Solid waste disposal: the heat is on.

• Author: Donahue, Ted
• Position: Meeting the Environmental Challenge

Municipal solid waste disposal is the most urgent concern of both elected officials and the public.

American business is quickly becoming the target of costly and punitive environmental regulation and oversight. The American public has voiced a dramatically heightened concern over the environmental quality of our air, water, and land areas. The public is now demanding that elected officials and regulators target and penalize the heaviest corporate polluters.

A sustainable and healthy environment is no longer the goal of a few "radical" elements in American society. It's fast becoming an integral part of our national agenda. This trend is not likely to abate.

In the absence of any substantive response to public concerns by the federal government, environmental proponents are increasing their pressure on local and state authorities to fill the vacuum left by Washington. Traditional mechanisms employed to influence legislation at the national level are fast becoming obsolete or ineffective as the battlefield moves from Congress to town halls and state capitols throughout America. It is becoming more difficult and significantly more expensive for business to influence the outcome of emerging environmental legislation at the state and local levels.

In this climate, U.S. business leaders are well advised to review their operations to identify potential problem areas, and to initiate internal programs which adequately address sources of pollution and solid waste volumes from both the industrial and manufacturing sectors (direct and indirect sources). Corporate leaders can no longer prevaricate on the decision to develop and maintain adequate internal audit systems to reduce pollution and to control the growth in solid waste volumes.

Business must not ignore these trends here and abroad. Nor can business sit back and accept targets and deadlines from government agencies which may have no practical application to certain businesses without a significant impact to the bottom line. The private sector must identify a common ground with which to work with government regulators and advocacy groups. The days of "who shot John?" are over. U.S. industry must provide the technical and managerial leadership to resolve outstanding conflicts that effectively address pollution and waste abatement that is financially realistic and viable over time.

Municipal solid waste disposal is the most immediate and urgent concern to both the public and elected officials...