Production and Reduction: Build a better business for a better tomorrow

In 2000, Wisconsin businesses recycled 700,000 tons of material and threw away 1.3 million tons of trash - enough trash to bury a typical city street five feet deep, curb to curb for over 80 miles. And due to increased waste generation and a decrease in recycling, this street of trash is 24 miles longer than it was in 1995.

You may be relying on e-mail more often. But if you print e-mails, you aren't saving paper in the long run. In fact, paper waste generation in offices in Wisconsin increased 22 percent (about 30,000 tons) between 1995 and 2000, according to Wisconsin DNR reports.

If you aren't recycling, you are making matters worse by wasting landfill space and money. Waste costs in terms of waste disposal, the environment and customer and employee satisfaction. One way to combat waste and save a lot of money is to stop generating it.

Pollution Prevention (P2) means using raw materials, water, energy and other resources more efficiently, substituting less harmful substances for hazardous ones, and eliminating toxic substances from production.

Adopting P2 practices often lowers operational and environmental compliance costs. P2 can reduce or eliminate long-term liabilities and clean-up costs. Disposal costs are reduced when waste volume decreases. P2 can lead to a reduction in workplace exposures to hazardous materials, which can affect workers' health and productivity.

Green building is another way to reduce a business's footprint. Green building addresses five areas: siting, energy conservation, building materials, indoor air and environmental quality and water conservation.

Finally, as community pillars, businesses shoulder a responsibility for environmental protection for their own good as well as that of society.

Wisconsin DNR solid and hazardous waste specialists and business sector specialists can suggest ways to prevent pollution, cost effectively reduce waste and move beyond recycling compliance.

Produced by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Design: Moonlit Ink
Illustration: Brian Strassburg
Written and edited by: Natasha Kassulke, Joel Stone and Shelley Heilman
(copyright) 2002, Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.