Anticipating the big clean up after the crowning of the King
Celebrations across the UK accompanying the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III have created a bit of work for the waste management sector.
Inevitably bank holidays often mean there are changes to household waste collections and the public’s generation of waste. And Monday 8th May is no exception with the likelihood that many people across the nation are planning public events and hosting street parties to make sure the UK’s first coronation in nearly 70 years is treated as the momentous and historically significant occasion that it undoubtedly is.
Up and down the UK waste management departments have been communicating changes to collection days caused by the bank holiday. Many though have gone further by adopting a proactive approach and have been actively encouraging residents to pursue practices that improve the sustainability and reduction of waste that results from such celebrations.
There are three main areas of focus:
- Food and drink – Too much food inevitably leads to surpluses being binned, so thought is required to minimise food waste. Not overbuying or making more than is reasonable using portion planning is a good way to achieve this. Reusable food packaging such as resealable food boxes is highly desirable, with the use of unrecyclable cling film being actively discouraged. Surplus food can be taken home or donated to charity in resealable containers. Avoiding single-use cutlery and drinks containers is also being encouraged, by asking guests to bring their own cups, glasses and cutlery.
- Decorations – Commercially produced decorations are typically single-use and create an enormous amount of avoidable waste. Some councils are encouraging the use of old textiles and clothing in the making of bunting and other decorations. The use of offcuts fabric or paper is also promoted. Balloons are being actively discouraged as they are unrecyclable plastic and pose a hazard to wildlife.
- The big clean-up – Planning ahead for the after-event clean-up has been widely encouraged. This includes preparing bins and clearly labelling which is for unrecyclable items and different recyclables such as paper, plastic and glass. Organising people to take down temporary decorations and disposing of or storing them appropriately is also a good tactic, preventing these items from being left to fall down and become the responsibility of street cleansing teams.
On the front foot: More direct communication with residents
Communicating advice on reducing waste and hosting more sustainable celebrations is usually done by posting on council and local news websites, as well as through the use of printed materials put through the letterboxes of residents, such as council waste management notices and community press publications.
However, some councils are benefiting from a much more direct communication channel. Through the use of the Whitespace Resident Mobile App, they are taking the practice of communicating with residents to the next level. The app enables a much more precise approach, allowing residents in specific streets and areas to receive targeted communication about waste management schedules and best practices straight to their smartphones and other mobile devices.
Whether it is precise information on alterations to the day and time of collections, which items go in blue and green bins, or indeed special notices for an event that has not happened for seventy years like the crowning of a monarch, the Resident App is the perfect communication tool for today’s social media age.
Real-time management for more joined-up clean-up operations
Organising special street cleansing rounds to clean up after special events are also improved with Whitespace waste management technology. This in-cab mobile technology provides real-time information, allowing operations to be managed much more efficiently. Crews can be dynamically directed to the sites of celebrations where there is a need to clean up after public events.
This is just one of the applications of Whitespace’s mobile waste management software. The solutions generally enable field teams to be kept up-to-date instantly with real-time communication. This enables the efficient management of daily jobs including fly-tipping and graffiti removal all through a single job management system.
Tackle the public sector’s toughest waste management challenges with Whitespace
Whitespace is the UK’s partner of choice for technology solutions that address the logistical problems of waste management. To find out more about Whitespace Municipal Waste Management solutions, please get in touch by calling us on +44 (0)1483 231 650 or emailing us at info@whitespacews.com.