The guide draws on Finning’s experience working with operators across the UK and Ireland and comes at a time of increasing pressure on the sector.
According to the company, waste and recycling sites are facing a combination of rising operational costs, tighter contractual obligations and growing scrutiny around safety and environmental performance.
At the same time, facilities must manage unpredictable waste streams and challenging site conditions that accelerate wear on machinery.
‘Small improvements can have a major impact’
According to the report, many sites are underperforming financially not because of a single major issue, but due to an accumulation of smaller inefficiencies that compound over time.
Jonathan Davies, Industry Manager for Industrial and Waste at Finning, explained that the sector should focus on consistent, incremental change rather than large-scale transformation.
He commented: “Waste and recycling sites operate in some of the toughest environments in industry.
“Machines are working with abrasive materials, in tight spaces and under constant pressure to keep throughput high.
“Small operational improvements can have a major impact. Reducing idle time, improving equipment availability or eliminating small bottlenecks can quickly translate into significant gains across a site.”
Four areas for improvement
Finning identifies four core challenges that operators should prioritise:
- Managing equipment availability
- Improving safety where plant and people interact
- Making better use of operational data
- Ensuring machines are correctly matched to site demands
To address these, the guide outlines a structured approach focused on practical, near-term changes rather than major capital investment.
Central to this is the principle of “right kit, right job”, with the report highlighting how mismatched equipment – whether over- or under-specified – can drive inefficiencies, increase fuel use and raise safety risks.
The guide also emphasises the role of data in improving performance, noting that while many sites collect large volumes of information, the challenge lies in translating it into actionable insights.
Key metrics such as idle time, fuel consumption, harsh events and repeat maintenance issues can help identify inefficiencies and shift decision-making from assumption to evidence.
Finning stressed that improvements are not solely technology-driven. Operator behaviour, training and site processes are also essential to achieving lasting gains.
A roadmap for waste and recycling sites
Alongside the four focus areas, the guide sets out a step-by-step framework for operators to follow, beginning with establishing a baseline of key performance indicators and identifying operational “hotspots”.
From there, sites are encouraged to remove obvious inefficiencies – such as congestion, poor layout or unclear traffic rules – before investing in new equipment or systems.
Subsequent steps include improving maintenance planning, using data to monitor performance and embedding new practices through training and standardisation.
The report concludes that consistent application of these measures can improve reliability, reduce fuel use and create safer working environments, while avoiding the disruption and cost associated with large-scale change programmes.
Davies added: “Progress in this sector rarely comes from one big change. It comes from getting the basics right, week after week.”
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