In today’s business world waste management is one of the most important elements that every organization needs to pay attention to. When we say waste management, it doesn’t mean just to collect rubbish and dump it at a specific landfill. Rather, the term waste management contains lots of other important things as well.
In the world of business, they use different hazardous materials that are handled improperly and cause a threat to the environment and human health. These materials are commonly found in different everyday items such as electronic devices, fluorescent lamps, batteries, oils, solvents, and other substances.
On the other hand, ISO 14001 provides you a perfect framework and properly structured approach to help you handling waste. The standard provides you a framework that can help you carefully identify and evaluate environmental aspects and determine what wastes can emerge in your work processes.
Waste management offers a variety of waste treating solutions such as recycling those items that don’t belong to the trash. This is the best process in the waste management industry that every organization needs and ISO 14001 also urges it.
ISO 14001 specifically prescribes some steps for waste handling within an organization. The steps are:
Waste Evaluation
Evaluation of your waste can help you handle the waste properly. While running an organization, you must first come to know, what is your waste? Is the waste hazardous or not? And most importantly, Is it regulated by legislation to handle that particular waste? All these things should be evaluated properly from the beginning.
Waste Storage
In terms of waste storage facilities, there will be different requirements, depending on the type of waste. It’s quite important to store your waste according to its characteristics; whether it is in solid or liquid form.
If there is hazardous waste, it should be stored in a sturdy and leak-proof container that should remain kept closed all the time. Moreover, you must label the container with the world ‘Hazardous Waste’ and it must be stored in a safe place, far from your workers.
Waste Disposal
Transportation and disposal of your waste are as important as the other steps. While running an organization, you will always remain responsible for the hazardous waste that emerged in your work processes. You need to ensure that hazardous waste is transported and disposed of properly while following all the legal measures.
Emergency Plans
No matter how careful you remain while treating your waste, there will always be some space for emergencies because of mistreatment by any of your employees. What to do then? For that, there should be a plan for emergencies with an appropriate and immediate response.
Consequently, ISO 14001 in Saudi Arabia can help your business acquire a perfect waste management policy. The standard suggests meaningful steps manage your waste which includes evaluation of your waste, its storage, labeling, transportation and disposal, a proper plan for emergencies, record keeping, and personnel training!
