Green Engineering: Environmentally Conscious Design of Chemical Processes

Chapter 12Environmental Cost Accounting

by Kirsten Sinclair Rosselot and David T. Allen

12.1 Introduction

Costs associated with poor environmental performance can be devastating. Waste disposal fees, permitting costs, and liability costs can all be substantial. Wasted raw material, wasted energy and reduced manufacturing throughput are also consequences of wastes and emissions. Corporate image and relationships with workers and communities can suffer if environmental performance is substandard. But, how can these costs be quantified?

This chapter will review the tools available for estimating environmental costs. Many of these tools are still in their developmental stages, and practices therefore vary widely from company to company. In general, ...