Introduction
The issue of addressing environmental problems is now a worldwide concern. The threat posed by climate change and global warming is pushing mother Earth to its near end. The world is now nearing its tragic end, with construction of buildings becoming a race for supremacy amongst big international organizations. In some countries, construction is one big economic boost, and without it the economy seems to be stagnant and not growing. Huge environmental challenges also come from municipal and household wastes and those disposed of by big businesses. Impact to the environment can be unimaginable if proper regulations are not enforced. If there is no proper regulation and equal concern, it will exacerbate climate change and global warming.
Environmental Management System is a way of addressing the impact on the environment by issuing guidance to organizations, businesses, and governments which maintain and operate landfills and establishments made for the purpose of controlling environmental abuse. An EMS answers the environmental compliance regulations, lowering environmental costs, reducing risks, and other relevant activities for environmental best practice.
Every organization that seeks ISO 14001 certification should have an EMS Manual. The manual is an important core element of an EMS and is a guide borne out of an effective environmental management system. This is particularly applicable for the SITA Landfill situated in Melbourne, Australia. SITA is an international organization whose main product or service is environmental management through protection of the environment and preservation of Australia’s vast natural resources. The SITA Environmental Solutions conducts environmental preservation and management of waste, and specializes in waste management, resource recovery and recycling. They manage landfills and have facilities for waste management services.
Landfill is one of the direct solutions to the problem of waste minimization and disposal. But landfills need effective management. Environmental Management Systems have been applied out of concerns of organizations to comply with regulations and codes for environmental compliance. Application of an EMS is one of the requirements by standard-writing bodies before issuance of a certification.
The primary purpose of this paper is to provide a manual for landfills, particularly the SITA Landfill in Melbourne, Australia. It will provide an overview of the impact of environmental management systems in landfills, conduct a research/study and make an analysis and possible recommendations. Also included in this manual is the form entitled ‘Elements of an EMS for a Landfill’. It embodies Tables 1a and 1b which are forms for compliance of ISO 14001.
Together with this Manual is a backgrounder for ISO 14001 and a literature review on environmental sustainability and management systems being implemented by organizations and to provide an analysis of the studies and researches. This will include understanding of the application of EMS and the benefits in applying EMS to an organization. Included are a review of the effectiveness of ISO 14001 and the successes of EMS in the operation of the SITA Landfill.
Scope of EMS
Generally speaking, minimizing the environmental impact of living things is one of the major objectives of environmental management systems. This includes minimizing the flow of waste and hazardous materials, including greenhouse gas emissions from factories and business establishments.
An environmental management system aims for sustainable development in the community, and minimize waste and hazardous materials. Environmental impact created by businesses and organizations have to be minimized in order to deliver sustainability for the next generation. EMS is a set of rules and requirements that sets up a policy for environmental promotion. It can be effectively implemented through the guidelines set by ISO 14001.
The International Standard states that the organization should implement an EMS which carries out its environmental objectives in accordance with the legal and other significant requirements of the organization and the laws of the land. (EN ISO 14001-2004)
The manual is based on the environmental standards set by the standard body particularly the provisions stated in the Guidance, which provides for continual improvement in the organization. The contents require an environmental policy that may also include planning, implementation of the policies and its operation, including management, monitoring and auditing aspects. Management review is also a part of the Guidance.
The International Standards Organization advocates continual improvement in EMS implementation. Organizations should continue to provide innovations and changes in the process of EMS implementations to cope with the current changes in the business or to adjust with environmental requirements of the place or community where the organization conducts business.
The International Standards Organization certifies organizations that they have complied with international standards on EMS implementation. That is if they have complied with the guidelines, have set their aims and objectives which revolve around environmental preservation and sustainability, and have implemented all these effectively in their operations. ISO promotes application of environmental management systems which can provide guidelines not just for environmental preservation but also for avoidance of industrial accidents. (Watson, 2006, p. 280)
Codes of conduct in industries were previously enforced which later evolved into the present EMSs. The best known is ISO 14001. The scope of the manual includes SITA Landfill site environmental processes and performance in Melbourne, Australia is shown below:
Continual improvement for SITA Landfill is an environmental management best practice. Organizations in different industries seek continual improvement. They use it in manufacturing and production, in engineering and business processes, and now in environmental management system. The main reason for this is that a landfill has to cope with the changes in the environment and the changes caused by human interaction. Continual improvement means focusing on the needs of the landfill to correspond with the changes in the community, in the laws applied to landfills, and even natural laws.
