Managing waste management facilities comes with a myriad of challenges and costs, and it’s essential to address the often-neglected administrative side of operations. While it may not seem glamorous, investing in administrative functions can lead to significant savings, streamlined processes, and improved decision-making. In this article, we’ll explore why underinvesting in administrative operations can result in substantial costs and how prioritising this aspect can drive positive change within the waste management sector.

The Unseen Costs of Waste Levies:

Waste levies are a major monthly expense for waste management facilities, yet they are often handled as an afterthought. Instead of proactively managing waste levies, corrections are made after the fact, leading to interest charges and potential liabilities. Administrative teams play a crucial role in managing waste levies, but there is an unconscious bias that these functions are of lower priority. This can result in inaccuracies in reporting, leading to expensive consequences.

The Impact of Inaccurate Reporting:

The lack of attention to detail in validating waste levy information can lead to significant risks and financial losses. Misreporting landfill data or misclassifying materials can result in unnecessary levies or missed exemptions. Over time, these seemingly minor discrepancies compound into substantial costs for the facility. A real-life example showcases how a $700,000 levy liability was identified and corrected through a comprehensive data assessment and improved administrative processes.

Investing in Gatehouses for Informed Decision-Making:

Gatehouses serve as vital touchpoints where the community interacts directly with customers. These transactional experiences are essential for making informed decisions about facility operations. However, gatehouse staff often receive insufficient training and resources. Investing in gatehouse operations is just as crucial as investing in heavy machinery. Ensuring proper training, regular refreshers, and open communication can empower gatehouse staff to collect accurate and valuable data for strategic decision-making.

Recognising the Importance of Invisible Administration:

While waste levies and gatehouse management are well-known challenges, the smaller administrative tasks often go unnoticed. Neglecting these hidden “administrivia” tasks can lead to inefficiencies, missed opportunities, and increased costs. Collaboration between organisations, sharing best practices, and utilising regional resources can alleviate the burden on individual facilities and promote industry-wide improvements.

Investing in administrative efforts may not seem exciting, but it is crucial for the success of waste management facilities. By prioritising administrative functions, we can achieve accurate data collection, streamlined processes, and effective compliance management. This, in turn, can lead to significant savings, allowing facilities to invest in new programs and innovations. It’s time for the waste management sector to acknowledge the importance of invisible administration and pave the way for a more efficient and cost-effective future. Let’s remember that seemingly mundane administrative tasks can add up to make a big difference in the industry, leading to substantial benefits for waste management facilities.

Convinced?

Here’s how can Resource Hub support your facility with Remote Admin?Remote Support

• Report generation & distribution
• Manual data entry
• Regulatory / Levy returns
• Financial management
• Collation of vehicle sheets

Regulation

• Preparation and lodgement of monthly waste levy returns
• On call regulatory admin support – applications, regulator responses, advisory
• Liaison with regulators
• Reporting, information collation

Waste Levy Compliance Audit

• Expert data administrators
• Administration of your weighbridge data – Mandalay, iWeigh, Clearway etc.
• Pricing and client data management
• Liaison with your technology provider
• Oversight of your transactions

Industry Advisory