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4 Effects of Solid Waste on Business Environments

West Michigan Waste Management Company

When was the last time you tracked what your company throws away on a daily basis? Over time, the effects of solid waste pollution can have an effect on your business and local community.

To learn more about how solid waste has an effect on your company, we encourage you to keep reading and to contact a reputable solid waste management company in your area. The solid waste definition is refuse items that are not biodegradable or compostable. Types of solid waste include yard wastes, durable goods, nondurable goods, and containers and packaging.

Disposal Costs

Most companies send their solid waste to landfills. This is because having your garbage sent to the landfill is usually less expensive than sending your materials to an experienced waste recycling company to be recycled or reused.

While landfill dumping may make more financial sense in the short term, you will also want to consider the long-term effects. Ultimately, when you are running a business you are in it for the long haul. This is why it’s important to consider the long-term expenses of commercial solid waste disposal.

When considering the costs of disposal, you also have to consider the fact that your time is also worth something. Many business owners appreciate being able to throw all their refuse in one place without the need to sort. However, please keep in mind that business recycling services can be easily implemented and help you limit your impact on the environment.

Surrounding Real Estate

As areas become more populated, the need for landfills increases. The only problem is that people don’t want to live or work near a landfill, which means that plans for landfill sites are often postponed.

Since landfills have to compete for limited land space, you may end up having to pay more to have your garbage hauled a long ways to the nearest available landfill. The longer the distance your trash has to travel, the more money you will end up paying for commercial garbage removal.

Employee Health

Working near an active landfill can eventually have a negative impact on employee health. Solid waste pollution from landfills release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. While most of us understand global warming as a concept, it can be difficult to understand how pollution affects us on a personal level. If your company is located near a landfill, you may notice you and your employees start to develop respiratory issues over the long term.

The likelihood of a landfill being located near your place of business is slim. However, this doesn’t mean that we should trivialize the health of those who live or work near landfill sites. If your trash isn’t directly affecting your health, it’s still affecting someone else’s.

Incentives to Recycle

Depending on the kinds of materials your company uses, you may benefit from recycling used materials. For example, reusable petroleum fuel pads can be laundered by a qualified waste management company, saving you money in the long run.

Please keep in mind though that not all recyclable items offer the same financial benefits. To learn more about recycling strategies for your business, we recommend you speak with professional solid waste management contractors.

To learn more about our municipal solid waste disposal services, please feel free to give Plummer's Environmental a call at (800) 878-3996. The Byron Center solid waste disposal contractors at Plummer’s Environmental Services are dedicated toward helping customers start recycling programs for businesses.