Managing Director (MD): Can someone please explain why we’re still spending thousands of pounds a month on waste collections when I signed off on a waste compactor that was supposed to save us £30k in year one?
Operations Manager: The machine’s had multiple faults and keeps breaking down. It worked fine for the first few weeks, but since then, it’s been nothing but trouble. Whenever it’s out of action, we’ve no choice but to bring in an open skip from ABC Waste, but that always takes at least 24 hours.
In the meantime, waste piles up, and we’re paying Dave in the yard overtime to clear it all and load the skip. I won’t even start on the knock-on effects this causes for production, goods in, and dispatch.
MD: So what are the suppliers saying? If they can’t sort it, just tell them to take the machine back and refund us.
Operations Manager: If only it were that simple. We got the machine on a lease agreement through a finance company, so we don’t deal with the supplier directly. ABC Waste don’t have engineers – they only handle the bins, and they’re done by 4pm because they start early.
They keep telling me it’s the supplier’s responsibility. The supplier says they’ll fix it, but it always takes 2-3 days to get an engineer in, and when he shows up, he doesn’t carry any spare parts. He then has to order parts from the Far East!
By the time the engineer comes back, the machine has been down for at least a week. On more than one occasion, it’s been out of action for over three weeks! And it turns out the supplier doesn’t even employ engineers – they just use subcontractors.
To make matters worse, the warranty only covers parts on exchange. We’re left footing the bill for labour, travel, and any parts ordered in advance. They won’t ship parts until we’ve paid, and if we don’t return the broken parts (at our own cost), they won’t even consider a credit. I’ve got a box in my office full of failed spares that I haven’t sent back because of the cost… It’s a nightmare!
So far, we’ve spent over £3,000 on labour, travel, and replacement parts that should be covered under warranty. On top of that, we’ve forked out for extra skips, overtime, and the disruption caused by downtime. The money’s run out because it was all allocated to pay the lease costs on the compactor.
MD: Who set up this deal? Wasn’t procurement involved?
Procurement Manager: *Gulp* We were. We followed the standard procedure, getting two alternative quotes, but both were more expensive and had longer lead times. The company we chose was recommended by ABC Waste, who said they’d worked with them before. They even gave us a temporary machine on free trial while ours was being built.
Sound familiar? If you’re a procurement or purchasing professional, you’ll know how quickly a bad decision on waste management can get out of control. At Compact & Bale, we’re committed to eliminate the uncertainty and hidden costs that can be associated with your waste solutions.
As industry-leading experts in waste management, we offer reliable, transparent, and tailored support for business who want to change their processes for the better. If you’re thinking of investing in a waste compactor or baler, we can help with professional waste management services tailored to your company.
We supply market-leading waste machines that are built to last; this ensures maximum uptime and minimal disruption to operations. Unlike unreliable suppliers, our stock is backed by robust warranties and aftercare. We also employ in-house engineers trained to resolve issues quickly and efficiently, offering proactive maintenance plans to prevent breakdowns before they occur to save you from costly downtime.
We work with you directly to create a plan that allows for a detailed breakdown of services so you never encounter unexpected costs, repairs, spares, or labour. Our solutions are designed to reduce the frequency and cost of waste collections to save you money. By compacting waste efficiently, your waste volume is reduced and your site’s organisation and cleanliness is improved.
With over 20 years of experience as waste management experts, we have a proven track record of helping businesses across the UK and abroad streamline their waste operations. We’re proud to handle everything for our clients – from assessing your needs to installing equipment and providing ongoing support – so you can focus on what’s important: running your business.
If you’re grappling with unreliable suppliers, hidden costs, or ineffective waste processes, we can save you time, money, and stress with our solutions. You can contact us today for a transparent, no-obligation consultation on how we can transform your waste management.