Waste Reduction Opportunities Example Discussion

Waste reduction opportunities guarantee eco-friendly environments. The American government spends approximately $800-$900 billion of the annual $6 trillion annual budget on waste management (Kotcher, 2021). Also, the average American produces about 5 pounds of waste daily.

Waste reduction initiatives are applicable at both administrative, operational and clinical levels. The three enlisted wastes significantly contribute to a fluctuation of the national economy. The administrative, operational, and clinical waste management opportunities are significant to minimize government overspending on waste management.

Policymakers and taxpayers should team to incorporate waste reduction opportunities at both the administrative, operational, and clinical levels. Administrative wastes refer to overheads such as receipts and brochures that results from the complex insurance payment system (Kotcher, 2021). Operational costs are industrial-related wastes in both the manufacturing and transportation industries (Kotcher, 2021).

Lastly, clinical wastes are healthcare low-value outputs such as discarded bandages or old medical records of deceased former patients (Kotcher, 2021). All the mentioned wastes negatively impact the national government’s yearly expenditure and affect the public’s health. For instance, in clinical settings, both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes contribute to an increase in wrong prescription and waste diagnoses.

Both the public and government can reduce administrative costs by cutting living expenses and consolidating technology. Individuals should save to purchase simple houses instead of paying rent (Kotcher, 2021). Also, the public should limit travel and entertainment expenses. In support, the government should encourage citizens to invest in affordable housing. A suitable alternative to traveling is telecommunicating with loved ones in distant destinations (Kotcher, 2021).

Similarly, corporate institutions can save costs on staff training programs by integrating computer systems with learning programs (Kotcher, 2021). As a result, the company fosters teamwork and healthy interpersonal relationships among the staff. In general, both policymakers and the public should minimize costs and build positive work interactions to reduce administrative wastes.

Businesses can reduce operating costs by evaluating them, reducing debt, and telecommuting. The first step to reducing operational costs is through early payments. According to Upadhyay et al. (2021), early staff payments save at least $3000 yearly. Also, the staff becomes committed to work and meet customer demands. Another step is allowing workers to telecommute (Upadhyay et al., 2021).

Currently, about 4 million US workers work from home which reduces company maintenance costs (Upadhyay et al., 2021). While telecommuting, employees should use cloud-based technology to streamline the production process (Upadhyay et al., 2021). To this end, companies should create green environments and use compact machines to shed paper wastes. In the end, stakeholders can reduce operational costs by creating conducive work environments and integrating advanced technologies.

Caregivers can reduce clinical costs through self-care initiatives such as personal hygiene and frequent waste disposal. Most wastes in hospitals are hazardous, with such wastes including surgical instruments, specimens, or waste containing either blood or fecal material (Baaki, Baharum & Ali, 2019). Providers can manage hazardous wastes by either disposing or recycling them (Baaki et al., 2019). Nonhazardous wastes should be washed before being reused. Furthermore, disposable documents containing patient information should be shredded. All the above initiatives ensure providers protect the patient’s privacy and maintain eco-friendly environments. In brief, clinicians can reduce both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes by maintaining personal hygiene.

Concisely, waste reduction opportunities are cost-effective. Both the public and policymakers are affected by waste increments in the environment. For instance, administrative waste management accounts for almost ¾ of America’s annual waste budget. Similarly, operational wastes negatively affect the ecosystem. At the same time, both manufacturing and transportation companies overspend resources to run their businesses. The public and policymakers should limit cost expenses and consolidate technology to reduce wastes at cost-effective means.

Reference

  • Baaki, T., Baharum, M., & Ali, A. (2019). Determining a conceptual framework for safe and sustainable healthcare waste management (SSHCWM) implementation in health-care facilities. Journal Of Facilities Management, 17(1), 40-56. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfm-11-2017-0059
  • Kocher, R. (2021). Reducing Administrative Waste in the US Health Care System. JAMA, 325(5), 427. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.24767
  • Upadhyay, A., Kumar, A., Kumar, V., & Alzaben, A. (2021). A novel business strategies framework of do‐it‐yourself practices in logistics to minimise environmental waste and improve performance. Business Strategy And The Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2846