A Study on Efficient and Sustainable Procurement of Waste Management Services

A Study on Efficient and Sustainable Procurement of Waste Management Services

Until recently, corporate waste disposal costs were marginal, and accordingly, little attention was paid to the procurement of waste management services.
Tomáš Babáček
March 18, 2025

For many years, companies were content using standardized procedures provided by a single general waste service provider, with no need to analyse in detail what happened to their waste — aside from submitting an annual report to the authorities. However, as in many other aspects of business and markets, waste and material management has undergone significant changes in recent years, and this new reality is challenging the traditional approaches to waste service procurement. 

Due to a combination of factors, waste disposal costs are no longer negligible and are expected to rise further. At the same time, overall production costs are increasing, putting pressure on management to find savings — including in waste-related expenses. Additionally, businesses are gaining deeper insights into aspects of their operations that were previously considered external. Factors such as the material intensity of production and the circularity of resources are now seen as key operational parameters requiring new data, skills, and adjustments in company processes and supplier relationships. With a better understanding of their environmental impact and dependencies, companies are also discovering untapped potential — especially in waste and material management. No public regulation or government mandate can influence a company's operations as effectively as understanding its own technological processes, competitive pressures, and the economic and societal motivations to seek better solutions. 

We present to you a study that outlines how to procure waste management services efficiently and sustainably. This study provides practical guidance on selecting service providers and structuring contractual agreements for waste management. 

We hope this study inspires you to innovate your approach to materials and waste, helping you appreciate the value your company can gain from a more strategic and sustainable approach.