The SITA Environmental Solutions has a model for environmental processes and performance. In the diagram shown above, we can see how continual improvement in the organization takes place. Continual improvement means continuous changes in the workplace, in the processes or in the operations, and in fulfilling the objectives of the organization. Environmental compliance for the company emphasizes compliance to environmental laws imposed by the federal and state government agencies. Under the same heading are on adopting environmental practices, best practice or excellence in waste management, and striving to fulfill the objectives of the organization. Next in the continual improvement cycle is environmental planning which focuses on identification of environmental aspects and impacts, requirements from state agencies, and work scheduling. Another aspect in the cycle is the implementation which focuses on how resources are being used, the training modules and other operational processes. Monitoring and checking parts of the cycle concerns auditing, corrective and preventive actions of the processes or equipment in the operations. The management part emphasizes review of environmental performance of the establishment, and aligning and revising of the methods used.
SITA Environment Solutions Environmental Policy
Through ISO 14001 standards, SITA seeks to implement the requirements for environmental management compliance. SITA Environment Solutions which owns SITA Landfill is asked to define environmental impact and how this is being caused.
Contents of this compliance include environmental responsibilities of personnel tasked to manage and run the activities of a landfill, such as the landfill manager, weighbridge operator, and tip face supervisor.
The Environmental Policies of SITA Landfill are:
- Collection of different kinds of waste including industrial, commercial and domestic waste all over Australia;
- The company aims to protect the environment of Australia and look after its natural resources. (SITA Environmental Solutions, 2006)
The SITA Landfill aims to achieve the goals of environmental responsibilities through the following tasks:
- To provide services and programs to meet environmental challenges;
- To integrate environmental challenges with the organization’s objectives and plans;
- To continuously review the processes, monitor and maintain the equipments and see to it that services are at par or even greater than when the program was started;
- Keep auditing procedures constantly implemented, and EMS should be properly audited with an equal amount of transparency;
- Respond to any contingency or emergency as a result of the programs and activities being implemented;
- Implement the 3Rs for an effective disposal of wastes;
- Keep channel of communication between the community and the organization intact to avoid any misunderstanding and loopholes in the operation;
- Training and development , education through seminars should be conducted for employees to be well knowledgeable of the details of the operation most of the time;
- Close partnership and collaboration with the public and private sector should be encouraged to promote sustainable environment practice.
Landfills ought to be properly managed and maintained in accordance with significant legislations of the state. Waste materials come from the community, construction sites, industries and businesses. More and more constructions occur, big businesses are formed, and they all generate waste materials of various forms and types. Homes and communities, industries and businesses generate a large amount of waste materials which need to be properly segregated and fed into a landfill for processing, treatment, de-composting, and other methods necessary to minimize their impact on the environment.
Organizations recognize that eliminating waste requires a lot of skill and political will to implement. Wastes and hazardous materials continue to exist for as long as living organisms thrive on earth. Waste materials come in various forms such as waste from construction sites, wood, plastic, paper, metal, and all those coming from homes and communities. But waste materials are recyclable. Landfills can provide the need for the 3Rs – reuse, reduce, and recycle. Reusing waste materials is a significant benefit of effective environmental management. Some of these waste materials can be used as filling materials for construction or reclamation sites, while recyclable materials reduce production of consumer goods which may be composed of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials.
The technique of reuse-recycle-reduce can be done through control aspects using the latest technology. Recycling techniques are popular in many countries, both industrialized and developing countries. Recycling benefits both the user and the environment because it provides savings and manufacture of new products is also minimized.
Planning
Environmental aspects
Christini et al (2004) stated that implementing an effective EMS under the ISO 14001 can have various benefits for an organization, such as improved compliance on laws of the land, open markets and reduction of problems and barriers in the business, improved risk management, improved credibility among competitors and customers, reduction of environmental impacts, reduction of pollutants in the environment, improved savings, a healthy environment, and much more.
An organization has to establish an environmental policy or plan together with its implementing guidelines. The guidelines assign responsibilities, provide resources and train workers for the jobs. Checking the progress of the operation is also part of the plan. Sometimes, an organization invites consultants in the environmental planning and hires independent auditors to certify environmental performance. Through guidelines, aspects and impacts of the environment are identified.
The terms ‘aspect’ and ‘impact’ should be defined accordingly. An environmental aspect concerns with organization’s activity which creates an environmental impact.
The provision of ISO 14001 specifies that aspects can refer to activities or products of the organization. It also means that not all inputs to manufacturing or processes in the organization constitute aspects. Aspects might not necessarily be inputs. For example, how fuel used in manufacturing can constitute aspect but it is not necessarily regarded as input.
Aspects are inputs (although not all), while impacts are the outcome or output. Example of output is greenhouse gas emission as a result of factories using coal and fossil fuel. Wastewater from process industries and refineries are results of oil that has mixed with water which needs wastewater management and treatment. An output of reforestation will be reduction of CO2 emission because leaves of trees absorb carbon dioxide.
The cycle of identifying environmental aspects also go through a continuous improvement cycle, as in the other diagrams of this Manual. In the processes inside the SITA Landfill, identification of environmental aspects is performed. The environmental impact has a corresponding result which is the impact. Continuing the cycle of change, we have to conduct risk assessment and to rank the risks. This is followed by the planning process, until it passes on to the management review. The cycle is then repeated for a perfect identification procedure.
Other procedure includes:
- Prevent waste in businesses and industries, communities and homes by proper maintenance
- Design and plan EMSs to manage and minimize waste
- Specify and use reclaimed or waste materials,
- Implement the 3Rs in identified sites (the 3 Rs reduce-reduce-recycle can be added with ‘recover energy and dispose’)
- Use techniques which avoid creating waste.
- Segregate and dispose of bio-degradable and non bio-degradable waste to identified sites or landfills
Other organizations have adopted EMSs as a competitive advantage. Stakeholders are asking for environmentally focused programs and activities of their organizations, and customers want them too.
The British Standards Institute
The British Standards Institute (BSI) is the world’s leading independent business services organization that delivers standards-based solution, and environmental management systems. The primary objective of BSI is the “development and sale of private, national and international standards and supporting information” (British Standards Institution, 2010).
BSI defines, promotes and encourages organizations to conduct best practice in environmental preservation. It serves countries in Europe, Middle East and Africa, the Americas and Asia. The standards industry has contributed £2.5bn annual to UK economy.
ISO 14001
Because of popular demand from organizations for guidelines to manage environmental impact, ISO responded to the requests and published in 1996 the ISO 14001 which has been used as guideline for developing EMSs. EMS, in the context of ISO 14001, is defined as “a management tool enabling an organization of any size or type to control the impact of its activities, products or services on the environment”. (Christini et al., 2004, p. 331)
An environmental management system enables the organization’s management to control the environmental impact of the aspects of business.
The spirit of ISO 14001 encourages organizations to reduce the impact of their activities on the environment. (Whitelaw, 2006, p. 4)
An organization or community which seeks ISO 14001 certification has the objectives of gaining or retaining market advantage through an image of environmental awareness; to attract investors through its environmental concern; and to reduce risks and costs.
Organisations have different ways of complying with legal and environmental requirements – they term this environmental performance. Environmental performance means complying with environmental legislations that should be followed by organizations, promoting environmental objectives for the organization and the community, and for sustainable development.
A key feature of ISO 14001is the establishment of a framework for the management of the environmental aspects of an organization. It has 17 key elements grouped into five major areas:
- Environmental policy – Environmental policies should be transparent, explaining to the public its dedication and commitment to do everything in its power to save the environment. Its commitment and accountability are also laid open for scrutiny.
