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These days most of us recycle, both at home and at work. More materials than ever are being recovered through recycling. Despite its benefits, however, recycling has environmental and economic costs. Many businesses are discovering that although recycling is good, waste prevention -- also known as source reduction -- is better.
Increasingly, businesses are designing, manufacturing, purchasing, and using or reusing materials and products to reduce how much they throw away. In doing so, the businesses are learning that source reduction is good not only for the environment; it's good for business, because it results in fewer costs and increases efficiency.
Celebrate Earth Day 1998 by watching Doing More with Less: Indiana Stories in Waste Prevention, a one-hour program created by the Indiana University School of Continuing Studies, with funding from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management; the Environmental Protection Agency, Region V; Ratio Architects; and CoreSource Indiana.
During the program, host Norm Crampton, director of the Indiana Institute on Recycling, visits seven Indiana businesses, ranging from manufacturers to restaurants, to find out how they are improving processes, preventing waste and saving money. The businesses are Nachi Technology, Inc., Greenwood; Sanyo Verbatim CD Company, Richmond; Madison Chemical, Madison; Sustainable Evansville, Inc., Evansville; State Farm Insurance Companies, West Lafayette; Haarmann & Reimer Corporations, Elkhart; and One World Enterprises, Bloomington.
There are many environmental benefits to source reduction, said Crampton. "Source reduction allows businesses to reduce dependence on natural resources that can't be replaced, conserve valuable landfill space, and cut down on the air and water pollution that comes with making certain products."
In addition, said Crampton, businesses that practice source reduction reap a number of economic benefits. "They have fewer waste disposal costs, save money on materials and supplies, and earn money from the sale of reusable materials. What's more, they have a more efficient workplace, better employee morale, and an enhanced corporate image."
The show aired yesterday at WYIN Merrillville. Air time at the following Indiana public television stations are:
| Indianapolis | |
| April 25, 5 p.m. | WFYI |
| Muncie | |
| April 25, 9 p.m. | WIBP |
| Bloomington | |
| April 26, 4 p.m. | WTIU |
| Evansville | April 30, 8 p.m. | WNIN |
| South Bend/Elkhart | |
| May 7, 8 p.m. | WNIT |
| Fort Wayne | |
| May 8, 10 p.m. | WFWA |
In addition, two edited half-hour videotapes of the program are available from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. The videotapes contain the same content as the hour-long documentary and are appropriate for short instructional programs to community, school, business and environmental groups. To obtain copies of the videotapes, contact Bobbi Steiff, IDEM, at 1-800-451-6027, ext. 35622 or 317-233 5431, Fax 317-233-5627, E-mail rsteiff@dem.state.in.us.
Related Link:
http://www.indiana.edu/~scs/programs/waste.html
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