Waste Management Expert Rod Proto Advises Companies on the Benefits of Recycling
When it comes to waste management, Rod Proto is an expert. This titan of industry has more than 30-years’ worth of experience running leading waste management organizations in the US and overseas. By his own admission, there isn’t much he doesn’t know about waste management. In a recent discussion with business leaders, Rod Proto offered some insights into the benefits of recycling business waste, even for small companies.
When asked about the impact of waste management on New York’s landscape, Proto said:
“The impact has been varied. There are some huge challenges when working with trash in New York, as everything we do has an unintended consequence, but with a lot of hard work and support from the local community, we have seen the positive changes of an innovative waste management solution.”
Photo/Nathan Bevier, U.S. Air Force via wikicommons
These insights can be extended to business waste management in other communities.
Why Waste is Harmful to the Environment
Refuse quickly builds up, particularly in a commercial environment. If left unchecked, you could end up with piles of trash that attract rats and other vermin. A huge amount of trash ends up in landfill sites. This is extremely harmful to the environment. Plastics and other man-made products don’t rot, and if they burn, they emit harmful substances, such as dioxins.
Many businesses throw all their waste into one trash container, so everything, including recyclables, ends up in a landfill site. This is both lazy and bad for the environment.
Simple Ways to Dispose of Waste
There are many simple things a business can do to minimize their impact on the environment and reduce their carbon footprint. The first is to implement a waste management policy. This should come from senior management, as without a directive from the top, junior employees may not take any notice. Forward-thinking business leaders like Rod Proto understand the importance of leading from the front. It is the only way to get everyone on board.
The Art of Recycling
When asked about the ins and outs of recycling, Rod Proto commented that it was a broad subject.
“You need to think about the type of waste you generate and the decisions you make. For example, many of our day to day environmental decisions are based on emotion. A good example is recycling glass. Glass is basically sand and recycling glass in traditional ways really messes up the opportunity to recycle other products. I think people need to think in terms of environmental balance and consider the whole production, delivery, use, and disposal cycle.”
Businesses must separate different types of waste and encourage employees to use separate bins for plastic, paper, cans, etc. This makes it much easier for waste management companies to do their job and less recyclable waste is contaminated unnecessarily.
Looking Ahead and Creating a Better Place for the Next Generation
Rod Proto believes that effective waste management is the future for our planet. He understands the market better than anyone and he knows that there are challenges, but as he has already proven, the key to success is understanding the market.
Author: Veselina Dzhingarova