- Planning – This part aims to ensure that the organization can answer the demands of environmental protection and management of the community which commissions the environmental program.
- Implementation and operation – Effective and thorough management with the right people in place should be introduced in the operation and activities of the organization.
- Checking and corrective action – This can refer to areas wherein planned actions and activities that take place can be verified. An internal audit system could be the method for this verification, but other mechanisms could be used such as “reviews of reports indicating failures or delays to action plans.” (Whitelaw, 2006, p. 17)
- Management review – This means that the organization should have measures for the proper auditing and checking of its activities so that they can proceed smoothly as planned, and the people perceive it as transparent in its operations.
It also has the capacity to be designed appropriately for any company, regardless of industry, size, location, and the level of their environmental responsibilities. Implementation of the ISO 14001 is voluntary, and the organization can only implement it upon the approval of the board and its management; meaning, it has to come from the stakeholders. An organization has to know how it is coping with environmental challenges.
Legal and Other Requirements
The SITA Landfill meets its legal obligations in accordance with existing laws and other legal requirements prescribed by the Australian government. This legal obligation and other requirements are embodied in this section entitled Official Requirements Identification method (EMS-SMP_4.3.2) which identifies all legal parameters within the context of environmental management systems (EMS). The employees and members of the particular department on legal affairs are properly informed and educated on this matter and appropriate training/seminar is conducted regarding the subject of legal requirements.
Legal Requirements Table
This table shows the formal requirements of identification, record purposes, and the person responsible for its implementation. The ‘procedure’ is marked EMS_SMP_4.3.2 for identification; ‘record’ is marked EMS-REC-4.3.2A, for environmental laws record, and the responsible person who is the Regulatory Affairs Manager.
The marks can be used in the computer programme.
Environmental Objectives and Targets
SITA’s objectives and targets are for the sustainable waste management of Melbourne, Australia, including technological innovation. SITA is the first to introduce spilt mobile carts for its various environmental services such recycling. It has also used auger compactors.
SITA’s collection of almost all kinds of waste encompasses the broad areas of Australia, local and national. Other objectives are for collection of:
- Waste coming from commercial and industrial establishments
- Construction and demolition waste (C&DW)
Construction and demolition waste carry pollutants from the air, solid waste, water and hazardous materials. There are also electronic waste coming from electronic equipment and appliances that need to be recycled before passing on to the composting process.
Eliminating wastes requires a lot of skill, technological know-how on the part of SITA Landfill, unity and volunteerism from the population or the community, and a whole lot of efforts from the workers in the site.
For purposes of identifying objectives in a computer programme, a table will show the procedure, to be marked EMS-SMP_4.3.3, for ‘identifying objectives and targets’; ‘record’ is marked EMS-REC-4.3.3A, and the responsible person who is the Environmental Manager.
Environmental Management Programs
The SITA Environmental Solutions has established environmental programs that enable personnel, workers and managers to perform their jobs and responsibilities with utmost dedication and in accordance with laws and regulations.
Again the table for environmental management programs will show the ‘procedure’, to be marked EMS_SMP_4.3.4, which is for the ‘Environmental Management Programme Method’; ‘record’ is marked EMS-Rec_4.3.4A, for the ‘Management Plan’; and the responsible person is the Environmental Manager.
Implementations and Operations
The duties and responsibilities of employees and middle-level managers are enumerated here. Environmental responsibilities for the SITA Landfill workers
The Landfill Manager
The landfill manager sees to it that the environmental policy is being followed. The implementation of the plan is one of his/her primary tasks. The personnel in the landfill have each assigned tasks. The manager provides resources, train the workers and act on problems that may occur during the operation.
The environmental planning can be done with the help of resource persons or consultants who can provide professional advices on environmental problems.
There may be difficulties in the interpretation of the EMS requirements in the International Standard but this can be solved if a large organization can simplify things and seek the assistance of some organizations like BSI.
