Global Industry and Hazardous Waste Practice: Heading toward Sustainability with Risk Management

Outside of the United States, alternative approaches to cleaning up hazardous waste problems of the past do not involve placing the entire burden on industry. In Sweden, Germany, and Japan, significant joint efforts between government and industry have helped promote site cleanup, and have assisted in the development of cleaner production technologies. As we head toward the new millennium, industries have begun to interact with the public and with government very differently than they did for most of the 20th century. An increasing emphasis is being placed on partnerships, not only among companies, but with government and nongovernment organizations, communities, and other stakeholders. Concerns about hazardous waste and toxic materials often have brought various interests to the table. Companies increasingly are anticipating issues and taking responsibility for them. For example, a consortium of companies is forming to conduct inspections of licensed hazardous waste disposal facilities in Europe. Although all of these facilities are licensed by their respective authorities, and although the liability provisions of the U.S. Superfund legislation are not in place in Europe, companies are increasingly willing to invest in protective measures now to minimize future risks.