Page 102 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

80 BENEFITS OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT AND MINIMIZATION

consumers are helping to create long-term stable markets for the recyclable materials
that are collected from New Jersey homes, businesses, and institutions.
The economic value of clean air, water, and land is significant, but difficult to quantify.
Since recycling plays an important role in protecting these natural resources, it must
be an attributed economic value in this context as well.

3.4 Corporate Image Benefits

Corporate imaging and product branding play a critical role in the profitability of any
organization. Successfully maintaining and strengthening these concepts are one of
the chief duties of any marketing department and environmental initiatives can go a
long way to bolster them. Specifically, by focusing on solid waste minimization and
publicizing these efforts, an organization can

■ Increase sales by attracting environmentally conscious consumers.
■ Improve the recruitment of employees who share similar values.
■ Attract environmentally conscious partners.
■ Attain free corporate publicity.
■ Increase employee involvement gateway to other programs (heart and mind).
■ Maintain cleaner facilities.

3.5 Personal and Social Benefits

Solid waste minimization also offers personal and social benefits. Although many of
these benefits are somewhat intangible and difficult to measure they are worth men-
tioning. They are worth mentioning because they can be selling points when promoting
an environmental program. Below is a list of some of these benefits

■ Personal satisfaction for helping the environment.
■ Sustainable environment for future generations.
■ Cleaner facilities.
■ Buy-in at work programs (EI).
■ Healthier environments and a higher standard of living.
■ Generate money to assist local programs such as the sale of aluminum cans to
benefit a children’s burn unit at a hospital.

3.6 Summary

This chapter discussed the benefits of solid waste analysis and minimization. Specifically,
the benefits were grouped into environmental, economic, corporate image, and personal.
These benefits are also the key selling points used when promoting solid waste mini-
mization to stakeholders and decisions makers.