Page 105 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

4

DEPLOYMENT ALTERNATIVES

4.1 The Deployment of Solid

Waste Minimization

The environmental and economic benefits of solid waste analysis and minimization
are clear. Many organizations can significantly improve their bottom line performance
and reduce their environmental impact by focusing efforts on solid waste reduction as
demonstrated in Part 1 of this book. This chapter covers the next phase of that process,
after the need has been identified that solid waste reduction is an important organi-
zation goal. The next phase is implementation and execution. There are a variety of
alternatives to deploy solid waste minimization. These alternatives range from a massive
organization-wide launch that covers multiple facilities to a smaller scope short-term
project. The following is a list of deployment alternatives ranging from large-scale
organizational initiatives to smaller project-based launches:

■ Corporate-wide launch
■ Single facility launch
■ Department-based launch
■ Specific waste stream analysis
■ Product-based or life cycle analysis (LCA)
■ Project-based launch

Each method has advantages and disadvantages and the deployment mechanism
should be selected based on the available resources (financial, employee, and technology),
the project timeline, the project goals, and the corporate culture of the organization.
Table 4.1 summaries key benefits and drawbacks of each method.
For an organization just beginning the solid waste analysis and minimization
process, the project-based launch is most often recommended. The primary reasons
for this are that it requires fewer resources and has a shorter timeline. The key idea is
that early, quick results can lead to bigger projects in the future based on the success

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