Waste minimization is a cost-effective business and compliance strategy that can reduce short- and long-term costs, minimize regulatory burdens, increase safety and/or productivity, and improve your company image. It is important to remember that there are also legal requirements for hazardous waste reduction, and that it should be an integral part of your environmental compliance efforts. Read on . . .
Benefits to Your Business
Reducing your business's hazardous materials use and waste generation has many potential benefits:
- Reduce or Eliminate Expenses - Many expenses associated with the
use of hazardous materials and hazardous waste generation can decrease after
implementing waste reduction:
- hazardous waste fees/taxes
- hazmat and hazardous waste generator permit fees
- off-site waste transportation, treatment, and disposal costs
- on-site materials/waste handling, treatment, and equipment costs
- emergency and spill response planning and equipment costs
- accident/worker exposure costs and compensation insurance premiums
- potential site deanup costs and pollution liability insurance premiums
- raw materials/feedstock costs
- Reduce Regulatory Requirements - Reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated may reduce regulatory paperwork and requirements applicable to your business.
- Improve Workplace Safety & Health - The same actions you take to minimize hazardous waste generation should also increase work-place safety and reduce employee injury or illness.
- Improve Employee Relations - The increase in attention to health and safety and employee communications resulting from a waste minimization program can improve your overall employee relations.
- Improve Public Image -Your efforts to protect the local environment may result in an improved public image and potential marketing advantages.
Legal Incentives and RequirementsSeveral regulatory requirements provide either legal incentives for or mandate implementation of hazardous waste minimization programs:
- All generators who ship hazardous waste to off-site facilities for
recycling, treatment, storage, or disposal must certify on the waste manifest
that a waste reduction program is in place.
- The biennial Hazardous Waste Generator's report (see Chapter 2, page 4)
includes a summary of waste minimization activity during the subject period.
- Companies that routinely generate more than 13 tons of hazardous waste for
26 lbs. of extremely hazardous waste) per year must comply with "source
reduction" planning requirements (see Chapter 2, page 4).
- Local wastewater treatment plants discharging to south San Francisco Bay
have lowered allowable industrial discharge limits and routinely require waste
minimization plans from businesses whose processors contribute wastewater
discharges.
- State and federal regulations banning land disposal of untreated hazardous waste are powerful incentives for reducing hazardous waste generation.
Waste reduction is just that."
Tom Coss, President
Santa Clara Plating Co., Inc.