How do multi-site businesses manage waste consistently across locations?

Why consistency breaks in multi-site networks

Most inconsistencies aren’t intentional—they creep in over time:

• Each site negotiates directly with local haulers—prices, bin sizes and rules vary.
• Signage and training differ, so contamination rises and diversion falls.
• Reporting is manual or fragmented—finance sees invoices, operations see issues, ESG sees gaps.
• Small changes (a frequency tweak here, an extra bin there) compound into real cost.

Direct with haulers vs working with a broker

Going direct

Direct can work for a single site with simple needs. But as you add locations and streams, you inherit the coordination load

—multiple contacts, multiple invoices, and little apples-to-apples visibility across the network.

Working with a broker

A waste broker is your single point of accountability. We

 don’t own trucks; we manage a vetted national network of providers. You get the best local haulers and one consistent way of working everywhere.

Nationwide’s operating system for consistency

We turn fragmented waste services into a single, standardised program that scales.

1) Standard service catalogue

Defined bin sizes, frequencies, pricing units and contamination rules. Everyone quotes and reports the same way—so you can compare like-for-like across suppliers and states.

2) One set of SLAs and reviews

DIFOT/on-time targets, recovery times, photo evidence for overflows and contamination, and a monthly

 review rhythm to keep performance on track.

3) Uniform signage and quick training

The same language, colours and icons at every site. Short toolbox talks for cleaners and

 managers. Less confusion,

 fewer contaminants, higher diversion.

4) Consolidated data and reporting

Services, spend, incidents and emissions in one view—for site leads, finance and ESG. No

 more stitching spreadsheets together across vendors.

5) Exceptions register (when “standard” can’t apply)

We document genuine constraints (council rules, space, safety), apply the closest-fit standard, and review exceptions quarterly so variance shrinks over time.

What this means for your business

• Less admin: one invoice, one contact, one program across all sites.
• Cost control: remove over-/under-servicing, spot anomalies early, buy consistently.
• Compliance confidence: EPA requirements, licences and evidence handled with audit trails.
• ESG made simpler: consistent factors and reporting for Scope 3 and diversion.
• Local reliability: best-fit providers per site, managed to the same standard.

The myth: “A broker adds extra cost”

It’s a fair question. In practic

e, our buying power and data-led right-sizing often reduce total cost compared with going direct. More importantly, consistency prevents the slow creep of avoidable spend—duplicate lifts, wrong bin sizes

, missed services that snowball into overtime cleans and complaints.

What gets standardised (typical multi-site scope)

• General waste, cardboard, soft plastics/stretch wrap, commingled recycling
• Organics/food (including dehydrator or equipment where justified)
• Clinical/regulated streams with chain-of-custody
• Bulk & project bins, pallets/timber, metal
• Washroom hygiene and grease traps

A simple 90-day rollout

Days 0–30: Discover & design

Gather current services, pricing and constraints; design the

 standard catalogue, signage and SLAs; create the exceptions register.

Days 31–60: Align & enable

Realign sites to the catalogue; deploy posters and toolbox talks; switch on consolidated

 reporting; nominate site “Waste Champions.”

Days 61–90: Optimise & lock in

Right-size bins/frequencies using evidence; target quick wins (cardboard capture, organics); run the first

 quarterly review and set the roadmap.

Ready to make multi-site waste simple?

Whether you manage five sites or fifty, we’ll bring your network under one consistent program—nationally coordinated, locally delivered, and measured properly.

Talk to Nationwide

© 2025 Nationwide Waste Solutions Pty Ltd. All rights reserved.