The perimeter of the landfill is a primary responsibility of the landfill manager. He/she has to look after the health and safety of the workers. This is very critical in the landfill workplace because workers usually meet accidents and injuries in performing their job. Accidents in the workplace include punctured wounds from sharp objects, being run over by vehicles, falling into excavations or holes, or being asphyxiated. The manager has to ensure to it that provisions of Australian laws are enforced in providing the health and safety programs for workers at landfills. Standard operating procedures have to be fulfilled in the operation of landfills, vis-à-vis the health and safety of workers. Workers have to wear the types of protective clothing and boots required by law, including air-filtering headgear, and the necessary puncture-proof gloves. (O’Leary and Tchobanoglous, 2002, p. 14-76)
Site safety and security is another primary responsibility of the landfill manager. This is to prevent accidents. The manager has to ensure that adequate safety measures are being followed by workers and guests inside the landfill. For instance, areas considered hazardous should be restricted to unauthorized personnel. Warning signs, such as ‘no trespassing’ and other warning devices should be installed, and restricted areas should be fenced so that innocent guests would not meet accidents. Closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) should be properly installed. The SITA landfill is fully equipped with CCTVs and personnel and guards are closely monitoring any activity in restricted areas, particularly the areas where segregation and recycling of materials take place. One important restriction for SITA landfills is the entry of scavengers. This is strictly a no-no for SITA landfills.
Weighbridge Operator
Weighbridge operators hold a license issued by the government to operate the weighbridge. The following are the weighbridge operator’s responsibilities:
- Should have knowledge of computers and PC based weighing instruments, and must be computer literate;
- Must know how to operate the weighing instrument, its features and electronic operation, including ticket printing and recording, and to keep it at correct balance and ‘gross zero’;
- Must know how to correct common faults of the instrument, in checking the inaccuracy of the loads, and other faults like flooding of pit and overload;
- Must know safety measures in weighing vehicles, correct and proper visibility of the instruments in use, and particularly in proper positioning and avoiding or preventing unauthorized personnel during weighing time;
- Fulfilling proper documents in weighing loads, and health and safety. (Hull City Council, 2011)
The weighbridge operator has to weigh the vehicle without anyone inside (passenger or driver). Should the driver refuses to disembark from the vehicle, a note should be included in the ticket stating that someone was in the vehicle when the weighing occurred. The weighbridge operator should be careful upon weighing a vehicle with a passenger in it.
Before weighing the vehicle, the operator should carefully check the load himself, and if this is not possible he should make a note on the ticket. He should also know that some heavy items could be included in the load to make it heavy. The vehicle registration number should also be checked. Safety must also be of primary concern for the weighbridge operator. (Swindon Borough Council, 2011)
Tip Face Supervisor
The tip face has the responsibility of ensuring that during SAWT, the place is clean of will be less litter at the tip face. SITA Advanced Waste Treatment (SAWT) focuses on recovering materials that should not be coursed to the landfill. The process includes the application of mixed solid waste (MSW), manual or biological composting. These applications require a supervisor whose job is to ensure that litter and vermin issues are minimized or prevented. (Meinhardt Infrastructure & Environment, 2008, p. 9)
Training Awareness and Competence
The necessary training awareness, skills development and competence are conducted periodically to enable the personnel to be efficient and competent in their jobs and responsibilities.
There is a need for training for all involved in the implementation of an EMS. The training plan should include the importance of EMS and understanding the policy and procedures. A training plan involving quality management and quality systems can also be expanded to include environmental promotion and policy compliance. The personnel involved should also know the significant environmental nature of the work and the requirements that the organization would want to enforce. They also have to know the outcome of not adhering to the policies and not following the standard operating procedures (SOP). (Edwards, 2004, p. 32)
Environmental training is very vital to the success of the EMS implementation. The members, especially those who have active role in the EMS work, are trained and their knowledge on environmental matters and EMSs are necessary to motivate others, and to make them understand how to cope with environmentally related tasks. Each employee receives at least 30 hours of training. Funding can come from the local government because the community will be benefited from it. The training includes basic knowledge in environmental problems and sustainability, all vital information pertaining to EMS and ISO 14001 provisions and its implementation, industrial and home-made wastes and their environmental impact, and legal requirements. (Ammenberg, 2000, p. 63)
A table can also be produced to show the different processing of requirements if they are to be incorporated in a computer programme (which should be the case).
