What Is the Fastest Way to Increase Diversion from Landfill in a Business?

Quick wins that deliver measurable sustainability results.

Every business wants to reduce its landfill waste — but where do you start when you need fast, visible results? The key is focusing on actions that deliver the biggest impact with the least disruption. From waste audits to staff engagement, there are proven ways to improve diversion within weeks, not years.

picture of a forklift operator loading sorted recycling streams at a commercial site, on What Is the Fastest Way to Increase Diversion from Landfill in a Business?

Why Landfill Diversion Matters

Diversion isn’t just an environmental goal — it’s a cost and compliance advantage. Landfill levies continue to rise across Australia, and waste-to-landfill directly contributes to your Scope 3 emissions. Increasing diversion means:

Lower disposal costs over time
Better ESG and sustainability reporting
Reduced environmental impact
Stronger engagement from staff and customers

1. Conduct a Waste Audit

The fastest way to improve anything is to measure it first. A professional waste audit identifies what materials you’re sending to landfill that could be recycled, composted, or repurposed. It’s not about more bins — it’s about smarter streams.

Review collection data and service frequencies
Identify recyclables hidden in general waste
Benchmark diversion rates for each site

Nationwide Waste Solutions provides on-site waste assessments to pinpoint inefficiencies and create a targeted plan for quick improvement.

2. Separate High-Volume Recyclables

Start with the big wins — cardboard, soft plastics, and food waste. These typically make up 60–80% of recyclable content in commercial bins. Setting up separate streams for these materials can rapidly lift your diversion rate.

Cardboard Recycling — simple to implement and immediately reduces waste weight.
Soft Plastics — collection programs turn packaging into new products.
Food Waste Diversion — organics bins or dehydrators reduce volume and emissions.

3. Optimise Bin Sizes and Collection Frequencies

Overflowing bins lead to contamination, while underused ones waste money. Matching the right bin size and pickup schedule to each stream can improve separation and reduce costs instantly.

Nationwide’s account managers use service data to right-size collections across multi-site portfolios, improving both efficiency and diversion from landfill.

4. Improve Signage and Bin Placement

Recycling fails when people guess. Use clear, image-based signage that shows exactly what goes in each bin. Place recycling and general waste bins side-by-side — never separately — so the right choice is always easy.

Nationwide provides custom signage and colour-coded bin decals tailored to your waste streams, site type, and staff needs.

5. Engage and Educate Staff

Behaviour is the most powerful driver of diversion. Train teams on what goes where, and keep recycling top of mind with updates, competitions, or internal “recycling champions.”

Even small initiatives — like quarterly waste performance emails or team challenges — can cut contamination and increase diversion dramatically.

6. Track and Report Progress

Visibility drives accountability. Monthly or quarterly reports showing diversion percentages, contamination rates, and cost savings keep sustainability goals tangible. Share these wins internally and externally — it reinforces commitment and momentum.

Nationwide’s customer portal and KPI reports make performance tracking simple, helping businesses meet ESG and Scope 3 reporting requirements.

7. Set a Diversion Target

Set a clear, realistic goal — for example, “achieve 70% diversion within 12 months.” Publish it internally and review progress quarterly. When staff see measurable results, they stay motivated to improve further.

Quick Wins Summary

Audit your waste streams to find easy wins
Add or improve recycling streams for high-volume materials
Optimise bin setups and collection schedules
Educate staff and celebrate progress
Use data and reporting to sustain improvement

How Nationwide Waste Solutions Helps

As Australia’s leading waste management brokerage, Nationwide Waste Solutions partners with over 250 approved providers to deliver reliable, transparent, and sustainable waste services. Our account managers work with you to:

Identify quick diversion opportunities through on-site assessments
Design tailored recycling and organics solutions
Provide KPI-driven reports with measurable results
Coordinate all waste streams with one point of contact and one invoice

Whether you manage five sites or fifty, we make improving diversion fast, measurable, and stress-free.

Ready to Increase Diversion from Landfill?

Start with a simple waste assessment. Nationwide Waste Solutions will benchmark your current performance and identify practical steps to increase recycling and reduce landfill costs.

Talk to our team today to book your landfill diversion review.