Business should clean up toxic waste

Despite the rules and regulations that have been set by the government to ensure proper cleanup and restoration of toxic waste sites, they remain confusing, inefficient and unclear (Jenkins 15). Therefore due to these facts, the public and businesses find it hard to determine what qualifies as a toxic waste site and who is financially responsible for its clean up. Due to the confusion that has been caused by these guidelines, in most cases, toxic wastes are not being disposed of properly hence creating problems for the environment and causing public health risks. Throughout the paper, I will seek to examine if businesses and industry should be responsible financially for cleaning up toxic wastes. In my opinion, a business or industry should be financially responsible for cleaning up the toxic wastes. However, it is surprising that in most cases costs do not act as a strong motivator in the reduction of waste disposal and generation by businesses and industries.

Although businesses should be financially liable for cleaning up the toxic wastes, waste disposal should not be viewed as a financial burden but as means of promoting sustainable environment (Heal 405). Some of the issues that make it difficult for most businesses to make recycling, reuse and waste reduction practices is due to time pressures, lack of space and lack of staff resources. Although most businesses view waste management as a fixed cost that they cannot reduce and recycle perceived to be expensive, this is usually not the case. Studies show that companies are considered to be ethical due to proper waste management hence increasing ability to retain and recruit talented employees as well as increase the overall productivity of the business. This principle has not only made it possible for the cleanup of various toxic waste dumps site but also triggered the private companies and industry to be able to manage their waste products.

The Superfund law requires that business that is responsible for creating a given site should fund the cleaning up of that site or the environmental protection agency (EPA) can also "perform the cleanup from the fund and recoup the costs to the respective responsible party. Jenkins 59). The Superfund program in the United States should be made stronger to ensure that the health of our neighborhoods and cities is not compromised. Therefore, every company that produces toxic wastes should pay their fair share in ensuring that all toxic waste in their community is cleaned up. Through engagement in waste, prevention, reuse, or cleaning up, as part of CSR a business or industry is not only able to positively impact the society but also improve the credibility and reputation of the company. Involvement and understanding of the CSR are very vital primarily for the sustainable development of the business or industry.

In my opinion, although cleaning up of toxic wastes may be a costly affair mostly to the small business, it should be viewed as a corporate social responsibility that seeks to serve a greater good for the business or industry as well as the society. Due to the planetary anxieties about climate change, poverty, and globalization, cleaning up or waste management will not only promote sustainable development but also help in the future growth of businesses. Every business or industry has the responsibility to promote a sustainable business environment through eco-efficiency means. Work Cited Chatterji, Aaron K. David I. Levine, and Michael W. Toffel. How well do social ratings actually measure corporate social responsibility?" Journal of Economics & Management Strategy 18. com. au/documents/doc-1383-what-s-the-deal-br-report-final. pdf. Accessed 7 June. Heal, Geoffrey. Accessed 7 June.

Holliday, Charles Jr. Schmidheiny, Stephen, & Watts, Philip. Walking the talk: The business case for sustainable development. Greenleaf Publishing, 2002. Fs10551-006-9182-6. Willard, Marsha, and Darcy Hitchcock. The business guide to sustainability: Practical strategies and tools for organizations. Routledge, 2009.