices for Effective Waste Segregation

Implementing an effective waste segregation procedure needs planning, training and ongoing evaluation. The key aspects to ensure are in place are:

• Educate Staff and Users: Those involved in producing or handling waste must know the importance of waste segregation and the proper procedures for it.
• Label Clearly: Use consistent signs, labels and colour coding to ensure waste types are easily identifiable at every stage. Usually these are standardised nationally or internationally, and they’re often a legal requirement – don’t just make your own!
• Use Suitable Containers: Some varieties of waste require specialist containers to ensure proper handling, to prevent spillage or to stop harm coming from those adding more waste to the container, such as with one-way flaps. Ensure that compliant containers are used.
• Regularly Audit Your Process: Novus Environmental recommends routine waste audits to track what waste is being produced and how it is being handled, ensure compliance and identify areas for improvement.
• Partner with a Specialist: Working with an experienced waste management firm can ensure you remain in step with legislation and the latest best practices.

How Novus Environmental Can Help

Novus Environmental can be more than a waste collector. We can be your waste management partner. Our specialist knowledge and wide-ranging experiences lets us offer tailored services to support businesses and organisations in a wide range of sectors. We already help healthcare, veterinary, education, transport and industrial customers not only meet but exceed their responsibilities for waste segregation and treatment.

We offer expert waste segregation services, from initial consultancy to audits to the supply of compliant containers. We can help you implement an effective and robust waste segregation system.

It’s a matter of principle and pride for us to stay up to date with the latest regulations, guidance and best practice. We ensure that all our processes – and yours – are fully compliant. We combine this cutting-edge knowledge with our decades of experience to customise our services to the specific needs of each customer. We value a personal approach, building long-term partnerships.

Get Waste Segregation Right with Novus Environmental

We hope that the information in this blog has shown the importance – the necessity – of correct waste segregation. It’s not only a legal and environmental necessity but can be a powerful way to demonstrate that your business or organisation cares about safety, sustainability and responsibility. And not just to the environment, but to your employees and customers.

Whether you need a full audit and overhaul of your current systems or a trusted partner for ongoing management, Novus Environmental can help.

Ready to take control of your waste? Contact Novus Environmental today and make waste segregation work for your business.