Resources You Can Use to Be Landfill Free

landfill freeIn case you did not already know, KenBay is a company that is committed to a zero landfill initiative. We promote the practice of seeking alternate solutions to landfills. We like to partner with other companies who share this viewpoint, and we want to encourage those who aren’t landfill free to consider making the switch.

We admit that changing your entire mindset about waste does seem like a rather daunting challenge. It is so much easier to send your waste off to a landfill and not have to think about it anymore. How can you get rid of all your waste otherwise? How much will it cost? These are valid concerns and we are here to say—relax! It is much easier than you think to go landfill free. Here’s how!

Recycle

“Well of course I know to recycle,” you theoretically just shouted out loud from your office chair. But, after you’ve brushed off the confused glances of your coworkers (inside voice, friend), hear me out. Yes, the concept of recycling is so basic that we teach it to our kindergarteners. That doesn’t mean it’s not important. Far from it! Recycling is the base level from which you can work up from. In addition, did you know about the concept of Sham Recycling? It’s a real thing, it incurs a penalty fine, and the EPA has guidelines about it online. If you are serious about being landfill free, don’t neglect your basic recycling protocol!

Waste to Energy

“Okay,” you say smugly after having just read through the EPA guidelines linked above, “the concept of Sham Recycling proves that not everything can be recycled. Some of it needs to go to a landfill because there is no other way to handle it!” Calm down there, Litter-McGee. First of all, for being a hypothetical reader I made up to use in this article, you’re rather unreasonably aggressive in your protests. Secondly, let me introduce you to the concept of waste-to-energy. It’s a rather simple idea: first you recycle what you can. Everything else goes to a special facility where it is combusted and turned into electrical energy that can power our lives! This method can help reduce landfills volume by up to 90 %, and one ton of waste can power a house for a month! That doesn’t sound like a lot, until you consider the massive volume of what we throw away every year. If everyone practiced waste-to-energy, we could both reduce our landfill space and help lower our energy bills.

Reuse

“That’s a good point,” you say, visibly calmer now. “But is that really all there is to it?” Hey, I’m glad you asked! One final great tip for going landfill free is to reuse what you can. For example, super sacks are biodegradable, environmentally friendly and can handle heavy loads. They’re perfect for transporting or carrying your materials around the plant. While they are only guaranteed for one-time, some super sacks are durable enough for multiple uses under the right conditions. Finding out what you can reuse will also help save you on shipping and transport costs when you are theoretically sending your waste off to be recycled or converted to energy.

You Can Be Landfill Free With KenBay

Like I said before, KenBay is committed to partnering with and encouraging zero waste companies. One great way we do that is through our RotoPacs. They are small and leave a small footprint at the source of the waste, meaning you just dump it and go — right there! Our compactors then continually press the waste down into small handy cubes about 7 or 8 times before it’s ready to haul. Why cubes, you may ask? Because it’s the shape that will help save you money on your shipping and hauling costs. Cubes are stackable, and easy to transport. You’re hauling your waste instead of wasting money hauling air! If you are interested in one of KenBay’s rotopacs, you can try it before you buy it. If you like the RotoPac, you can pay to keep the one we send!

 

3 Hidden Ways Edge Trim is Costing You Money

edge trimWhen you think of edge trim, you probably consider it to be harmless. That’s assuming, of course, that you give it any thought at all. In fact, some of you may be wondering: what do I even mean when I say edge trim? I mean the plastic remains of a product after it has been used. Edge trim can be a real problem for the manufacturing industry. It may look like it is easy to dispose of, worry free. But edge trim can actually be costing you money in ways that you don’t realize. KenBay believes in proper waste disposal, and too often manufacturing plants mishandle the disposal of edge trim. If you want to learn more, then read on.

Edge trim can Halt Production.

At its worst, a jam from edge trim can stop your entire production line dead. The plastic gets stuck in the machines and nothing else can get through. Manufacturing plants are like an elaborate cogwork mechanism: they require every part to be functional in order to operate. When one part stops, the whole thing has to shut down and wait for it to be up and running again. This means wasted time!

It Requires Human Labor to Address the Jam.

