Helping the Best Companies Get Even Better

SITUATION

A large East Coast Publisher was looking to aggressively reduce costs over a short period of time. The organization had little to no insight of the costs at the facility. Waste and materials handling costs were high and without a centralized view of these costs, business decisions had to be put on hold. The corporate office engaged CellMark WasteStream Solutions to capture and summarize costs and associated services in order to gain visibility, reduce waste, and improve recyclable revenues.

Waste and recycling invoices were not centralized, and results were difficult to quantify. In addition, employees had not been informed on the benefits of zero waste efforts. Although the initial goal was to identify costs, creating recycling revenue opportunities was also paramount to the corporate office. The organization was also interested in simplifying and centralizing the entire process.

SOLUTION

CellMark WasteStream Solutions began by gathering invoices and identifying waste costs with the management team. Technicians were dispatched to capture the equipment locations, inventory, and to map waste logistics. During this process, slack was identified as space was not utilized properly, yet was sorely needed by the facility. Also, costly containers were promptly removed, and an efficient compacting unit and other equipment were installed.

RESULTS

CellMark was able to initially reduce the annual waste costs of this facility by 57%, then 81% after the first full year. These savings were realized by optimizing existing processes, removing unnecessary services and equipment, and introducing more cost effective practices, partners, and recycling strategies. Waste logistics charges were reduced, and recycling revenues were increased.

The facility currently outsources its ongoing waste stream management to CellMark WasteStream Solutions, including the management of all recycling and equipment continuous improvement, repairs and bill validation. CellMark also offers a 24 hours / 7 days a week help desk service. The production facility managers can now focus on their business and customers, and not on waste and recyclables.

SITUATION

A Global Distributor with multiple locations needed to identify their total waste in order to optimize services and costs by location. This client also wanted an inventory of their waste and recycling related equipment to analyze the costs associated with their preventative maintenance. The audit project began with building an inventory that identified several savings opportunities. In addition to reducing their costs, they wanted to create, and implement goals and measures throughout the organization.

They had a variety of services from several waste equipment providers at each location. They were receiving multiple invoices, and were unaware of what each invoice represented. CellMark WasteStream Solutions noted that costly maintenance agreements were in place with limited or no records of maintenance calls. Waste costs were very high based on the total makeup of their waste, and ineffective recycling efforts. CellMark noted that the current plans in place were not appropriate for the environment, or the organization.

SOLUTION

CellMark WasteStream Solutions began with an audit to identify waste compilation, logistics, and processing at each location. The CellMark team immediately found several collection units that had been used for waste services which were no longer needed. Additionally, the project manager noted several recyclable materials that were not being sorted or not graded properly. CellMark put the right waste logistics in place, as well as appropriate processing plants. A staff training program on zero waste efforts and benefits was implemented as well. After analyzing 3 months of their waste stream data, new contracts were negotiated, zero waste plans, and revenue opportunities were implemented.

RESULTS

CellMark successfully mapped processes, negotiated favorable contracts (including equipment lease/purchases), in-serviced staff, and analyzed waste composition. An inventory was created for each location and all costs were itemized and allocated to departments for budgeting purposes, as hauls were reduced by 50%. The audit and optimization resulted in average annual savings of 76% for waste stream and recycling services. Invoice processing was also simplified with a consolidated billing platform. The maintenance agreements were replaced for additional annual savings. CellMark WasteStream Solutions continues to provide support, coordinate recycling efforts, and continuously improve zero waste results on a regular basis.