Evaluation waste minimisation

In line with its environmental strategy DuPont has adopted an Integrated Resource Management (IRM) approach to its activities. This includes directives on waste avoidance, waste minimisation, reuse and recycling and the evaluation of environmental decisions and industrial activities with Life Cycle Assessment. The resulting strategy for the DuPont nylon business will be presented, with the emphasis on recycling efforts. 

Initial investment in abatement technology is certainly one of the deciding factors for some companies. Often these firms cannot, or do not identify with the real savings associated with improved environmental performance. Waste minimisation, company image and brand association are all difficult to evaluate. 

The business considerations that form part of fhe decision to select the best environmental option for fhe waste material requires that an evaluation of the costs of waste minimisation, treatment and disposal be carried out on an equitable basis. Alternative routes should be costed using as far as possible acfual estimates and realistic assumptions about market values of recovered product. The costs of all the elements involved in the process from collection to transfer, treatment and final disposal needs to be considered. An analysis should therefore take account of the following ... 

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