User:Snorreg/Waste streams

Waste streams is an environmental problem and concern which is increasing every day. According to the EPA, companies are paying to dump 214 million tons of commercial non-hazardous waste into landfills each year. (need ref) The EPA estimates that commercial, non-hazardous waste represents an estimated spend of $22 Billion per year by corporations. (ref) The EPA estimates that 42%+ can be easily diverted. (ref) Conservatively estimated, 10%+ of these materials might have additional market value. As Corporate Social Responsibility has gained popularity, most companies do not want their stakeholders to associate them with polluting, filling a landfill, or wasting surplus materials. In addition, there is a lack of resources, people, and tools to address the problem.

According to the 2009 Greening of Corporate America Report (ref), 89% of companies say that waste reduction is a high priority – this was unthinkable five to ten years ago. For example, Walmart has publically set a zero waste goal for themselves and their 100,000 suppliers. Read more at Wal-Mart One of the first company to adress the waste-to-landfill problem, RecycleMatch, is trying to match waste streams with innovative buyers who can use the material in a different or novel way.