The Importance of Responsible Consumer Product Disposal
By Jasmine Sherren
For manufacturers and retailers of consumer products, the security of your customers, your reputation, and also the environment, responsible consumer product disposal is of utmost importance. That’s why any time you have products that are expired, re-called, defective, returned, or otherwise unusable, they require prompt disposal and will likely require specialized handling. These consumer items can include:
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Food and Beverages
- Cosmetics
- Furniture
- Medication and Pharmaceuticals
- Cannabis Products
- Clothing and Textiles
- Electronics
- And more
The significance of safe consumer product disposal may be demonstrated by observing past scandals involving companies that did not properly handle their defective consumer products. For instance, in 2013, Wal-Mart pled guilty and agreed to pay $81 million to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for illegally handling and dumping hazardous materials at its retail stores across the US. When faced with a surplus containing off-specification, outdated, or returned merchandise, the responsible and legal approach is to recycle, reuse or otherwise find the most ecological and cost-effective method of managing these waste streams. However, sometimes just sending the merchandise waste to the recycling facility or landfill doesn’t securely protect your brand from hazardous waste violations.
Certified product destruction is important whenever your company can face consequences from products being disposed of in their original state. The EPA’s Cradle-to-Grave waste management policy clearly states that every company is responsible for the ultimate destination of their hazardous waste. Certified product disposal protects your products from falling into the wrong hands, being sold illegally, or disposed of unethically. One consumer being harmed by one of these off-spec products could cost your organization millions. Ensuring that your unusable products are effectively destroyed is essential to ensuring harmful chemicals, toxins or substances don’t discharge into the environment.
Certified Product Destruction is Ideal for:
- Defective Products
- Expired Products
- Quality-Assurance Failed Products
- Items Damaged in Transit
- Surplus Inventory
- Products Containing Hazardous Substances
- FDA Warning
- Factory Recall
Triumvirate Environmental is a full-service commercial and industrial waste management company with 25 years of experience in hazardous waste management. Whether they are assisting you with product disposal or performing a spill clean-up at your facility, they will help ensure your company’s compliance and support your environmental sustainability goals.
To know more, please check Triumvirate.
