The Waste Industry and Andusia remain resilient
As England look towards something close to normal from 19th July, Andusia reflect on the continual resilience shown by the waste industry and the steps taken to overcome the roadblocks affecting waste management.
Inevitably, with exports down by 37% in 2020 compared to the previous year (published by the Environment Agency), the waste industry shows significant influences from the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, Andusia demonstrates strength after strength, after reporting a decrease of 11% in exports, comparative to 58-69% decrease from competitors.
How did we manage that? Our expertise, agile approach, but most importantly our ability to adapt. Afterall, Darwin states “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most adaptable to change”.
Waste composition
Along-side agility and adaptability, the extended expertise within the Andusia team identified the alterations in waste composition. With a 50% decrease in commercial and industrial waste, but municipal waste seeing an increase of 20%, the change in waste composition from previous years was inevitable.
As PPE became a necessity for a variety of professions and facemasks becoming compulsory for everyday life, we saw a significant rise in plastic and fibre-based municipal solid waste. Especially during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, online shopping led to increased volumes of disposable products, not forgetting the increase in glass waste thanks to becoming better acquainted with our favourite wines, but also food deliveries contributing to increased plastic packaging and food waste.
This required adaptation to municipal waste management as concerns grew for virus contaminations and transmissions throughout different materials. Even to the extent where Italy seized separation of household waste for the safety of those involved in collection and processing. However, changes to Andusia’s collections, logistics, human resources and costs to management were implemented to ensure success, efficiency, and moreover, safety.
What Next?
Andusia remain confident that the future is bright for the waste industry and that ‘normal’ is fast approaching. With promises of normality becoming restored in the coming weeks, Andusia are here to help with the rising wate volumes. We offer a fully collected service of waste in curtain sliders, walking floors and containers, fulfilling all required paperwork and working closely with reliable and trustworthy hauliers.