INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS
SA’s biggest onsite waste team powers business sustainability EnviroServ’s fleet of specialised waste transport vehicles provide a safe, efficient and compliant solution for moving liquid, sludge and dry waste from customers’ premises to waste processing facilities
Reducing landfill waste is a core focus for EnviroSer v. Their onsite team applies innovation and technical exper tise to help businesses reduce, reuse, and recycle more effectively. Kirsten Kely speaks to Yolandi Holm, national onsite manager, about how they suppor t businesses in shifting from linear to circular systems.
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nviroServ’s onsite waste management team is the biggest in the country, and has the biggest pool of staff in the company; reiterating the company’s dedication to reducing waste to landfill. “Whenever a new customer approaches us for assistance, we begin with a site assessment to understand how their waste is being generated, the volume produced, and its final destination. Next, we identify, analyse and classify waste streams. A waste management plan is then developed, with costing. Waste streams, like glass, plastic and cardboard are the easiest to recycle, then there are other waste streams which are more complex, and therefore, relatively expensive to divert from landfill. EnviroServ typically has readily available solutions for most waste streams and with its wide
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network, will actively research alternative options where needed,” says Holm.
Different waste streams EnviroServ has case studies of diverting waste from landfills across industries, and recently helped a company in the petrochemical industry reduce its waste to landfill by 30%. Approximately 3 500 tonnes of waste that was sent to landfill on a monthly basis has now been diverted to a brick maker that can use that waste stream in their manufacturing process. Another example is diver ting problematic plastic with high calorific valuevalues to cement kiln. There is a small company that makes
school bags and handbags from chip packets. EnviroServ is particularly strong within the fastmoving consumer goods markets, where food waste is diverted to animal feed companies. Sometimes, through green procurement – the practice of purchasing goods and services that have a reduced environmental impact—can significantly reduce waste to landfill. Selecting products with minimal packaging, prioritising reuseable, durable goods or using recyclable, compostable materials are some examples. “A client of ours reduced a significant volume of waste by merely buying washable plates for their canteen instead of using polystyrene boxes,” says Holm. “We always make a point of revisiting our existing customers’ waste streams as new technologies are developed. Often, achieving
Yolandi Holm, national onsite manager, EnviroServ