In the table, we can find the ‘Procedure’ which is marked ‘EMS_SMP_4.4.2’, that pertains to the ‘Environmental Training & Awareness Procedure’; the ‘Record’ is marked EMS-REC_4.4.2A, which is the Environmental Training list (that also includes the costs for the various activities), and the responsible person is the Environmental Manager.
Communication
Communication is vital in every organization. Effective communication involves a two process and there should never holding of information or the process of communication fails. In an Environmental Management System, the flow of communication should be thorough, fast and effective because this involves work and the processing of waste in a rather large workplace. Communication will involve two-radio, cell phones, mobile communications. But communication also entails conversation and the passing on of information from one department to another department.
For record purposes, EMS_SMP_4.4.3 corresponds to the ‘Environmental Communication Method; ‘Record’ is marked EMS-REC-4.4.3A, for ‘Internal Communications Record’; EMS_REC_4.4.3b – FOR ‘External Communications Record’; and the responsible person is the ‘Environmental Manager’.
Documentation of Environmental Management System
The documentation process of SITA EMS is well organized and goes all the way from the time the waste is collected up to its entry to the SITA Landfill and during the processing. Documentation also involves computer encoding of the necessary activities making them a part of the significant database. Documentation also forms part of the organizational knowledge that the organization possesses.
Document Control
The processes in the SITA Landfill are well documented. Receipts and certifications are issued. From the external processing down to the internal methods, documentation is properly issued. All personnel involved have knowledge in the documentation process, from the time they receive the waste materials for processing in the landfill, to the recycling and other processes.
Operational Control
The operation of the SITA Landfill is institutionally conducted, meaning the methods have been there since its inception. Standard Operating Procedures are also enforced and followed. This is automatically executed by the personnel concerned.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Emergency preparedness and response is properly recorded in the Aspects and Impacts occurrences. Accidents and natural calamities are recorded in this Register, for example when there are earthquakes which affect the operation of the landfill. Accidents that may result into injuries and fatalities are properly addressed to. Procedures are always in place on how to deal with equipments and injured persons, as the case maybe.
Checking and Corrective Actions
Operations and activities are carefully monitored to ensure safety and smooth flow of operation in the SITA Landfill. Qualified personnel are there to do their job and provide round the clock assistance and inventory.
Non-Conformance, Corrective Action and Preventive Action
This is the part when some standard operating procedures are not followed and the activity of the personnel may have swayed from the normal course. This non-conformity is easily detected because of the presence of CCTVs and alert personnel who are monitoring the operations. Such happenings are properly reported and an investigation will soon be conducted on the causes.
Discussion: Problems and Benefits in EMS
Benefits for an EMS implementation usually include savings for the organization. But there is more to savings or the monetary consideration. Implementing an EMS and attaining ISO 14001certification is a triumph for the organization in terms of the quest for sustainability and environment preservation. There are barriers the organization should be concerned about.
The major barriers include a lack of concern from various sectors including the government and even from the client, lack of funding from the sectors involved, and subcontracting systems that may multiply problems in handling the EMS. Another limitation is the size. Without the upper management support and decision to mandate a company-wide EMS, environmental personnel may not have the resources to establish and maintain the provisions of ISO 14001.
An EMS can be developed into a total management system (TQM) which can be combined with best practice and other innovations in business processes. (Debizet and Symes, 2009, p. 223)
Regulations and ordinances for environmental protection in Australia have been varied and effective. They stress on air pollution, ozone layer protection, and other kinds of pollution. These regulations are implemented from the national down to the local level. However, the regulations need a program for effective implementation, and this is where EMS implementations come in. Through the EMS and the EPA program, an organization can have an effective in environmental compliance to benefit the environment and different sectors involved.
Another important aspect is the auditing and controlling mechanisms which are necessary in the various environmental activities mandated by EMS. Auditing activities include pre-auditing, auditing and post-auditing. Auditing activities can enhance the quality of documentation, whilst promotion of environmental conservation can lead to cost savings.
