The Role of a Waste Audit in Helping Your Business Achieve Your Sustainability Goals

Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword—it's a business imperative. If you’re serious about improving your environmental footprint and meeting your ESG targets, then a waste audit is where you start. For businesses big or small, understanding what’s going into your bins is the first step to keeping it out of landfill.

At Reground, we believe every business has a role to play in creating a circular economy. Our hands-on approach to auditing helps organisations sort, report, and divert waste in meaningful, measurable ways. So, let’s dig into what a waste audit actually is and why your business needs one today.

What Is a Waste Audit & Why Does Your Business Need One?

A waste audit is a structured process used to assess the types and volumes of waste your business generates. It’s more than a tick-the-box exercise – it’s about identifying where resources are being lost, where contamination is happening, and where positive change can be made.

So, what is a waste audit in plain terms? It’s a forensic dive into your rubbish. From food scraps and packaging to e-waste and soft plastics, every stream is examined. By conducting a proper general waste audit, your business can uncover insights that will help reduce costs, streamline operations, and boost recycling.

A waste audit also helps businesses comply with sustainability targets and environmental regulations. It sets the foundation for long-term change, especially when paired with the support of a trusted waste management consultant like Reground.

Key Benefits of Conducting a Waste Audit

Still wondering if a waste audit is worth the effort? Here are some game-changing benefits:

• Cut waste costs: An audit waste strategy often reveals over-servicing, contamination, or inefficiencies that are costing you money.

• Reduce contamination: Clean waste streams = higher recycling rates. A waste audit shows you where things are going wrong.

• Support sustainable practices: By identifying areas for improvement, you can align your waste strategy with larger sustainability goals.

• Engage your team: A well-communicated waste audit can bring staff on board, drive behavioural change, and build a culture of sustainability.

When done right, a waste audit isn’t just informative—it’s transformative.

How a Waste Audit Supports Your Sustainability Goals

So, why is sustainability important in business? Simple: it protects the planet, pleases stakeholders, and boosts your bottom line. A well-executed waste audit directly supports those goals.

By collecting real data on your waste output, you can:

• Set achievable waste diversion targets.

• Reduce landfill contributions.

• Improve reporting for investors and stakeholders.
  Meet the standards of what is a sustainable company (one that walks the talk).

When you partner with experts like Reground, the results speak for themselves. We turn piles of rubbish into treasures  of insight, helping you join the circular economy with confidence.

Steps Involved in a Waste Audit

Thinking, “Okay, so how to conduct a waste audit?” Let’s break it down:

1. Assess: Look at your current waste systems. Where is waste created? How is it collected and sorted?

2. Sort: Our team manually sorts your waste into 30+ categories, creating a comprehensive snapshot of your waste habits.

3. Analyse: We look at volume, contamination, and trends. This is the juicy part – where the insights start flowing.
   Report: You’ll receive an easy-to-understand breakdown with practical solutions.

4. Act: With Reground’s help, implement a plan that reduces, recycles, and re-educates your team.
   
   

Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to optimise an existing setup, a sustainability audit led by Reground will give you the blueprint you need.

Partner with Reground for a Professional Waste Audit

Reground’s Waste Change Management Program is a full-circle solution for businesses ready to lead in sustainability.

Our process is:

• Real-world: Our hands-on sort is detailed and practical.

• Data-driven: Our reporting is built on actual findings, not assumptions.

• Actionable: We provide clear steps to improve, not just vague recommendations.

Our waste management consultant team works with you over a nine-month period to install better systems, train your team, and communicate your progress.

Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, a Reground waste audit can help you reduce environmental impact, improve operational efficiency, and communicate sustainability success to customers and stakeholders.

By understanding what a waste audit can do and working with experienced partners like Reground, your business can take real steps towards being part of the solution. It’s smart, it’s sustainable, and it starts now.

Ready to get started? Reach out to Reground and let’s talk waste (in a good way).