Skip to content

Green Opinions

Reviving the cap-and-trade system as a potential means to reduce corporate garbage production

by Julie Cook 08 Apr 2013
Reviving the cap-and-trade system as a potential means to reduce corporate garbage production

Too many 'negative bi-products?' Let’s pump up the volume of recycling! - Earth imaage; Credit: © Shutterstock

Op-ed: Among the most obvious problems of carbon emissions and constant pollution is the prime environmental concern of garbage build-up. Often overlooked, the placement of potentially recyclable materials into landfills can easily turn into a problem that cannot be ignored. As garbage production becomes an increasing concern, solutions created to reduce carbon emissions and pollution, specifically "cap-and-trade," can be adapted to fit garbage removal.

The cap-and-trade system is based on implementing a "cap" on the units of negative by-products generated by companies and allowing them to "trade" their unused units to companies that overproduce. For garbage reduction these caps would be applied to large firms, especially those who manufacture goods. This system applies best to firms and not individuals as they produce a more predictable level of annual waste, and are easier to regulate through legislation.

A number of corporations have already been able to reduce their waste production acknowledging the long-term financial and ethical benefits. These companies, such as Anheuser-Busch, Pratt & Whitney and Subaru, have developed measures to reduce their potential waste production by isolating wasteful areas in their manufacturing. Many of these measures were developed by requesting different-sized sheet metal, or trimming fractions of an inch of metal off their products, and allow them to reduce the amount of materials needed and thus the capital spent on obtaining them.

These companies would be likely to promote the legislation of cap-and-trade as it would directly benefit them. They would receive extra revenue for their recycling success from other firms. This means that there is the potential for them to receive funds from firms that they directly compete with. There is also the indirect benefit of environmental "bragging rights". Consumers have become increasingly aware of environmentally friendly and green production. Companies who are able to produce their goods in with minimal waste can employ their successes in advertising campaigns that can further distance them from their competition.

Currently, individual states in the US are responsible for their non-hazardous waste through the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which make legislation difficult to achieve nationally, but the cap-and-trade system could still work. In cap-and-trade, the national government will necessarily set the national cap on waste heading to landfills and manage the general enforcement, but it would be the state who would truly implement the regulation. Once in place, open market trading would do the rest to encourage the environmentally friendly corporate recycling polices.

The task of detailed regulation would fall to local garbage collection agencies. Both private and public garbage agencies would be tasked with measuring the levels each corporation produces to assist in determining the number of tradable credits. This would encourage garbage management agencies to make the transition towards an environmentally friendly business model and increase their recycling abilities. Corporations would ideally be decreasing their production of landfill waste and increasing their level of recyclable materials, and thus garbage agencies would need to adapt. This would encourage the creation of facilities designed to handle an increased flow in recycling.

Cap-and-trade would also create trickle-down effects beyond the garbage agencies. Once garbage collection companies have created more recycling facilities, local communities could benefit. People would be encouraged to reduce their own waste after seeing the renewed increase of their community. Cap-and-trade can also positively affect waste reduction in individuals from the corporate level as well. Companies like Subaru who have already embraced low landfill waste production, have noticed an increase in the recycling vigor of their employees.

Cap-and-trade does have the potential to reduce American reliance on landfills if fully implemented. The federal government needs to past the "cap" and states and their municipal waste collectors would apply the regulations. Ideally, if this system proves successful and reusing/recycling becomes the norm, the system could be dismantled. The risks involved are minimal; it just needs to become a topic of consideration.

Let's all start considering how we could implement it!


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping