Ethical and environmental considerations: disposing of waste

The idea

Disposing of waste means getting rid of the materials a business no longer needs, for example sending packaging offcuts to landfill, incinerating them or arranging collection for recycling. How a business disposes of waste affects its costs, because landfill taxes, collection charges and specialist handling add up, and it affects its environmental and ethical standing, because poor disposal can pollute land, water and air. Businesses must also comply with waste regulations, which may require separating hazardous waste, keeping records and using licensed carriers. Options include reducing waste at source, reusing materials, recycling, recovering energy and, as a last resort, landfill. Choosing between them involves weighing cost, legal duties, environmental impact and customer expectations.

What earns the marks

• Defines waste disposal as the removal or treatment of unwanted materials, including landfill, incineration, recycling and licensed collection.
• Explains a cost implication, such as landfill tax, collection fees or the expense of specialist handling for hazardous waste.
• Explains a legal implication, such as the duty to separate hazardous waste, keep records and use licensed waste carriers.
• Explains an environmental implication, such as pollution of land, water or air if waste is not disposed of responsibly.
• Explains a reputational implication, such as damage to brand image if a business is seen to dispose of waste irresponsibly.
• Explains a way to reduce disposal problems, such as cutting waste at source, reusing materials or recycling before considering landfill.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating all waste as ordinary rubbish.

  Put it right: Hazardous waste needs separate handling, storage and licensed disposal.

• Ignoring the cost of disposal.

  Put it right: Landfill tax, collection charges and specialist treatment are real business expenses that reduce profit.

• Assuming disposal only matters legally.

  Put it right: It also affects costs, reputation and customer trust, so it is both an ethical and a commercial issue.

Exam tips

• Name the disposal method you are discussing, such as landfill, incineration or recycling, so the answer is specific rather than vague.
• Connect disposal choices to a consequence for the business, such as higher costs, legal penalties or a damaged reputation.
• In evaluation questions, compare disposal options and justify which is most suitable for the business in the case study.