Recycling: a responsible way of Waste Management

One way companies can score high in the sustainability department is by minding their waste. For instance, sustainable waste management is a major category in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED) - a set of green building standards that many companies strive to achieve.

So it's good news when an innovative waste management company is there to support such efforts. The Waste Management company provides Healthcare Solutions, a sustainability-focused service for healthcare facilities. The following stories illustrate the way this service works, the types of partnership it creates, and the kind of outcomes it brings about.

Officials at Washington County Healthcare System in Hagerstown, MD asked Waste Management to clear out a 50,000-square-foot warehouse of what they considered to be junk, as the 341-bed hospital prepares to move next year. Instead, the company's staff worked together to recycle, donate or shred what the hospital was going to throw out: floor tiles, lighting, carpet, sinks, shelving, office equipment, confidential documents, and hundreds of stainless steel bedpans.

After one day of clean out in August, four tons of metal had been trucked to a scrap yard and five box trucks of donations had been given to ReStore, one of Habitat for Humanity’s 600 retail building supply stores. The donations are expected to help build a house for a needy family in the Hagerstown area. Another clean out day is scheduled for the third week in October to donate and recycle even more materials.

WH Healthcare Solutions built a similar partnership with New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. The hospital intended to throw away 210 microwave ovens used in break rooms and pantries; instead, the company suggested they be donated to a local charity. The microwaves were given to Goodwill Industries of Greater NY/Northern NJ. As a result, approximately three tons of waste was diverted from the waste stream, the hospital saved $1,000 in avoided disposal costs, and Goodwill gained $5,250 for selling the ovens at $25 each in their retail store.

2009 Corporate Citizenship Survey: corporate responsibility is important despite recession

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and the Hitachi Foundation launched their 4th biennial Corporate Citizenship in the US Survey All findings are interesting, but I'll highlight these:

The majority (54%) of executives surveyed said corporate citizenship is even more important in a recession.

As many 52% said they offer sustainable products/services and 72% said they are reducing costs through improved materials efficiency.

Although most companies said they are not reducing their corporate citizenship budgets, those that did preferred to cut philanthropy/giving (38%), increase layoffs(27%), and reduce R&D for sustainable products (19%).

This latter type of cost is what I'm mostly interested in. Companies have the potential of influencing and changing current lifestyles and consumption habits especially by developing and marketing sustainable products and services. It is therefore very important that companies continue and expand their sustainable R&D as 15% of companies surveyed are already doing.

Countdown to Copenhagen 2009

As governments are preparing for the upcoming world conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will start on December 7, 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark, lots of people are looking forward to and have high expectations of this event.

In New York City, Oxfam's Human Countdown: Climate Wake Up Call kicks off the NYC Climate Change week. Check out the schedule and participate in events to increase awareness about the urgency of smart climate change policy, and importance of the US commitment.

Another NYC-based group, Sustainability Practice Network, held a panel on the issues and challenges facing this meeting. Pai Gee-Janssens, member of the New York Corporate Social Responsibility Meetup, offers a thorough overview of the event plus a brief history of climate change talks on Alternative Energy IP In spite the existent hurdles in reaching an effective global consensus in fighting climate change, it is the anticipated participation and commitment of the US that feeds the biggest hope.

There is a high level of hope from the world at large, that the new U.S. government administration, circa 2009, will propel the potential of the UNFCCC to the next necessary levels and inspire all countries worldwide to proactively participate with fewer conditions and objections for the sake of humanity and all inhabitant of our only collective home.

The materialization of this hope - US Congress passing the climate bill - is threatened by the recession and other competing domestic issues, such as the health care reform. That's why it's important to raise awareness among both the politicians and public at large. The distance between hope and gloom is very short - merely 2 degrees Celsius.

Why is water pollution worsening?

We in America take clean water for granted. We have heard of the water quality and access problems in remote developing countries, and are grateful we don't have to worry about such problems. It turns out, we have to. The New York Times initiated an investigation into pollution of American waters and revealed worrisome trends, such as that

in the last five years alone, chemical factories, manufacturing plants and other workplaces have violated water pollution laws more than half a million times.

The violations range from failing to report emissions to dumping toxins at concentrations regulators say might contribute to cancer, birth defects and other illnesses.

It appears that the reason for the increased number of violations is poor enforcement of Clean Water Act. For some reason, in the last decade, the Environmental Protection Agency has failed to punish the companies which violated the law. Likewise, the municipal water systems have violated the Safe Drinking Water Act.

What is going on? Is this another case of government failure? The EPA has historically done a pretty good job at reducing all types of pollution in the US. "Stretched resources", political interests and bureaucratization are perceived causes of this situation but so is the fact that "powerful industries have often successfully lobbied to undermine effective regulation." A coal company responsible for violations - but not held responsible - is in denial and claims that its actions reflects best industry practices.

This is all very sad. One would hope and expect companies to learn new lessons of corporate responsibility rather than forget the old ones.