Once the jam has begun, it takes money and manpower to fix. You may need to have someone from the machine’s original manufacturer come out and take a look. Do you trust an inexperienced worker to look at your machinery? Do they know how to take the machine apart and put it back together exactly as it was? Paying for someone to come and fix your problem (which is already costing you money by halting your production) can add additional expenses. Yes you get the production line back up and running, but how much money have you lost from paying for the expert on top of the lack of production?

A More Subtle Form of Financial Loss.

The people in charge of manufacturing plants know how devastating a full jam can be. As a result, companies don’t run their machines at full capacity for fear of jams. The machines run slower, which means less product is produced, which means less product to sell and fewer finances. Who knew something as seemingly inconsequential as Edge Trim could have such a widespread impact!

KenBay believes that edge trim shouldn’t have a stranglehold over your production. In our opinion, it’s better to dispose of the edge trim right at the source of the waste. We have actually spoken about this before! Our solution: place a RotoPac at the source of edge trim and remove it from the equation entirely. By eliminating the edge trim, you can run  your machines at full speed. You eliminate the risk of halts in production. Finally, you reduce headcount because you don’t need to pay someone to unjam your assembly line! A simple solution ends up saving you a lot of time and money, and those savings definitely add up over time. If you are interested in trying one of KenBay’s portable RotoPacs for your plant, visit KenBay’s website where you can try it before you buy it.

4 Ways Examining Your Material Flow can Improve Efficiency

Material-flowKenBay is a company committed to proper waste management and to reducing disposable waste whenever possible. We encourage other organizations to do the same. One great way you can work towards a goal of zero waste is through examining your Material Flow. A Material Flow is like a map that shows the journey that materials make from the time that the materials enter the manufacturing facility to where they eventually end up. Some view it as an “essential” component to handling waste properly.  You have more control over not only what is coming out of your plant, but also what you might bring in. Overall, evaluating your material flow is a great way to waste less and mine the most value out of your materials. Here are 4 ways examining your Material Flow can improve your overall efficiency.

Ensure That No Material is Accidentally Wasted.

The biggest benefit of material flow is that you can see exactly what is happening to all the materials you are using. This will help reduce unnecessary waste for your plant. If you discover that certain materials are being unnecessarily discarded, you can implement steps to prevent that. Likewise, you can help keep the necessary materials going right where they need to go. In that same vein . . .

Discover New Ways to Incorporate Otherwise Discarded Materials.

What this means is that examining your material flow allows you the opportunity to get creative with your recycling. As they say, “necessity is the mother of invention”! If you discover that you have excess waste of a certain material, perhaps there is a way to incorporate it into your processes. If you are using the resources you already have instead of having to purchase more, that’s improving efficiency.

A Material Flow Helps You to Re-Examine Resource Requirements.

A big hurdle for healthy efficiency is energy expenditure. Wasted energy is an incredible burden both on labor and finances. Examining your material flow can assist you in determining where cuts in energy expenditure can be made. Does the cooling or heating system need to be operating during certain seasons? Could there be a switch to a more energy efficient source of power, such as LED bulbs? Water management too is a big bonus here. If you find you can cut back on water usage in certain areas, do it! Water is a natural resource that should rightly be preserved and conserved when you can.  

Develop a Strategy, Get Everyone Onboard

A big step for efficient processing is making sure everyone on your team understands what the goal is. There is no point in trying to save time and money if nobody in your program understands what to do. Using Material Flow provides a graphic visual representation that is easier for some people to understand. For many, a visual representation of the data helps in learning and understanding it.

If you are committed to zero waste for your facility, KenBay is a great resource for improving your waste management. We offer portable, efficient compactors that can be used right at the source of the waste, saving your workers time and reducing potential hazards. If you would like to know more, visit KenBay’s website, where you can take advantage of our offer to try it before you buy it.  And remember: whether it’s through the right compactors or through your Material Flow, stay on top of what you are putting out into the world.

3 Benefits to Incorporating Dewatering Into Your Waste Management

Dewatering

We here at KenBay believe in 100 percent zero waste when it comes to waste management. That includes how wastewater is handled. Dewatering is a process which removes liquid sludge from solid waste. This allows the water to be treated, recycled, and reused. (If you would like a more in-depth explanation about how dewatering works, this website has an excellent summary.)

