Retriever
Newsletter - December 2009
Waste and recycling in the corporate world is about to change forever…are you ready?
Over the past six months, two significant developments have put in motion a chain of events that will likely change the face of waste and recycling in businesses forever. Executive Order 13514, http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-24518.pdf signed into effect by President Obama in November, mandates that government agencies must monitor and report their GHG (greenhouse gas emissions) output and comply with other environmental requirements including the reduction of waste. Additionally, the order calls for 95% of all applicable federal contracts to also meet sustainability requirements;
In the private and corporate sector, in October, Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, instituted the Wal-Mart Sustainability Index, http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability/9292.aspx a set of questions to assess the sustainability of suppliers with the goal of conducting a lifecycle analysis and ranking products according to environmental impact. Wal-Mart rolled out the first phase of this project in October, and of the 15 questions asked of suppliers, two relate directly to waste management:
- If measured, please report the total amount of solid waste generated from the facilities that produce your product(s) for Wal-Mart for the most recent year measured.
- Have you set publicly available solid waste reduction targets? If yes, what are those targets?
Between these two initiatives, the federal government with its more than a half trillion dollar procurement budget, and the Wal-mart index which specifically targets waste reduction, businesses and organizations of all sizes, across virtually all industries, will soon be feeling the pressure to kick-up sustainability efforts.
What does ALL this Mean for YOUR Business?
Most sustainability watchers agree: these two developments are just a precursor to what is sure to be legally mandated sustainability targets in the private and public sector. Given that, forward-thinking companies, whether they are federal or Wal-Mart vendors or not, are already incorporating more greening into the corporate culture. From a waste perspective, this means refocusing efforts on reducing waste and conducting a waste stream assessment to determine the efficiency of waste removal and recycling program. As sustainable practices in waste management move from being an option to a mandate, sustainable waste practices will soon provide a key competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Need Help Getting Started? Contact us to receive “10 Steps Toward Going Green”, an e-guide to sustainability in waste management. Call us today for at 888-841-4481 for a free evaluation of your waste stream... or via email at info@retrieverwaste.com.
