If there was a way to get around expanding populations producing ever-greater amounts of waste it would have been implemented generations ago, but there’s not and so no such a move has ever been possible. Humans produce waste, and that’s the simple fact of the matter. What municipalities do have control over is how that waste is handled, and getting better at making recycling a possibility for as much of it as possible. This is an especially pressing need for consumer good packaging and anyone can grasp why that is if you live here in North America.
Our locale is here on the Eastern side of Ontario, and as you’ll all know by now our area of expertise is much more in Trenton and Colborne dumpster rentals much more than it is in recycling. But it is an industry that operates in step with ours and recycling collected materials when possible is a part of the Provincial guidelines related to waste disposal here in Ontario and we adhere to them without exception. We’re always keen to learn of advances in recycling technology and protocols, and as you’ll also know we like to talk of them here in our blog.
The proliferation of single-use plastic packaging is something of a necessity given the way our societies and economies work, and there’s only going to be more and more of it for the long foreseeable future unless another viable option is determined. So the only options is to reuse it as much as possible, and while all of this has nothing to do with waste disposal bins for Colborne and Trenton areas it’s something that we are happy to detail here because of the new case studies that really back the idea that we all need to be doing better with plastic repurposing.
Enviro / Economic Potential
The big takeaway from the National Zero Waste Council’s newest case study is that reuse systems can be better for the environment than single-use models. But more importantly they also carry economic potential as Canadian businesses see an opportunity to meet consumer demand for reusable packaging. There’s real evidence that reuse systems are equal parts feasible and economically viable and that goes along with the obvious benefit of having less plastic end up in recycling centres. Where in some cases they can’t be recycled because of food residue contamination.
This is a fortuitous development, as consumers really do want to have reusable alternatives made available to them, and governments at all levels are reevaluating their procurement policies and waste reduction strategies. Consumers found everywhere from stadiums and shopping centres to the home kitchen have indicated their intention to choose businesses that make it convenient and accessible to have plastic packaging submitted for reuse or recycling.
A good example is the popular Canadian meal kit provider Fresh Prep who have had reusable plastic packaging systems not only reduce waste but can offer long-term cost savings for both businesses and consumers. This is exactly what Canadian households will want in the same way that a home renovation project may create the need for a rubbish removal service in Trenton or Colborne when owners needs to get rid of waste building materials. But back to topic and let’s dig deeper into what is reinforcing the belief that we can all do better with reusing plastics.
A number of successful implementations were pointed to in the studies, and included Canadian reusable food and beverage container company Friendlier’s reusable container program. In addition to making it possible for 200 food service locations to eliminate single-use packaging and save 200,000 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions, they’ve also enjoyed a much higher 75% return rate, with 1.4 million plastic packages being reused.
Getting back to Fresh Prep as the first example of success with this, they have responded to consumer demand by introducing zero waste kits at no extra charge. This was a smart response to the 68% of customers who pointed to excessive packaging as their reason for avoiding traditional meal kit services or choosing not to continue with them. It’s understandable, as meal delivery kits typically use significant amounts of packaging and apparently it’s fairly standard for only 35% of the shipment weight to be made up of the food itself.
Intelligent Repurposing
The study found that plastic packaging reuse symptoms reduce waste management costs, create new revenue opportunities, and meet the growing consumer demand that we mentioned earlier here in this entry. Along with this is the appeal of being able to help out the environment too, and significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions in a way that’s not possible with disposable, compostable, and recyclable single-use items will do just that.
This trend is also helping organizations position themselves as leaders in the circular economy as consumers increasingly seek alternatives to single-use items and overconsumption. What can be seen here is that these studies provide a guide for businesses looking to capitalize on the growing reuse economy and there may also be a stimulus for policymakers who are looking to achieve waste-reduction targets and better manage costs through government procurement policies.
The last notable in it is the insistence that transitioning from single-use to reuse models could by 2040 result in a 20+% reduction in the amount of plastic that makes its way into the ocean.
Call us here at Load n’ Lift first for trash pickup and disposal in Trenton and Colborne or for dumpster rentals. We are usually able to have the bins on site the same day, and you can count on timely pick up and responsible disposal plus a 100% emphasis on full customer satisfaction. Need a dumpster rental in Brighton Ontario or one for a residence in Garden Hill? We have as many as you need.
Last entry for the year here, so we’ll conclude by saying Happy New Year to all our customers. We appreciate you choosing Load n’ Lift and we hope it’s a good year to come for you.
