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Eliminate Waste:
Recycle or Reuse

Once a product is created and used for its intended purpose, it is natural to discard it and the by-products created by its use. But, if other uses can be found for the discarded product or by-products, the cost to produce the product can be spread out over its use and its reuse. As environmental issues concerning disposal of materials become more critical, organizations will be reassessing the costs associated with throwing away materials. Many times, recycling will be found to be a cost-effective alternative. Design engineers in most manufacturing companies are learning how to "design for disassembly." The ease of destruction of a product is becoming just as important as the ease of construction.




Examples of Tests of this Change

At one hospital, a team discovered that x-ray technicians were generating excess waste because they were not able to recycle the canisters that contained the x-ray film. After conducting research and persistently attempting to cultivate contacts, the team persuaded a major producer of x-ray film to let the hospital return the canisters for refills.


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