A community with thousands of homes and businesses can produce a large volume of wastewater which carries pollutants and other hazardous substances found in polluted water. There has to be proper information campaign and education on the use of water and accurate disposal and segregation of waste materials. Use of water recycling systems is also recommended.
A regular environmental survey and research must be implemented to determine the problems and formulate environmental policies for a landfill establishment. In conducting environmental research, structured surveys can be used. This process utilizes questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaires can be sent to a sample population in the community. An analysis of the results can be used as basis for an EMS implementation in the community.
The environmental survey and study provide results, analysis and evaluation of the application of ISO 14001, focusing on effective waste management and proper disposal of wastes created by homes and communities. It also aims to analyze the violations and the weak implementations, some violations or deficiencies in EMS and current management instruments. Recommendations can be formulated for promoting management of wastes, and the 3Rs (recycle, reuse and reduce). Companies involved in the area can have established practical measures to manage waste generated in their area of business.
The application of the reuse-recycle-reduce technique is simplified by using design quality, new technology and other effective and tested methods. Recycling is competitive when raw materials are expensive and there is difficulty in disposing of the waste materials from those products. Recycling helps minimize the use of a landfill and the production of new consumer goods.
A community with effective EMS, for example with the presence of the SITA landfill which has a favourable environmental management, is aided by legislation. The public and private sectors are in collaboration for the preservation of environmental areas, such as parks and indigenous lands.
Several guidelines have been imposed on industries and individuals on EMS implementation. The private and public partnership can provide the details of or quantity of waste being generated by the people or the community.
A community can collaborate with the SITA landfill in the implementation of the EMS by adopting ISO Standard 14001 or the EMAS Regulation as a norm or reference model. The control of significant aspects or impacts that may arise during the construction activity or process, and the fulfillment of legal obligations applicable to the environmental aspects of such activities are among the EMS requirements that should be implemented.
The Guide of Standard ISO 14001:96, which serves to facilitate implementation of EMS emphasizes the reduction of waste generation in order not to reduce the life of the landfill. However, in the case of the SITA landfill in Melbourne, Australia, this environmental establishment is well planned, down from its initial stage up to its full operation and conclusion. The SITA landfill provides for the establishment of selective collection of domestic-origin solid waste. The population is encouraged to separate their waste and place it at clean points or designated areas. Wastes generated by industrial establishments are separately processed and loaded in designated vehicles.
Not all organizations or companies can fulfill their obligations as hazardous waste (HW) producers owing to the high costs involved in appropriate HW management. Competent environmental agencies also fail to carry out on-site inspections to ensure that the relevant legislation is observed on hazardous wastes.
Rodriguez et al (2007) conducted a study on environmental management systems, and they recommended that a corresponding budget allocation should be afforded by promoters of EMSs. Governments are slow to apply waste management plans which can result in the negative effects: no reduction in the quantities of C&DW eliminated in landfills, and no effort to promote practices such as the prevention of waste generation, reuse and recycling, or to develop and stimulate the market for the recycled products.
Benefits from ISO 14001 include an assurance to the stakeholders of the organization that the company works for best practice and has minimize liabilities; ISO 14001 has enabled the company to become environmentally aware and responsible; an assurance to the customers that the company is promoting environmental awareness and eliminates environmental risks; the credibility of the company is enhanced through the ISO certification.
Environmental programmes and responsibility are now immersed in the company’s activities and these give competitive advantage to George Wimpey. The certification boosts the company’s ability to continue to deliver quality products with environmental features.
ISO 14001 enables the company to tackle the root cause of waste. The benefits is also quite viral considering that environmental awareness and programs in preservation can be passed on to the customers.
Through the ISO 14001, George Wimpey has developed a focused green procurement programme. It also intends to create benchmark for its suppliers’ environmental credentials, and the information is used to develop a buyers’ guide outlining specific environmental issues buyers need to consider during contracts. Supply chain is also be benefited in the process.
