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Benefits of Moving Beyond Waste

Once we clear up the misconceptions of waste management, we can more clearly see the benefits from eliminating wastes and toxic substances. In nature, there is no waste. What is waste to one organism is food for another. In this natural recycling and reuse system, life creates conditions conducive to life. By moving our society beyond waste, we create conditions that contribute to economic, social, and environmental vitality.

Benefit 1: Beyond Waste saves money

• Consumers can spend less money on garbage bills and unneeded consumer goods.
• Local governments can spend their limited resources cost-effectively on recycling or composting materials, instead of burying them in a landfill.
• Businesses can spend less money on solid and hazardous waste disposal, have less worker exposure to hazardous chemicals (thereby reducing training and insurance costs) and have less risk for toxic releases (thereby reducing reporting, clean-up and insurance costs).

Benefit 2: Beyond Waste creates additional and more desirable jobs

• Studies show recycling and composting create more jobs than landfill disposal or incineration. These green jobs are often family-wage jobs.
• Many people like to work for green companies.
• Business experts believe green jobs are an important area of future job growth.

Benefit 3: Beyond Waste protects the environment

• Practices such as green building, organics composting, and reusing waste reduce energy use and greenhouse gasses.
• Reducing the need for mining, logging, and manufacture of new products can mean fewer environmental problems.
• Reducing and eliminating toxics means less toxic releases though air, stormwater runoff, or spills.

Benefit 4: Beyond Waste protects our health

• Reducing toxic exposures both at home and at work can prevent health problems.
• Minimizing greenhouse gas production can protect our health. Climate change will likely result in many negative health impacts, including the spread of hot weather diseases.
• Reducing pollutants in the environment lessens our exposure to toxics that cause health problems.

Benefit 5: Beyond Waste leads to increased profitability of businesses, especially in the long run.

• Businesses that reduce waste and hazardous substances usually earn higher profits than companies that do not.
• Companies that want to compete internationally often need to reduce toxic substances to comply with other nations' laws and regulations.
• Employee turnover is often lower for companies with strong environmental policies. This leads to reduced employee training and related costs.