DuBose Law Firm tackles environmental issues everyday by fighting for asbestos personal injury victims and public interest issues related to asbestos. Since 2008 DuBose Law Firm has also worked to protect the environment as an ABA-EPA Climate Challenge partner.
A fundamental part DuBose Law Firm’s commitment to the environment includes participation in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) innovative WasteWise program, the country’s first national voluntary solid waste reduction program. WasteWise encourages organizations to reduce municipal solid waste through waste prevention, recycling, and buying or manufacturing recycled products. WasteWise partners have saved thousands, even millions of dollars in purchasing costs and waste disposal fees by reducing, reusing, and recycling solid waste materials.
As a WasteWise member, we are required to establish three new waste prevention activities, expand or improve our current recycling efforts, and purchase and/or manufacture additional products with recycled content. The programs we initiate as part of our participation in WasteWise will build on the successes of our established waste prevention and recycling efforts. A major thrust of WasteWise is waste prevention—actions that minimize or eliminate the generation of waste before it is created—with the goal of decreasing the amount of material that must be recycled or thrown away.
According to founding partner, Ben DuBose, “unfortunately, lawyers are tree killers. At least one nation- wide study has shown that without a waste management plan, a single attorney can consume up to half a ton of paper per year.” The life-cycle of a ton of paper, from production to landfill disposal results in the generation of about 11 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent greenhouse gas emissions. “Participation in WasteWise demonstrates DuBose Law Firm’s commitment to preserve natural resources and protect the environment,” says DuBose.
The WasteWise program has a broad and varied membership that reflects the makeup of corporate America. For more information, go on-line at www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/wastewise/about.htm