ABSTRACT
Effective waste prevention leaves only an absence of something that once seemed indispensable. The distinction between waste prevention and recycling is important to keep in mind when readers examine company operations. This chapter presents a case study of McDonald’s and Minnesota. McDonald’s has become widely known for its initiatives in waste prevention and solid waste reduction. Between 1991 and 1996, 105 various projects under the McDonald’s/Environmental Defense Fund Waste Reduction Action Plan yielded very significant savings in the use of materials. The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance was one of the first state agencies to reach out to private enterprise with a waste prevention program. One small step in waste prevention yields a huge, permanent reduction in waste and operating cost. If the dividends of waste prevention are so substantial, why does it take some companies so long to start cashing in? Yet it’s amazing how quickly companies capitalize on waste prevention opportunities once they sense the cost implications.