Not everyone considers dewatering to be a viable option. Many factories and plants worry that the costs of labor, equipment, and maintenance outweigh any potential benefits of dewatering. Some simply do not consider the environmental impact. Many of these corporations choose instead to store their wastewater in holding ponds. Unfortunately, holding ponds are far from an ideal solution. Ultimately, there is a financial cost for dewatering, but the benefits are absolutely worth it. Dewatering helps the environment, the local area, and you!

Dewatering Less of an Impact on the Environment

Let’s start with the most basic benefit: your responsible handling of wastewater will be better for the environment. You will be helping to recycle one of our planet’s natural resources. You can actually use that recycled water for whatever you need to. Others can use it as well! You are not the only production facility that needs to use clean water. If others have access to it, then their productivity increases. Yours increases as well! And better productivity means a better local economy.

Dewatering Makes Your Waste Easier to Manage.

Extracting water means your waste weighs less. Less weight makes the waste easier to transport. Transport where, you ask? Many of you probably assumed a landfill. But KenBay is committed to finding new ways to utilizing waste without resorting to landfills. We prefer turning waste into clean energy. And guess what? Dewatering also makes your waste easier to incinerate.

Ultimately, You are Paying a Cost Anyway.

Too much water in soil can actually be a bad thing. When left for too long, still water can corrode the foundations of buildings. The threat of corrosion is worse the older a building is! If you find yourself in this situation, you will need to pay the cost of repairs. Additionally, as noted above, untreated sludge water will costs more to store and transport, because of its heavier weight.

Finally, if you are found responsible for any environmental hazard, you will ultimately have to pay to help fix it. Not to mention, the cost PR to fix your facility’s damaged reputation. Ultimately, if you are going to pay a cost, why not make the choice that is better for our planet and your local area? Who knows, your sterling environmentally friendly reputation may actually drum up more business than before!

We hope you see the advantages of switching over to dewatering. You may be paying for it now, but ultimately the benefits far outweigh any costs. You will provide a great service for your local community, the planet, and ultimately yourself. If you are interested in other ways you can help properly manage waste, check out KenBay’s website. We offer convenient on-site compactors that make managing waste easier. You can request a free 14 day trial offer!

How to Improve Processes for Safe Handling of Hazardous Substances

Let KenBay help you manage hazardous substancesWe know that businesses face a unique set of waste management challenges when they handle hazardous substances. Where others can send their waste to a landfill or Waste to Energy plant without a second thought, these businesses must consider additional steps. Because the responsible disposal of hazardous substances is different than the disposal of other waste products, businesses should have a separate waste management plan for hazardous materials. While daunting, it’s important to consider these processes and look for ways to improve upon them. 

What are Hazardous Substances?

One challenge that manufactures sometimes face is knowing exactly what is considered a hazardous substance. To effectively manage hazardous waste, it is important to know the EPA and OSHA hazardous substance definition. It’s also important to know the state and federal requirements and laws that dictate how hazardous waste must be managed. Some of the most common types of hazardous substances often include:

  • Ignitable items that easily catch on fire like solvents, paint, and gasoline
  • Corrosive waste that “eats” something else, including battery acid, caustic paint strippers, and some floor cleaners
  • Reactive waste that is unstable or explosive like certain cyanide and sulfide-bearing waste
  • Toxic substances that are harmful when ingested or absorbed like gasoline and solvents

These are just a few hazardous substances examples. When you look for ways to improve your processes for handling hazardous waste, do thorough research. Look for a hazardous substances list that is specific to your industry, and be sure you understand the legal requirements for disposing of it.

Evaluate Your Process Repeatedly

One of the best ways you can improve your processes for handling hazardous substances is by simply monitoring your processes more often. First, you’ll need to create a plan for handling hazardous waste, using industry, state, and federal guidelines. Then, you need to evaluate that plan repeatedly. To ensure that your system is up-to-date, efficient, and safe, you need to reevaluate your procedures from time to time. At least once every quarter, set aside time to take a look at the waste products in your business.  Then, find ways to improve your process.

