Page 43 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach
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2









                    BACKGROUND AND FUNDAMENTALS



                    OF SOLID WASTE ANALYSIS



                    AND MINIMIZATION



















                    2.1 Introduction



                    Solid waste generation continues to increase in the United States, and as discussed in
                    this chapter, solid waste measurement and reduction tools have not kept pace. Each
                    year, U.S. industrial facilities generate and dispose of 7.6 billion tons of nonhazardous
                    industrial waste (www.epa.gov, retrieved August 12, 2002). This solid waste is measured
                    and monitored by various U.S. government agencies, such as the U.S. Environmental
                    Protection Agency and similar state-level organizations. These agencies also develop
                    methods to reduce the solid waste generation levels by promoting waste reduction and
                    recycling.
                      As mentioned in Chap. 1, a common problem the government agencies face from U.S.
                    corporations is perceived poor economics of solid waste reduction programs. Many cor-
                    porate leaders believe waste reduction and recycling are not profitable for their company.
                    U.S. corporations feel they are in the business of manufacturing products and providing
                    services, not recycling and waste disposal. This common attitude is problematic and hin-
                    ders waste reduction efforts across the United States. The paradigm must be shifted from
                    this attitude to one that stresses concern for the environment makes good business sense.
                    Corporate environmental concern makes sense because it can be economically beneficial,
                    positively raises pubic opinion, and assists corporations to comply with environmental
                    regulations. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates over 4.8 million corporations
                    operated in the United States in the year 2001. The fact that such a large number of cor-
                    porations are operating in the United States, each generating various amounts and com-
                    positions of solid waste, stresses the importance of widespread waste reduction.
                    Economical justification of waste reduction will increase top corporations’ managements
                    to improve the environment and minimize the waste each disposes. The evaluation and

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