Waste‐Reduction Primer for Managers

Abstract

Waste reduction is becoming extremely attractive to management as a strategy for achieving cost savings while minimizing environmental impacts, as emphasis is increased on environmental protection. Waste‐reduction measures are often very technologically oriented; however, their success usually depends upon worker awareness and management committment. This paper addresses the incentives for waste reduction and discusses the necessary elements for a successful waste‐reduction program. The components of a waste‐reduction program are divided into personnel‐oriented and process‐oriented categories for discussion purposes, to illustrate the two general areas that require attention by management in developing or expanding a waste‐reduction effort.