Bundle Waste
Start a waste audit with records and safe observations. Its purpose is to identify what the business produces, which services it buys and which changes deserve a trial. It is not permission to open unknown bags or handle sharps, chemicals or other hazardous material.
1. Gather records
- Current agreements, renewal notices and applicable pricing schedules.
- Invoices covering normal trading and seasonal peaks.
- Bin quantities, nominal capacities, stream labels and collection schedules.
- Weighbridge dockets, service records, contamination reports and missed-service logs.
- Known destination and processing information.
2. Observe the site safely
Walk the site with the responsible manager. Record where waste arises, labels, access problems and fullness visible without opening or disturbing contents. Mark estimates as estimates. Any physical waste characterisation needs its own risk assessment, competent personnel and appropriate controls.
3. Reconcile the service
| Check | Question |
|---|---|
| Invoice against contract | Do unit prices, rental and extra charges match agreed terms? |
| Collections against records | Were the invoiced services completed and correctly assigned? |
| Capacity against demand | Do safe observations show recurring spare capacity or overflow? |
| Streams against acceptance | Are labels consistent with the actual collector's material list? |
| Outcomes against evidence | Does a record prove pickup, sorting or actual processing? |
4. Test changes before committing
For a schedule change, compare available capacity over the same period and allow for peak demand. Two smaller bins collected less often do not automatically replace the usable capacity of a larger service. For a new stream, confirm acceptance, storage and collection before asking staff to separate it.
5. Record an action owner and review date
Give each proposal a baseline, responsible person, implementation cost and success measure. Use actual invoices and observed service performance after the trial. Do not turn a hypothetical saving into a customer result.
NSW EPA provides the Bin Trim assessment app among its business recycling tools. It is a source of assessment support, not evidence that a Victorian business qualifies for a particular grant. NSW Environment Protection Authority: Business and government waste reduction and recovery
Use the findings in a waste reduction plan or tender brief.
Sources
- NSW Environment Protection Authority — Business and government waste reduction and recovery. Checked 18 September 2026; Business recycling; Bin Trim.
