The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the most relevant environmental regulation to my past employer. Public law, particularly Section C, provides a proper framework for regulating how both hazardous and non-hazardous waste is managed from the point it is generated to the point of disposal (Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2020). I worked for an oil transportation company that collected used oil from different sources and delivered it to a diverse customer base consisting of re-refiners, processors, and burners. EPA is mandated with enforcing the regulation and works with local, state, and federal regulatory authorities to ensure all covered businesses comply with the provisions of the statute.
One routine business situation that applies to the statutes and regulations set by RCRA at my previous workplace was holding used oils for several days before loading them onto trucks for transportation. The employer was required to comply with the provisions of RCRA because the company transported and held oil for longer than 24 hours, and disposed of other nontoxic solid waste such as refuse and garbage (EPA, 2020). The employer maintained compliance with the statute by regularly inspecting facilities to ensure that they adhere to the applicable provisions of the statute. Particularly, the monitoring process focused on establishing if storage, transportation, and loading requirements and standards are being met. Furthermore, employees were trained in storage, transportation, accumulation limits, and clean-up requirements to enhance compliance.
Strict enforcement and compliance with environmental regulations have heightened environmental protection and green technology innovation. From a business perspective, the laws benefit enterprises by enhancing efficiency in water and energy consumption (Reynaert, 2021). However, these statutes hinder business by raising production, transportation, and storage costs because compliance with the provisions requires substantial investments (Reynaert, 2021). For example, in addition to paying for EPA certifications, my last employer trained the workforce to assure compliance. Moreover, the company installed pollution control equipment and monitor measured waste quantities and monitor storage and transportation facilities. In addition to raising production and transportation costs, such requirements may lower productivity, which proves detrimental to a company’s profitability.
References
Environmental Protection Agency. (2020). Laws & Regulations: Summary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Reynaert, M. (2021). Abatement strategies and the cost of environmental regulation: Emission standards on the European car market. The Review of Economic Studies, 88(1), 454-488.