Handle Hazardous Substances Less Often

It goes without saying that the safest way to handle hazardous substances is to not handle it all. Take a significant step to improving your processes for safely handling hazardous substances by finding ways to handle dangerous waste less often. To do this, consider a small footprint compactor that can be placed at the source of hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste compactors like our HazPac allow you to handle dangerous substances less often. In addition, the HazPac has a small footprint, high compaction rate, ease of use, and a unique ability to compact waste into bulk bags or into hazardous waste boxes. This makes our hazardous waste compactor ideal for compacting hazardous waste for transporting. In addition, because of the HazPac’s small footprint, it can be placed close to the source hazardous material generation, saving travel time and increasing  safety and efficiency.

Learn More about KenBay’s Waste Management Products

We know that waste management can be a burden. But, with KenBay, you’ll have the tools you need to help make the job a little easier. The next time you evaluate your waste products and waste management strategy, consider integrating one of our industrial trash compactors into your processes.

Don’t let something like a waste get in the way of your business operations. If you’re interested in trash compactors or finding a committed consultant to help you reduce your waste, call KenBay. We can tell you more about our services, no matter what industry you’re in, or how much waste you are creating!

Photo credit: Getty Images / svengine

 

3 Surprising Ways Depackaging Makes Recycling Easier

3 Surprising Ways Depackaging Makes Recycling EasierFor many businesses, a common barrier to recycling is a lack of resources. For businesses that handle recyclable cans, PET bottles, or cartons, depackaging equipment can help. While there are depackaging companies that can handle this task for you, many businesses now opt to complete the simple process themselves. Typically, these types of containers are not recycled because, in order to do so, they must first be rinsed of their liquid waste. A depackaging machine can do this task for you, while also benefiting your recycling efforts in other surprising ways. Here’s how.

1. No Pre-Cleaning Required

Depackaging is an integral part of waste management processes for zero waste businesses in the food industry. Thanks to this technology, they can easily separate recyclable containers from the food waste that may be inside. Food depackaging equipment varies, but popular models either unscrew bottles, or perforate cans, cartons, and bottles and then rinse whatever liquid is contained inside. This is particularly good for depackaging milk, yogurt, soft drinks, BBQ sauces and ketchup, ice cream, liquid soaps and detergents, and more.

Often, precleaning keeps people from recycling. However, with the right depackaging equipment, you can simply throw full containers into the machine. These containers are perforated or unscrewed by the machine. Then, the depackaging equipment works its magic. Food waste and other liquids inside containers are removed.

2. Recyclable Material is More Easily Managed

Not only does depackaging save you time that would otherwise be devoted to emptying containers of their waste, it can also save you money in your pursuit of zero waste. The best depackaging systems also have compaction chambers. After your containers are perforated and emptied, they are shredded or compressed tightly. With depackaging equipment that also has a high compaction rate, you’ll be able to load more recyclable waste on a single truck and make fewer trips to recycling centers or Waste to Energy plants. Because of this, you’ll spend less money on managing your recyclable waste.

3. Non-recyclable Items Can Be Repurposed

A little-known fact: depackaging equipment can also help businesses manage non-recyclable items like styrofoam or other similar materials. If your business is often left with EPS Polystyrene fish boxes and packaging, EPS dust, polypropylene packaging and insulation foam, or polypropylene (EPP) packaging, depackaging equipment can help you manage this waste. Like recyclables, these items can be emptied of any waste they may hold.Then, the foam that is left over can be condensed to create large blocks of foam. These blocks can then be sold, creating a new revenue stream for your business.

Integrate Depackaging Into Your Waste Management Process with KenBay!

If you think your waste management process could benefit from depackaging, let KenBay help you find the perfect equipment to get the job done. Our SC 2000 and SC 3000 Screw Compactors are configured for depackaging, dewatering or foam densifying. If you want to make your facility landfill free, these screw compactors can be an integral part of your waste management system. Low maintenance and heavy-duty, a KenBay screw compactor is capable of handling large throughputs of material while still maintaining a high compaction rate continuously throughout the operation.

We know that waste management can be a burden. But, with KenBay, you’ll have the tools you need to help make the job a little easier. The next time you evaluate your waste products and waste management strategy, consider integrating one of our industrial trash compactors into your processes.

