nvironmental Insanity is often described as repeating the same actions expecting different outcomes. This oversimplification may explain the negative trend in regulatory approval. The “Push Through” technique for environmental regulatory approval is now less effective, leading to longer delays and more failures. Many landfill or ash impoundment owners rely on these ineffective traditional methods, often taking too long to see that these strategies are inadequate.
The “Pull Through” Environmental Regulatory Approval technique could address the growing challenges of environmental stewardship. The Pull Through technique involves course correction, proper tools, and innovative application throughout the strategy. This technique focuses on long-term goals beyond the current regulatory approval pinpoint, possibly up to post-land reuse, ensuring no surprises for stakeholders.
Current Environmental Regulatory Situation
Whether you are in the waste industry managing a landfill or a utility company adhering to CCR regulations, navigating today’s regulatory environment presents significant challenges. This trend is influenced by social media, which offers a different approach compared to traditional media regarding permitting.
Permitting requires substantial investment in public relations, engineering, and legal services, with no assurance of success in the permitting and design process. The push through method has extended the average timeframe for landfill expansion from 2-3 years to 7-8 years.
It is clear that changes are necessary. All stakeholders must realign their expectations, fully commit to the process, collaborate effectively, and seek non-compartmentalized framework. This approach is referred to as the Pull Through Regulatory Approval technique.
“Conversion of Existing Landfills to Regional Based
Closing one landfill means the expansion of another, resulting in an acceptance of a regional-based waste management system. However, this trend is constantly under attack because people do not want any trash in their community. Landfills within this system need to be properly maximized, not closed. To fend off a trash crisis—at the national, state, county or community level—long-term landfill design becomes a much more important component. Traditional approaches need to be adjusted in order to anticipate the needs of the communities the landfill serves. It all starts with planning, communication and innovation to be successful.”
John P. Swenson
“How to Lead in Landfill Design”
December 2021
Waste Advantage Magazine
The Basics of Pull Through Regulatory Approval Technique
- 1Long-Term Planning applied in Short -Term Increments
- 2Innovation
- 3
Compromise
❶Long-Term Planning applied in Short -Term Increments
The primary distinction between the Push Through and Pull Through Regulatory Approval techniques lies in their approach to environmental planning. The Pull Through method incorporates a long-term environmental strategy, whereas the Push Through method focuses on shorter-term planning.
This technique is like playing chess. We need to use all the pieces, employ multiple strategies, and see the whole board. But, unlike chess, we have to play this game collaboratively to win.
Environmental Leaders need to “See the Whole Board”.
By doing so, Leaders need to look at a range of solutions that can get the job done, or at least enough ways to scale them in time to make a difference. Although known, traditional methods can sometimes leave environmental leaders handcuffed. Instead of being prepared for the plethora of unknown challenges, the traditional methods can only scope for the known challenges. As a result, we are looking only at a pawn facing a queen and not the rook on the sides ready to capture.
“Place More Importance on the Process
Environmental leaders need to “see the whole board”. In other words, create a landfill design that is flexible, scalable and compatible with their community’s waste management plan. The process should not only prepare for today’s capacity but also plan for future changes. Consider how your landfill design will work to achieve
the desired outcome. This requires that the process framework be specifically developed and adapted to fit the circumstances in which the site is operating and includes all variables both present and future. A prime example of this is a landfill’s lifecycle capacity; the importance of present and future capacity should be an important part of your landfill design. Furthermore, it is essential to develop a landfill design plan that considers the link between the environmental problem, governance and management processes.
Your landfill design process must be malleable, flexible, and scalable to meet changing regulations and expectations.”
John P. Swenson
“How to Lead in Landfill Design”
December 2021
Waste Advantage Magazine
Like in chess, Environmental Leaders need to pick a spot beyond what’s in front of them and then build a framework that can drive all stakeholders to that spot. If your approach focuses on managing individual spaces rather than achieving the desired outcome, you are likely to fail due to time constraints.
Utilize the Pull Through technique to manage the long-term environmental life cycle, while considering factors beyond immediate regulatory requirements.
❷INNOVATION
A critical element of the Pull Through technique is innovation. Innovation offers an alternative to the “wait and see” Push Through approach for obtaining environmental strategy approval.
Numerous environmental solutions are available. The challenge for project managers lies in identifying and implementing the most appropriate framework for their projects. The optimal framework address environmental, economic, and social interests comprehensively, rather than focusing on just one or two of these aspects.
“You’re only as good as the tools you use.”
❸COMPROMISE
A framework of compromise is essential when implementing the Pull Through technique. All stakeholders must undergo a paradigm shift to achieve this compromise. Should traditional Push Through thinking fail to consider a balanced outcome, it is imperative for owners to take a step back from their focused vision and assess the broader perspective.
Creativity, ingenuity, and innovation is the answer to find a middle-path, but it takes all stakeholders to embrace change.
MAXIMIZE FOOTPRINT
BUILD CAPACITY
