ABSTRACT
Regular measurement helps determine where the company is wasting water, electricity and other resources as well as where physical waste is being produced. To round out Sierra Nevada's waste measurements, greenhouse gas inventories are also kept. Transparency involves displaying the results of measurements. Environmental audits can be performed by either trained employees or licensed professionals and they come in all shapes and sizes ranging from a simple checklist to a comprehensive investigation of a company's operations. As Ms. Chastain has discovered, it's difficult, if not impossible, to know how much waste a company produces, how much waste it has eliminated, or how much money it has saved without accurate, ongoing record-keeping. For many companies, this involves scrutinizing toxic or hazardous material purchases, examining the amount of waste different departments or processes produce, and investigating the fees, extraneous charges and taxes associated with current waste-handling practices.
