The Judgment of Garbage: End-of-Pipe Treatment and Waste Reduction

Management Science, Forthcoming

34 Pages Posted: 8 Sep 2013

See all articles by Nilanjana Dutt

Nilanjana Dutt

Bocconi University -- Department of Management and Technology; Bocconi University - Department of Management and Technology; Bocconi University -- Department of Management and Technology

Andrew A. King

Questrom School of Business- Boston University

Date Written: September 7, 2013

Abstract

Many scholars have argued that systems for treating waste impede organizations from preventing waste in the first place. They theorize that “end-of-pipe” (EOP) treatment diminishes the incentive to avoid creating waste in the production process, and obscures the information necessary to devise prevention techniques. This prediction has been accepted widely, influencing both policy and practice, despite both a lack of supporting empirical evidence, and the existence of a counter-prediction. In this paper, we use data describing U.S. manufacturing establishments from 1991 to 2005 to test the link between EOP treatment and waste reduction. Our findings show that EOP treatment is associated with an initial jump in reported waste, followed by ongoing reduction. We analyze these results by exploring mechanisms that may drive this relationship. For practitioners, our paper provides critical guidance about strategies for reducing waste. For scholars of environmental management, our paper provides new insight on when facilities accomplish “source reduction” of process waste. For broader management theories of operations and organizational design, our analysis provides new insight on boundary conditions for extrapolation from existing theories. Finally, our paper provides new guidance for the formulation of effective regulatory policy.

Keywords: waste treatment, environmental management, operations design

Suggested Citation

Dutt, Nilanjana and Dutt, Nilanjana and King, Andrew A., The Judgment of Garbage: End-of-Pipe Treatment and Waste Reduction (September 7, 2013). Management Science, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2322125

Nilanjana Dutt (Contact Author)

Bocconi University -- Department of Management and Technology ( email )

Via Roentgen 1-2
Milan, MI 20136
Italy

Bocconi University - Department of Management and Technology ( email )

Via Roentgen 1
Milan, MI 20136
Italy

Bocconi University -- Department of Management and Technology ( email )

Via Sarfatti, 25
Milan, MI 20136
Italy

Andrew A. King

Questrom School of Business- Boston University ( email )

Boston, MA 02215
United States

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