Catering Scotland

Paper towels

Where possible, replace paper towels with high-efficiency hand dryers. Where paper towels must be retained, ensure they are separately collected for composting or recycling. Talk to your waste contractor who should be able to tell you the most suitable type for recycling or composting.

Switch-off campaign

Use effective signage in a visible location to remind people to turn off lights in the toilet when they leave.

Water minimisation

Retrofit devices to taps to reduce water usage and save money. Fitting a tap aerator, at a cost of £5/tap, could result in water and sewerage cost savings of £13/tap/year. Ensure maintenance is carried out regularly; soap deposits or scale build-up can cause tap mechanisms to jam, resulting in taps dripping and subsequent water loss.

Urinals operating when the building is empty can waste large volumes of water. Installing passive infrared sensors at a cost of around £350 can potentially result in savings of over £3,800 a year. Alternatively, consider installing waterless urinals, potentially reducing water use by up to 90%.

Lighting

Replace bulbs with energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lamps and slimline tubes. These can typically make immediate savings on your lighting bill of 50% and last ten times longer. Ensure lighting controls are clearly labelled with good signage, especially if grouped together.

Flush controls

Ensure water use is minimised in toilets through the installation of volume reducers or dual flush mechanisms. When replacing or refurbishing your toilets, consider purchasing one with a dual flush mechanism to halve your water usage each flush.

Cleaning

Increase awareness of the value of water to managers and staff. Regular staff training, as well as feedback, can help strike a balance between more efficient use of water and maintaining hygienic and effective cleaning practices.

Visit www.resourceefficientscotland.com or  call free on 0808 808 2268 for staff training guides, inspirational case studies and practical tools.