Joint EMS Implementation
A joint EMS implementation of ISO 14001 can involve several small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) if it cannot be implemented on one organization. A study was conducted how to save costs on the implementation of EMSs. This was done on a joint implementation by several SMEs in Sweden. The group consisted of 90SMEs. During the 1980s, businesses in Sweden would usually form into associations.
The concern was the environmental work in 1996 of waste generated by the companies. They formed a central unit for collection, separation and utilization of waste, which then raised awareness of environmental issues in many of the companies and some of them decided to go one step further. They raised issues such as establishing an environmental profile for the district and find a means of publicizing their environmental achievements and credentials. They started to look at ISO 14001 and the application of EMSs. Thirty companies formed the Hackefors Environmental Group (HEG) and started to develop a joint EMS according to ISO 14001. By organizing themselves into one solid group, the 30 SMEs overcame many of the difficulties encountered by big companies, and were certified according to ISO 14001 by 1999. The EMS model used at Hackefors Industrial District is what is now called the Hackefors model. Each enterprise within the HEG has an EMS of its own that fulfils the requirements of ISO 14001 and thus holds its own certificate.
The joint EMS was organized in a way that is very similar to the organization of systems for larger industrial concerns. A steering committee was formed consisting of seven of the environmental coordinators, which in turn selects a central coordinator. Some support groups were also formed. The central coordinator was employed by a consulting firm which is a member of the HEG. To address the problem of interpreting the difficult requirements of ISO 14001, the central coordinator and the steering committee prepared many of the documents needed.
There were many benefits derived from the joint EMS implementations. The Hackefors model led to significant cost savings compared to individual certification. The price for the group certification reduced the expenses of individual certification to 50%. This is because the expenses in the activities and processes for certiication were shared by the 30 enterprises. The Hackefors model is an enterprising one facilitating both implementation and maintenance of EMSs according to ISO 14001.
The philosophy behind EMSs is the focus of this Manual. We conducted a review of the vast literature and studies on EMSs, the ISO 14001, and analyzed some studies and researches on organizations’ EMS implementations, or those who have opted to incorporate in their agenda and corporate mission and objectives sustainability and environmental programs. We drew some ideas from these studies and proceeded to a discussion and recommendations for this Manual.
An ordinary implementation of EMS without the aid of ISO 14001 may not be too successful. In examining EMS and ISO 14001, the latter should first be afforded more time and effort, so that EMS implementation becomes handy or easy, to say the least. If EMS is implemented without enough knowledge of ISO 14001, it cannot be too successful. It is a logical recommendation that organizations involve themselves in environmental issues, implement EMSs and apply for ISO 14001certification. Size of an organization doesn’t matter. In the studies that we have shown, SMEs can form themselves into networks. Big organizations can attain the help of BSI to help them in the implementation process.
One of the underlying objectives of ISO 14001 Standard and the EMS implementation is for the two sectors – management and workers – to have an effective communication. Without effective communication, there is less success in the ISO 14001 implementation and the EMS.
Environmental sustainability is everyone’s quest but hard to attain. As we know, every living thing on earth has an environmental impact. Constructions continue – most of construction activities have no regard for the environment. Sources of pollutants may be excavation materials, road building and maintenance materials, demolition materials, and so forth. However, a great percentage of the wastes generated by constructions, businesses, and homes are recyclable, and can be applied with the 3Rs. Organizations have realized that implementing EMSs can be very beneficial if they are carried out through ISO Standard 14001; that means implementing Standard 14001 is implementing an EMS.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Benefits derived from ISO 14001certification can lead to the company’s successes, in addition to environmental improvement. Some of these are the gains in energy efficiency, lowering of insurance costs, and so forth.
The hypothesis that we have had dealt in the study of EMSs, that ISO 14001 is an effective environmental management system for a landfill is proven in this study. ISO 14001 and other environmental management systems are an effective environmental management system and have produced positive results in the management of a landfill.
There are instances that organizations implement their own EMSs before applying for a certifying. However, when they do apply, it becomes easy for them, and certification does follow. There are many business benefits that organizations gain out of the ISO 14001 certification and these benefits have helped them cope with competition, increased costs, insurance costs, and even globalization.
References
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