Talking Supply Chain: Waste management in an era of sustainability

Companies across the spectrum are announcing waste reduction goals. Some aim for zero-waste by 2050 or sooner, while others have less ambitious goals.

Regardless of the goal, instituting a waste management program is more complex than simply dropping a dumpster in the parking lot. To be successful and to achieve goals, it takes a cohesive strategy that is adaptable to local regulations.

Waste management, explains Ray Hatch, CEO of Quest Resource Management Group, is about “understanding what is being disposed of at your back door and what are the best uses for it.”

Speaking with Talking Supply Chain podcast host Brian Straight, Hatch detailed why a waste management plan is important, the role it plays in achieving ESG goals, and how to get started in building one.

It is the “E” in ESG that Hatch and Quest are focused on.

“A huge part of sustainability is about diverting waste and tonnage from landfills,” he said. “And I’m proud to say that at Quest, we have about 50% or more of the materials we handle for our clients getting diverted from landfills, so that’s a huge impact. And we do have some clients that are 90% sustainability.”

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