Complex local, state, and federal regulations—along with varying definitions of hazardous waste—make it more challenging than ever to comply with the evolving landscape of waste. Recently, regulations governing the disposal of sensitive materials (such as HIPAA, RCRA, OSHA, and MWMA) have grown more stringent and enforcement has increased. These changes have resulted in escalating multi-million-dollar fines, costly corrective action plans, and public relations nightmares. Companies in multiple industries have made headlines for settlements, and many organizations are renewing their focus on compliance and privacy programs.

Waste Audits & Waste Compliance

A waste audit is the foundation of a strong waste compliance program. Whether seeking to better understand problem areas, documenting risk management activities, or tracking the impact of ongoing education and enforcement – waste audits provide a formal, quantifiable metric to measure success.

An effective waste compliance program is complex, but taking the first steps can be simple. Savvy organizations that can demonstrate proactive risk mitigation will often fare far better than those that can’t. In fact, most large fines rarely penalize improper disposal alone, including hefty additional fines for the lack of safeguards and process control to prevent these violations.

These five steps will help build a strong waste compliance program:

1. Comprehensive Risk Assessment
2. Documentation of Follow-Up Risk Management Activities
3. Documentation of Policies and Procedures
4. Evidence of Implementation
5. Ongoing Education and Enforcement

Why Partner With ENGIE Impact

For companies with a large, distributed portfolio of sites, waste audits can seem like a daunting task, requiring deep regulatory knowledge, waste auditing expertise and credible reporting from a third party.

ENGIE Impact helps clients address the unique regulatory challenges facing industries heavily impacted by waste regulations, such as healthcare, hospitality, banking, and retail. Leveraging a deep understanding of federal, state, and municipal regulations, ENGIE Impact helps businesses not only assess their risks but also develop actionable programs and measure their success over time.

The ENGIE Impact Difference

ENGIE Impact’s unique approach to waste auditing focuses on:

• Scientific Auditing Methods. Our auditing methods are designed to ensure representative sampling and accurate measurement through honed, consistent auditing practices.
• Flexible, Tailored Process. Most waste audits reveal far more than initially expected. Waste audit teams tailor each audit to the specific requests of organizations while remaining flexible on the day of the audit to bring back information that can drive operational improvements.
• Efficient, Independent Auditing & Reporting. In many cases, companies want to demonstrate action quickly. We deliver formal documentation of initial findings within less than one week of each audit.
• Behavioral Program Consulting. ENGIE Impact seeks to not only collect data but improve outcomes. Program implementation experts help clients design policies and procedures, risk management activities, and ongoing education and enforcement programs to ensure compliance.
• Waste and Regulatory Expertise. Leveraging insights gleaned from over 350 waste audits conducted in the past year alone, close relationships with local inspectors, and ongoing training, ENGIE Impact delivers the necessary professionalism and expertise to conduct an effective waste audit program.