Question

Explain the difficulties accompanying landfill siting and outsourcing. How can these processes be handled responsibly?

Short answer

The difficulties in landfill siting arise from environmental concerns, health risks, and public opposition, while outsourcing problems include quality control, communication, potential loss of expertise, and unfair labor practices. To handle these responsibly, for landfill siting, conduct environmental and health risk assessments, involve the community, and have a nuisance mitigation plan. For outsourcing, establish quality control measures, clear communication channels, and fair labor practices, and maintain some in-house expertise.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding Landfill Siting Difficulties

Landfill siting involves identifying suitable locations for dumping waste. The main difficulties arise from environmental concerns, public health risks, and public opposition. Examples include groundwater contamination, air pollution causing respiratory diseases, and resistance from communities due to nuisances like odor.

Understanding Outsourcing Difficulties

Outsourcing is the business practice of hiring an external party to perform services or manufacture goods that could be done internally. Challenges include quality control issues, communication problems, potential loss of internal expertise, and wage disparity or unfair labor practices.

Responsible Handling of Landfill Siting

In order to ensure landfill siting is handled responsibly, various steps can be taken. These steps include conducting extensive environmental impact assessments, ensuring stringent public health measures are in place, involving the community in the siting process, and creating a plan to minimize nuisances.

Responsible Outsourcing

For outsourcing to be managed responsibly, businesses need to have stringent quality control processes, clear communication channels, fair labor practices, and consideration for the impact on local communities. This might involve paying fair wages, providing safe working conditions, and maintaining a certain level of in-house expertise to maintain quality.