01-03-1985 Council Packet Special Meeting

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Other Waste Reduction Techniques The other waste reductions techniques can be classified under the categories of 1) improvements to industrial or manufacturing processes, 2) improvements to procurement policies, 3) paper reduction, and 4) legislative or regulatory actions. Certain industries, especially heavy manufacturing, may be able to realize cost savings if processes and raw materials are changed in favor of alternatives producing less waste. Direct financial subsidies or tax incen- tives may be necessary, however, to accelerate their development. Procurement policies give greater consideration to the total costs over a product's life, or "life -cycle costing", before purchase. This should result in preferences for more durable, reusable and recyclable goods and should also result in a preference for "purchasing more product and less container," such as buying in bulk or buying in refillable bottles. Paper reduction includes information storage and retrieval techniques that shrink office paper consumption such as use of microfiche, use of magnetic media (for example, computer discs and tapes) and paper conservation policies and procedures (for example, use of carbonless forms, printing "back-to-back" on two sides rather than single -sided copying). legislative or regulatory actions include activities such as product bans and packaging rules. Both of these have been attempted in Minnesota as waste reduction and environment-.l protection measures with very little success. No reduction levels or target dates are assigned to these ot�-r strategies because the waste stream impact is unknown or the implementation is too specu- lative to make specific projections. Notwithstanding, the Council and the metropolitan counties should continue to evaluate these opportunities and if further research warrants, this plan should be amended to include reduction levels. Proposed Roles and Rfsponsibilities Programs should be established that focus on 1) enhancing the waste generator's awareness of reduction opportunities, 2) facilitating the ability to take advan- tage of the opportunities, and 3) developing implementation schemes that will be economically advantageous to the recipients. The cost savings of waste reduction activities will be the principal motivator for change. A primary objective, therefore, should be to collect and dissemi- nate this type of cost -benefit data. For instance, businesses and governments that currently employ life -cycle costing in their procurement processes could serve as models and resources for other waste generators of all types. Con- sumer information should also be prepared to show how products sold in bulk and in refillable containers are less costly and at the same time more environmen- tally sound. To help consumers take advantage of the opportunities, technical assistance programs should include model waste reduction management programs to help residents, businesses and governments implement reduction strategies. There are several levels of government that should be involved in waste reduc- tion programs. Because each agency or level of government is also a waste generator, each of them should be required to implement in-house waste reduc- tion programs. Table 4-4 displays a list of potential roles and responsibili- ties for the waste generator and various implementing agencies. 39