| Each organization that aims to be sustainable needs | | | | initiatives agreed on waste planning. Remember that |
| to integrate waste planning in its agenda for | | | | it is impossible to manage without the ability to |
| sustainability. An organization needs to take an extra | | | | measure and a company's waste footprint should be |
| mile to better understand carbon emissions and know | | | | established, just as the organization would calculate |
| more than what's on the surface. | | | | its carbon footprint. |
| As carbon emissions management is the poster child | | | | With a waste footprint in mind, companies can |
| of sustainability, many organizations do not pay | | | | calculate how much it costs them to handle and deal |
| enough attention to other areas of environmental | | | | with waste currently. Targets may then be |
| efficiency. Waste planning is often given scant | | | | established, to give additional incentive, should it be |
| regard, always a subject of "off-the-shelf" handling | | | | needed. |
| and a generic approach handed down through | | | | Waste planning needs to be part of an organization's |
| successive generations. Many organizations do not | | | | comprehensive sustainability agenda. It is essential |
| realize that real, financial savings can be accomplished | | | | that sustainability needs to be the main focus of an |
| by effective waste planning, as there are real costs | | | | organization, rather than just being an afterthought. It |
| attached all the way down the line. | | | | is important to ensure that waste production will be |
| As carbon emissions management is the poster child | | | | minimized at the source. While some waste element |
| of sustainability, many organizations do not pay | | | | is unavoidable, consider recycling or reuse before the |
| enough attention to other areas of environmental | | | | last resort -- disposal. |
| efficiency. Waste planning is often given scant | | | | Consider a comprehensive approach to saving from |
| regard, always a subject of "off-the-shelf" handling | | | | an environmental standpoint. Most companies use |
| and a generic approach handed down through | | | | water wastefully and do not realize that by |
| successive generations. Many organizations do not | | | | understanding their energy use they can save and be |
| realize that real, financial savings can be accomplished | | | | ready for potential legislation. One approach to |
| by effective waste planning, as there are real costs | | | | efficiency needs to be cascaded throughout the |
| attached all the way down the line. | | | | entire organization, where every asset is not only |
| Every organization needs to have a systematic | | | | checked for efficient operations but is also tagged |
| analysis of every aspect where money is spent for | | | | and categorized as part of an efficient asset |
| waste management. Waste planning begins at the | | | | management. |
| very start of the product lifecycle and continues long | | | | Environmental efficiency is becoming a key |
| after the product has left the distribution station en | | | | competitive issue for all organizations and is no longer |
| route for the customer. It is also important to note | | | | the subject of a contrite, public relations exercise. |
| that the pressure to make organizations accountable | | | | Waste planning must be addressed as keenly as |
| to their waste throughout the product lifecycle is | | | | energy management and greenhouse gas emission |
| increasing in trend. | | | | abatement. |
| It is essential to be able to set targets for any | | | | |