Because our depackaging trash compactors will reduce the weight and size of your recyclable waste, they are a great way to cut down your waste removal costs and improve the efficiency of waste management.

Don’t let something like waste get in the way of your business operations. If you’re interested in learning more about depackaging or finding a committed consultant to help you reduce your waste, call KenBay. We can tell you more about our services, no matter what industry you’re in, or how much waste you are creating!

Photo credit: Getty Images / photka

It’s Time to Take Another Look at Your Waste Products

Evaluate your waste products today!When was the last time you conducted a waste audit for your business? 3 years ago? 5? Maybe, never? If that’s the case, it’s time to take another look at your waste products. Every business creates waste, that’s almost a certainty, but what is done with it, where it’s sent, and how much time, money, and resources are devoted to it can vary dramatically. All businesses handle waste management in different ways. But, the businesses that manage their waste most successfully all have one thing in common. They aren’t complacent, they aren’t stagnant, they don’t continue to do the same things they’ve done for years and years.

Rather, they examine their waste products and processes with regularity. They also take a strategic approach to waste management. They examine and decide in advance how waste products will be handled, before their waste lands in a landfill!

Luckily, you can do the same for your business. If you haven’t ever evaluated your waste management processes, now is the time! Here are a few things you should consider:

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

It may seem simple, but many businesses often forget that they can ease the burden of waste management by simply reducing the amount of waste their business creates. There are plenty of ways to reduce waste products in businesses that you should consider.

Can you recycle some of your waste? Or, can you donate excess material instead of throwing it away? Can you purchase materials in bulk to reduce packaging waste? Is it more cost effective to send your waste to a Waste to Energy plant than a landfill? We all know that reducing, reusing, and recycling are great ways to help the environment. But, in businesses, these steps can also save valuable time, resources, and ultimately money.

Evaluate Your Sources of Waste Repeatedly

If you create an effective waste management strategy, your business won’t just reduce costs associated with waste management. If fact, you might even transform manufacturing waste into profits. However, to do so, you first need to create an effective waste management plan. Then, you need to evaluate it, along with you sources of waste, repeatedly. At the start of every quarter, set aside time to take a look at the waste products in your business. Then, look for new ways to improve your waste management strategies.

Manage Your Waste Products with KenBay

We know that waste management can be a burden. But, with KenBay, you’ll have the tools you need to help make the job a little easier. The next time you evaluate your waste products and waste management strategy, consider integrating one of our industrial trash compactors into your processes.

Trash compactors like KenBay’s RotoPac are ideal waste management products for industrial settings. They allow companies to reduce the volume of their trash at a ratio of six to one. The RotoPac can handle all kinds of waste from food to recyclables, and even solid hazardous waste. Because trash compactors will reduce the weight and size of your waste, they are a great way to cut down your waste removal costs and improve the efficiency of waste management.

Don’t let something like a waste get in the way of your business operations. If you’re interested in trash compactors or finding a committed consultant to help you reduce your waste, call KenBay. We can tell you more about our services, no matter what industry you’re in, or how much waste you are creating!

Photo credit: Getty Images / humbak

3 Surprising Sources of Waste in Your Supply Chain

There might be surprising sources of waste in your supply chainWaste. It’s something every business creates, but few know how to reduce. For many manufacturers, a surprising source of waste is found in the supply chain. For others, it’s found in a number of different places. No matter the cause of your waste, it is important to understand where it’s coming from. Why? Because understanding where your business produces the most waste is the first step to finding ways to reduce it.

Do you ever get the feeling that your business might be spending more time, energy, or money on waste management than it should be? If so, let us help you find a solution to your waste management concerns. To start, we recommend evaluating your supply chain. It’s filled with surprising sources of waste.  

1. Raw Materials

You should evaluate your processes from the very beginning, before you every start production on a supply chain. Why? Because your raw materials might be a source of waste. One way to reduce waste in the supply chain is to take a second look at your raw materials. Do your raw materials have excess packaging or unusable components? Can you use a less wasteful alternative? How do you use excess raw materials? If they’re thrown out, what can you do to reduce that amount?  Every production process should work to minimize the waste associated with raw materials.  Whether you reduce, reuse, or recycle materials, there are ways to minimize your supply chain waste by evaluating your raw materials.

