Manufactures generate large sums of waste, some of it hazardous.
Numerous incidents, caused by improper handling of hazardous materials, have occurred in the manufacturing sector. Some incidents resulted in significant environmental damage, fines to companies along with remediation costs. Additionally, the vast majority of companies view waste generation and its treatment as a normal business function. In spring of 1997, an initiative was launched to get businesses, especially manufacturers, to incorporate waste reduction strategies as a means of boosting their environmental and economic performance. This is a major hindering force that stands in the way of better environmental and economic performance.