Messy skip mountain at the end of the week.
Yes, yes, we’ve all seen recycling skips next to general waste ones. And we’ve all watched someone chuck everything into the wrong bin five minutes later.
The fix? Give someone ownership. Rotate the role if you have to. Clear signs, easy bins, and a quick chat during toolbox talks can go a long way.
Even better — get your local waste partner in for a short session. A 20-minute demo on what happens to the waste can actually make people care more (seriously, it works).
Don’t Just Buy Cheap — Buy Smart
It’s not just about what you do with waste. It’s also about who you buy from.
Look for suppliers that:
Use recycled or biodegradable materials
Have ethical work practices
Offer returns or recycling for unused gear
A good shout in the UK is www.Ready Set Supplied.co.uk — they’re leaning into low-waste packaging and they get the job done without a fuss.
Think Beyond the Skip
Before you throw that off-cut in the bin, stop and ask: Could this be used again?
Leftover timber? Stick it in the van for the next job.
Temporary fencing or scaff? Hire it instead of buying and binning later.
The more you think about a material’s whole life — not just its use on this job — the more sense everything starts to make.
Over-ordering is the biggest waste of all.
