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Original Date: 03/17/1997
Revision Date: 01/18/2007
Best Practice : Landfill Avoidance
In 1987, Polaroid’s CEO made a commitment that his company would avoid sending chemical waste to landfills unless it truly was the best alternative. This decision was made prior to regulatory landfill-ban requirements. Additionally, the decision reflected concerns about the long term integrity of landfill storage and the potential for long term liability.
To implement the CEO’s initiative, Polaroid developed a landfill avoidance procedure. All hazardous waste disposal contracts must be reviewed by the Purchasing Environmental Manager at the corporate level. Spent hazardous waste which cannot be recycled, reclaimed, or reused in another process is sent to a chemical waste disposal facility as determined by the Purchasing Environmental Manager. If the manager identifies a waste product that cannot be cost- effectively handled by one of these alternatives, then an exception form (Figure 2-4) is required. The exception form is completed by the vendor requesting the landfill option and reviewed for possible options by the Corporate environmental team.
Polaroid’s commitment to environmental responsibility has greatly reduced long term liabilities. In addition, Polaroid has created an environmental awareness throughout the company in all of its programs.
Figure 2-4. TSD Landfill Request
For more information see the
Point of Contact for this survey.
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