Incremental economic analysis modeling of future liability risk costs due to the generation and disposal of incinerable liquid organic hazardous wastes

Hazardous Waste Minimization or Reduction Programs are being developed in every major industrial facility using and/or manufacturing virgin chemicals because of requirements of federal, state, and local laws. In most instances new decisions with regard to future investments must now be evaluated. What may be overlooked are the future costs which include: environmental remediation, real property damage, and personal injury costs which arise because of hazardous chemicals. Future liability costs can be important considerations for firms responsible for the generation and the subsequent disposal of hazardous wastes. The quantification of these costs through a modeling approach is one of the objectives of this thesis.; A methodology has been developed and refined to follow normally accepted principles of incremental engineering economic analysis and decision making. INECAMOD, Incremental Economic Analysis Model, Version 1.1, a personal computer based model, has been developed into a spreadsheet program for use in the evaluation of representative data. The model contains data applicable to a representative commercial waste incineration facility. Incineration management strategies of a representative firm have been evaluated and an alternate strategy evaluation scenario has been structured for evaluation in INECAMOD.; Variables and management options have been extensively analyzed and the key strategies have been ascertained. Several important conclusions have been developed, the most significant being that it is not too late for existing firms to make basic hazardous waste management practice decisions that are capable of justifying a firm's return on investment (ROI) objectives or minimum attractive rate of return (MARR). This thesis confirmed that personal injury awards are a dominant cost element and should be more thoroughly researched in the future.; A suggested methodology for modeling approaches which would deal with manufacturing or current costs is included in an appendix. Diskettes for all models can be obtained from the Environmental Engineering Department of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY.