An Post

Case Study: Waste Management Consultation

The Client

An Post is a major commercial organisation providing a wide range of services encompassing postal, communication, retail and money transmission services.  It is one of Ireland's largest companies directly employing over 9,600 people.

The Challenge

Originally, An Post recognised and wished to address its obligations under the Packaging Regulations. While successfully completing this initial project, it became aware of the larger issue of managing waste in the organisation. The organisation wished to address this in the General Post Office (GPO) and the Dublin Mails Centre (DMC) primarily, with the objective of:

1. Implementing a waste segregation and recycling programme at these trial sites;
2. Demonstrating good corporate citizenship;
3. Instigating a waste policy that was fully supported by staff;
4. Delivering less waste for disposal; and
5. Realising significant cost savings for the organisation.

The Solution

The objective of this exercise was to audit and analyse how waste was managed at the two chosen sites and as some analysis had previously been undertaken, the scope was expanded to include the preparation of tender documents covering both sites which incorporated An Post’s Waste Management requirements. The key benefits of this approach were:

• Marked increase in levels of recycling and significant cost savings
• The client was given the tools and means to directly implement a waste management programme through the waste collector
• Landfill waste disposal was substantially reduced
• Implementation was swift with little capital expenditure and
• Improved working environment for management and staff

Following a rigorous tender procedure, a new waste contractor was appointed and An Post has now successfully implemented its Waste Management System.