STEP 5 is the measuring performance stage where methods for measuring and monitoring improvements in waste will need to be decided and implemented e.g. by site, shift, team and more specifically the measurements i.e. skips per month, tonnes of product/tonne of raw material.

Regardless of the level of the minimisation programme all the data collected should be recorded formally.

For each process or working area both raw materials and waste need to be considered. This will indicate the efficiency of the particular production line, process, product design and can prove useful to highlight savings and indicate where substitutes or new raw materials might improve/reduce waste.

Wherever quantities and direct costs are known they should be included and estimated when not known, these areas can then be listed for further monitoring/investigation. If the process is not currently measured simple measurements can be employed to gain insight into possible costs. Flows for example of wastewater can be estimated by measuring how long it takes to fill a bucket or other container, this can then be multiplied up to estimate the daily, weekly flow. Waste containers can simply be counted in the first instance although this isn't as effective as weighing which can be linked more directly to the process that the particular waste material is used in. An important issue with measurement is to ensure that different areas can be compared, i.e. it's no good trying to compare weight with volume.

Utilities bills are another useful area, these are best if different production areas can be monitored separately, but any separation, e.g. between office and plant, can be useful.

The majority of companies operate a quality system of one kind or another and this can also provide a source of useful data, re-work numbers can be utilised to indicate wasteful processes and areas where product loss is occurring. This can aid in identifying areas where savings can be made but also used to monitor the success of the exercise.

Some of the more obvious and general costs can be picked up from landfill consignment notes, bills of materials, production statistics, management reports and suppliers etc. But care needs to be taken with information gathered since financial bills are not always directly linked to consumption/production i.e. the company may receive a monthly supplier bill but stores will record actual usage. Finally process variations might affect some data collections and measurement for example if a production line is being repaired and is therefore out of service this needs to be accounted for.

The most important element when implementing measurement and monitoring is that it should be easy to use and provide the accuracy required.