Managing Waste in the Film Industry
by James P. Outreach & PR ExecutiveEquating to a turnover value of £14.8 billion in 2017, the film
industry is an invaluable contribution to the UK economy. Whether we choose to
have a Netflix marathon, cinema trip out, or a search through the DVD drawer
for those old classics, the film industry plays a key role in entertaining
nations across the globe.
With a sector so valuable, however, comes complications—one
of which being waste management. Consider the amount of recyclable waste that
is generated through the hands of these businesses every day. Statistics
propose that around 26 million tonnes of waste is produced every year in the
UK, 12 million of which is recycled while 14 million is sent to landfill.
If the UK is to achieve its ambitious targets with regards
to recycling waste laid out in section 2.9 of DEFRAs
single departmental plan 2019, the film industry as a whole and the production
companies within it have a lot to do. The government report, produced in June
2019, details that:
·
The government will continue to show leadership
on tackling plastic pollution
·
There will be a commitment delivered to clean up
the country and achieve a substantial reduction in litter
·
New regulations will be implemented to tackle
waste crime, stopping illegal waste activities, and reducing illegal waste
sites
With this in mind, we discuss the benefits of recycling for
the film industry and why all those involved in the industry must strive for a
greener future.
The benefits of recycling for the film industry
Waste takes up a large amount of unnecessary space on your
premises that could be being used in a more productive and efficient manner. With
this in mind, one film production company in particular setting an example of
how to correctly deal with waste is NBC’s 30 Rock.
Back in 2013, they were awarded the Golden Dumpster Award for donating 10.74 tons
of dressing, prop, and wardrobe items to the public as opposed to dumping it on
a landfill. Not only that, but they are also responsible for the diversion of
33.68 accumulating tonnes of film materials to creative reuse as of 2008. From
this, production companies can learn that by sorting their waste, they are
significantly reducing their contribution to the staggeringly high amount of
waste that the world produces each year.
It also avoids those unwanted fly-tipping charges. Not only
is this illegal and can result in hefty fines, but it is also incredibly
damaging to the environment. Your waste is your responsibility. Make sure that
when you are disposing of any waste belonging to your production company, you
do so in the correct manner. It was revealed by the Producers Guild
of America Green Report that film studios spend on average $11,175 on
plastic water bottles alone during a 60-day shoot. So, make sure that when
you’re disposing of your plastic, you’re doing so the right way!
Finally, investing in effective waste disposal methods as
opposed to simply allowing your waste to end up at landfill will enhance your
business’ reputation. Not only that, but it will provide you with a larger pool
of talent, as a large number of professionals want to work for a production
company with good environmental credentials.
Implementing a waste disposal system
One of the key things to consider when implementing a waste
management system into your business, particularly in the film industry, is the
education of staff and everyone involved in the production process.
Staff must be fully trained in recycling before you can
expect it to be successful. How can they know what they are meant to achieve
without being told it in the first place?
This doesn’t have to be a drastic, intensive training course
on the benefits of recycling. All you need is a detailed plan of how recycling
should be carried out and what you are expecting to see in terms of results. A
leaderboard which pits different sides of the business against one another can
be a fun way to engage all of the staff. Remember to update them as well!
You need to think about what you are going to be able to
recycle. For most film production companies can expect to be able to recycle
the following:
-
Cardboard
-
Props
-
Food and drink cans
Once you know what materials your business can recycle, you
need to think about how you’re going to achieve it. The easiest way of doing this
involves employing a waste management team; an outside contractor who will
detail a step-by-step plan on how your production company can successfully
dispose of its waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
As for purchasing new items that are environmentally
friendly, the likes of biodegradable snow and biodegradable volcanic ash that
can be used for movie or TV scenes is one of the ways special effects supplier
Thomas FXs strive to make the film industry greener.
The film industry is rife with opportunity when it comes to
managing waste. Production companies could place focus on using products that
contain less plastic, polystyrene, or chemically-treated wood fibres to help
change our planet for the better as a collective.
Sources
https://millennialstudios.co.uk/blog/top-british-film-production-companies/
https://www.weareukfilm.com/facts-and-stats
http://lifewithoutplasticblog.com/lights-camera-plastic/
https://vangelinc.com/recycling-in-the-film-industry/
https://www.thelondoneconomic.com/lifestyle/helping-the-uk-film-industry-to-become-greener/24/09/
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Created on Sep 28th 2020 09:52. Viewed 330 times.