If you own a retail business, then you deal with a lot of leftover waste. Whether you dispose of excess inventory, spoiled food, damaged items, or crates and boxes, you know that much of these items could all potentially go to waste. However, you can manage these items and benefit both the environment and your business at the same time.

Discover more information about different types of retail waste, ways to manage waste effectively, and ways to recycle waste products.

Types of Retail Waste

The type of retail waste your business produces depends on what you sell and how it is packaged. Here are some examples of common retail waste.

Package Waste

Retail package waste comes in two types: The crates and boxes that hold the product until it is delivered to you and the product’s packaging. Product packaging can be both plastic and paper items, much of which can be recyclable.

Paper Waste

In addition to paper waste from packaging, your business may also have waste from catalogs, mail, memos, invoices, and letters.

Electronic Waste

Electronic waste not only comes from the products you sell but also the equipment you use in your business. You will need to dispose of old equipment whenever you upgrade.

Battery Waste

Battery waste comes from your equipment but also some of the products you may sell or use regularly. Batteries cannot be disposed of in the trash and must be recycled properly.

Food Waste

If you sell food items, then you will have expired or spoiled food that needs special attention.

Ways to Keep Waste to a Minimum

Part of the problem with waste is that it takes up space. Less space means you will have fewer opportunities to display and market your items without your store appearing cluttered. In addition, some items, such as crates and boxes, may be a tripping hazard.

Purchase Products With Minimal Packaging

Opt for products with minimal or recyclable packaging. Not only will this save on bulky packaging that may be difficult to display, your customers will likely appreciate the ease of access to their purchase.

Invest in a Cardboard Baler

If you deal with a lot of cardboard, then you should invest in a baler that will save you time and space in the long run. Once you have enough bales, then send them to a recycler.

Donate Items

Have a plan to donate eligible items to a charity or other organization that can either sell or re-purpose them.

Utilize Digital Marketing

In this modern age, many people are accustomed to online catalogs and email marketing. You can save money and reduce paper waste by switching to digital versions of many common paper items.

Things You Can Do to Benefit from Recycling

You can boost your business’s image and possibly your sales with pro-recycling and environmentally responsible practices. Discover some examples of how to use recycling in your favor.

Offer a Recycling Incentive

Offer your customers an easy way to recycle old electronics and batteries in exchange for a discount or promotion for a new product. Then, have these recyclables picked up for disposal.

Promote Recycled Products

Prominently display items that have a large percentage of recycled materials. Enhance the displays with information about how this product is more environmentally friendly than previous versions.

Send Items Out for Upcycling

You may be able to send out or sell unsold items that can be made into new and different items that you or another company can resell.

No matter how you deal with your excess retail waste, you will eventually need to have some of it picked up and disposed of properly and in an environmentally-friendly way. That’s where Cleanlites Recycling comes in. We can pick up excess recyclables and unsaleable items and dispose of them cleanly and efficiently. Contact us for information on how we can make disposal easy for you.