Every UK business needs a waste management plan. For shops and stores, a retail waste management plan ensures all rubbish is disposed of correctly and ensures efficient waste management systems are in place. A waste management system can identify areas where you create excess refuse to reduce the amount of retail waste going to landfill.
Site waste management plans (SWMPs) were introduced to reduce the amount of waste businesses produce. Retailers use SWMPs to plan how any waste they generate is managed. A SWMP contains important information such as what waste needs to be recycled, disposed of, or reused, and how the business will do so. The plan must be regularly updated to ensure it accurately reflects the waste needs and obligations of a business.
Technically, there’s no legal requirement for a retail business to have a SWMP. However, introducing and maintaining one has many benefits. For example, a business can reduce costs by planning the most efficient waste management systems and increase their profits by using a SWMP to look at where they can reduce waste.