2. Inventory Control

Just like managing the input of raw materials into your supply chain can reduce waste, evaluating the output of your supply chain can, too. Overproduction in your supply chain produces excess waste. This is especially true if extra products are abandoned, unused on a shelf in a warehouse. Overproduction has the potential to cause wasted materials and final products. But, it also wastes money and resources that are required to store, maintain, or get rid of unnecessary inventory. Having too much inventory on hand often ties up valuable resources and creates wasteful processing tasks.

3. Defects and Quality Control

It goes without saying that one goal for manufacturers is watching the perfect product roll off the assembly line every time. In reality, however, this is rarely the case. Defective products that don’t pass quality control inspections happen. But, don’t overlook defective products. They are an oft-forgotten source of waste in the supply chain. Ensure that you keep the goal of minimizing defective products on your supply chain in mind. Improved quality control will reduce waste every time.

KenBay Can Help You Manage Supply Chain Was

We know waste management can be a burden. But, it doesn’t have to be! With our help you can evaluate your supply chain for hidden sources of waste and implement technology to reduce it. Because our trash compactors will reduce the weight and size of your waste, they are a great way to cut down your waste removal costs and improve the efficiency of waste management.

Trash compactors like KenBay’s RotoPac are ideal for industrial settings, and allow companies to reduce the volume of their trash at a ratio of six to one. The RotoPac can handle all kinds of waste from food to recyclables, and even solid hazardous waste.

Don’t let something like a waste get in the way of your business operations.  If you’re interested in trash compactors or finding a committed consultant to help you reduce your waste, call KenBay. We can tell you more about our services, no matter what industry you’re in, or how much waste you create!

Photo credit: Getty Images / Paul Bradbury

How to Save Money in Your Pursuit of Zero Waste

You can save money in your pursuit of zero wasteThere’s one question that every business asks when it considers becoming a zero waste organization: how will this affect our bottom line? For many skeptics, the assumption is that  “going green” costs money. We are here to tell you that these assumptions are wrong. Zero waste companies, ones that implement measures to keep their waste out of landfills, often find that saving money and being environmentally friendly can go hand in hand. To help you understand how you can implement zero waste programs into your business and save money, here are a few of our best tips:

Ensure Your Equipment is Reliable and Safe

It goes without saying that unsafe working conditions lead to a number of problems. But, it’s often worth repeating. When you begin a zero waste initiative, you will likely look for new tools and equipment to help you in your pursuit.  Whether you implement new equipment or continue to use your existing tools, ensure that your equipment is reliable and safe. Addressing safety concerns and expensive maintenance and repairs will cost you money and will hurt your bottom line. To avoid this problem, be sure that the machinery and equipment your zero waste business uses is the most reliable on the market. The less time, energy, and resources spent on repairs and updates, the more cost efficient you will be in your pursuit of zero waste.

Evaluate the Efficiency of Your Tools

If we’ve said it once, we’ll say it again, ineffective tools will cost you money. How does this tip differ from what we’ve already mentioned? Glad you asked. Evaluating the efficiency of your tools  is much more than just being aware of their reliability and safety. Even if the machinery you use, or may implement in zero waste initiatives, is reliable, safe, and low maintenance, ask yourself this: Is it also efficient? If you were building your processes today, would you choose this the machinery? Does your equipment get the job done quickly? Are there other options on the market that do the job better and faster? Plain and simple, wasting time wastes money. When you pursue zero waste initiatives, seek out the time and money saving options available to you. Stay vigilant and do your research to make sure that the tools you use are the most efficient ones on the market.

Consider Labor Costs

When you reduce the time it takes to get a job done, you also reduce your labor costs associated with the task. For many businesses, this reduction in transportation and labor costs is the easiest way to save money in the pursuit of zero waste. From the first step of your operation to the last, evaluate your procedures and always be on the lookout for ways to minimize your labor costs. Can a task be performed faster? Is there a tool on the market that will make labor easier to complete in a timely fashion? Being mindful of these questions will help your business save money that might be spent unnecessarily on labor costs. This is another strategy for saving money that you can implement in your business when you pursue a zero waste initiative.

