The environment is where we live and work. It is everything around us, not just the natural environment. All areas of the environment are related; what happens in one area affects other areas. Wastes indiscriminately released from factories, sewerage and stormwater run-off can spread and affect the environment.
In the past we had little understanding of either the short-term or the long-term effects of our actions. Some of our bad practices had a dramatic effect. A local angler might tell you that the fish used to be plentiful in a particular waterway but now there are few. Effluent from factories and farms and stormwater or sewerage waste from towns and cities are part of the problem. Until quite recently, many coastal towns released only minimally treated sewerage into the oceans.
We are now much more concerned about the quality of our environment at all levels. There are many regulations in place that specify what we can and cannot release into the environment.
The processing of food products normally involves generating waste by-products. Waste materials (solids, liquids or gases) are a by-product of the production process. Examples include wastewater, cardboard, plastics, paper, smoke and fumes. All sections of the workplace, from administration through to production and maintenance, create waste.
Businesses such as FPT Foods need to take action to ensure their work practices
do not threaten or damage the environment.