In brief: Waste guide launched; Home workers can save

BUSINESSES in the food and drink manufacturing sector could start to see the financial benefits of reducing the amount of organic waste they produce with the help of a new guide, produced by sustainable business experts Envirowise.

With 15-18 million tonnes of food waste produced in the UK each year, it is a growing problem for the sector as disposal costs rise and industry pressure to reduce waste by 15-20% increases.

The guide suggests companies adopt a systematic approach to waste minimisation, and encourages businesses to consider ways of not producing waste in the first place .

After assessing all possible options for reducing and re-using waste, the guide advises on recycling options such as composting, which can help businesses reduce their landfill costs.

The Organic Food Waste Guide is available free at www.envirowise.gov.uk/GG808

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LOW levels of trust in UK organisations combined with close attention to expenditure are failing to prevent fraud in the workplace according to a new report.

The Chartered Management Institute is publishing ‘Workplace Fraud: the enemy within’ – a new guide aimed at helping employers combat corruption.

The Guide is being published against a backdrop of figures highlighting the problems and disquiet in UK organisations where 9 out of 10 individuals believe their boss doesn’t trust them

Focusing on the triggers for fraud, the Guide urges UK organisations to focus on three key issues as part of a fraud management strategy.

The guide can be downloaded from www.managers.org.uk/fraud.

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ANALYSIS by a Leeds computer support firm Ulysses IT says that working from home one day a week can save employees up to £500 a year.

The firm says companies can help employees beat cost of living rises by allowing home working – and in turn can gain from higher productivity and greater flexibility.

Ulysses analysed new research into remote working by Microsoft.

The computer giant found that flexible working just one day a week saves employees an average of £500 a year, most saved on travel and food costs.

But less than one third of office workers in the UK are allowed to do this at the moment.