Waste: Somebody Else's Problem

Introduction: ‘Society has always produced waste because it consumes - a fact that now provides archeologists with the detail of history but one which gives modern society a problem of disposal'. Martin Bettington, Managing Director of Biffa Waste Services examines the issues and implications of waste management for all companies. A specially commissioned MORI survey backs up his observations, making it obvious that industry needs to come to terms with its most unloved by-product. What do we mean by Waste?: What is waste and how is it classified? What is waste management? Why is professional waste management so important? What does society think about waste? What has been the impact of the environmental movement? What is the role of the legislation? How is waste regulated? The UK Waste Management Industry: The waste sector is an industry in transformation. In the past, it has been dominated by small, often family-owned, businesses. Today, the industry is undergoing rapid consolidation. Operators compete by increasing volumes and investing in specialist technologies demanding high levels of capital and new skills. Do you know the cost of waste and effluent disposal to your company each year? Options for Tackling the Problem: In the UK waste is tackled in four ways: Don't make it - minimisation Use it again - recycling Bury it - landfill Burn it - incineration The costs, benefits, and implications of each option are important for society and industry. Professional waste management must ensure that all our industrial habits are sustainable for the natural environment by meeting stringent UK and EC legislation. At the same time businesses need to develop effective waste management strategies that take into account the potential costs for landfill or incineration and possible profits for to be gained from recycling. Five points to remember Bibliography

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