Unlocking The Value Of Data On The Path To Net Zero

The majority of business owners and other members of the public have no idea what happens to their rubbish once they dispose of it. Even within the industry, there’s a lack of knowledge around the waste we produce, where it ultimately ends up and its overall impact on the planet.

According to Defra, more than 200 million tonnes of waste is produced in the UK each year but there is currently no single or comprehensive way of tracking it, with legislation relating to the transport, management and description of waste being introduced separately over the last three decades.

Large amounts of data are either not collected or not collated centrally. Multiple IT systems collect certain elements of waste tracking data. Some are paper-based, others digital, some are run by private contractors, others by the government, and where use of existing central digital systems is non-mandatory, take up is very low. As a result, it is very difficult to determine what happens to our waste and to develop a comprehensive understanding of whether it has been recycled, recovered, or disposed of.

There’s a widespread need for more intelligence and education surrounding the overall waste journey and the answer lies in the untapped potential of valuable data.

Transparent recording and analysis of data is becoming increasingly important across all areas of business and legislation is already in the pipeline which will require the entire waste sector to review how it collects its waste.

In January 2022, the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland announced a consultation to develop a central digital waste tracking system.

The overall aim was to require those who produce, handle, dispose of or make products from waste, to enter information into the system. The consultation focused on the practical aspects of introducing a digital waste tracking service to ensure it will meet the needs of businesses across all sectors, government, regulators, academia and the general public. The consultation closed in April and the development of the system is expected to take two years.

There is no doubt that the new system will be hugely beneficial but it’s impossible to ignore the need for change now.

At Advetec, the recording and analysis of data forms a major factor in the design and development of our products. We work closely with customers to monitor their waste levels, track the waste going into and out of our machines digitally, identify trends and interpret the data to help them make positive changes regarding how waste is disposed of and managed.

Data has the power to inform meaningful change. When we better understand behaviours, the waste we produce and where it ends up, we can make truly informed decisions; decisions that can only help to accelerate the path to NetZero.

Keen to know more and unlock the value of your waste’s data? Get in touch.