Let Us Help You Save Money in Your Pursuit of Zero Waste

With KenBay, you can minimize costs and save money at the beginning of waste management. KeyBay’s commercial trash compactor models offer a safe, reliable, easy to use option for compacting waste before transport, thus saving you money in your pursuit of zero waste. Our RotoPack trash compactors address all the money saving tips we’ve suggested for you.

1. Reliability and Safety

The RotoPac trash compactor by KenBay is easy to use, made of quality construction, and implements several key safety measures. Because of this, you will save money on the safety and maintenance costs associated with trash compacting.

2. Efficiency

The RotoPac is small enough to place directly at the source of your waste. Instead of transporting waste elsewhere, you can compact it right away, saving you time, energy, and ultimately money. In addition, the RotoPac allows for more efficient, continuous trash compacting. Never again will production halt because of waiting time at the trash compactor.

3. Reduced Labor Costs

Although the RotoPac is smaller than traditional trash compactors, it compacts trash at such a rate that you don’t need to empty the compactor as often. In addition, trash is compacted more tightly in a RotoPac than in a traditional compactor. This tight compaction means you can fit more waste into a single bag and make fewer trips to dispose of waste.  A trash compactor like the RotoPac that allows you to spend less time collection and transporting waste will reduce your labor costs and raise your cost efficiency.

KenBay produces innovative equipment that maximizes safety and sustainability and minimizes the financial and global impact of solid industrial waste removal. Heavy hitters like the U.S. Navy, Purolator, and Boeing use our cost and work efficient tools daily. We’ve helped these organizations improve their efficiency and save money. Now, we can help your business do the same. Contact us today!

How to Achieve Six Sigma With a Smarter Trash Compactor

Six SigmaAre your business practices in need of improvement? You’re not alone either in your need or in seeking out resources and means to streamlining everything from sales models and production to something as easy to overlook as waste management. Six Sigma is a group of tools and techniques designed to optimize your business processes and therefore your products themselves. Often combined with the methodology of lean manufacturing to produce the system known as Lean Six Sigma, this is great knowledge to consider implementing in your venture to tighten up your business model. Lean Six Sigma addresses problems in processes and waste as well as variation and design to form a comprehensive plan for streamlining your business as a whole.

What is Lean Six Sigma?

Lean manufacturing addresses business processes and their waste production of all forms through inefficiencies. The goal is to improve overall value, which is measured through the eyes of the customer. Any action or service that a customer would be willing to pay for is considered valuable. Six Sigma is based on a concept in statistical quality control which evaluates process capability. In manufacturing the Six Sigma methodology uses data to determine an appropriate and achievable sigma level for each process, which, when achieved in the short-term production line will decrease defects and therefore waste over time. Lean Six Sigma then utilizes data analytics to reduce waste and variation and therefore increase corporate value.

Why Is Reducing Landfill Waste Important?

Landfill waste is not typically included in the official seven wastes described in the lean manufacturing methodology, but it is not difficult to see how it would interact with them. Oftentimes excess landfill waste is the result of, or results in, other forms of waste such as excess downtime as well as movement. Without a streamlined landfill waste management plan variations in these practices can lead to a high cost of waste removal, and even affect the manufacturing process as employees are inconvenienced by things like waste can placement or problems with them overflowing.

Applying Lean Six Sigma to Waste Management

To start you will need data which means auditing your current waste production to get an idea of how much of what kinds of waste you are sending to the landfill. If you haven’t already designated people to devote themselves to waste management, find employees that are excited about the challenge. Begin finding ways that you can reduce waste streams throughout your operations by implementing recycling and reuse strategies. Investing in a trash compactor will further reduce the size of your waste by a ratio of six to one, which will help to reduce the cost you spend on waste removal. Also, consider your purchasing practices and how you can reduce the packaging on things you are both buying as well as the products you are sending out.

Lean Six Sigma is a great philosophy for improving the value of your company and its products. Waste management always adds value to your company not only through saving you money on logistics and removal costs but also because customers are interested in the corporate responsibility of your business. Being involved in the zero landfill initiative is a great way to devote yourself to improving the way business is done, and Lean Six Sigma is a means to cause that change from within.

For more information about how to improve your waste management practices, call KenBay today!