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How Clean Is Clean? Is 100% Clean Really Worth It?. How Clean Is Clean Really?. Describe your bedroom Now, clean it up! What are you going to do... 1 st ? 2 nd ? 3 rd ? ● As you get closer to 100% clean, what becomes greater, cost or benefit?. Is it Really Worth 100% Clean?.
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How Clean Is Clean? Is 100% Clean Really Worth It?
How Clean Is Clean Really? • Describe your bedroom • Now, clean it up! • What are you going to do... 1st? 2nd? 3rd? ● As you get closer to 100% clean, what becomes greater, cost or benefit?
Is it Really Worth 100% Clean? How much _______ does it take? • time • work • energy • resources • money Is it worth the cost and benefits?
The Answer is Based on… • Technology (Do we have the capabilities to clean it now?) • Money (Is it available now?) • Value (Does everyone have the same?) • Priorities (What is most important?) • Can’t the effort to clean up 100% be used more effectively elsewhere?
Welcome to Lake Erie- In the Past: *Beautiful *Clean *Safe to fish swim drink Now it is dirty from… Overuse Overflow from septic tanks Soil runoff Industrial discharge
Solution #1 Surrounding states should clean the lake 100%. • The technology is available to clean it. • There is no excuse for not doing the job right.
Solution #2 Cleaning the lake 100% is overkill. ● It doesn’t need to be perfectly clean. ● We can clean up most of the lake for 1/3 the cost and effort for totally cleaning it up. ● We should not overspend for the environment.
Where is the Point Where We Should Stop Cleaning Up? • When it costs too much? • When it becomes too much trouble? • When the benefits stop? • When it is completely clean?
Pollution Clean Up Benefits MSB 0% 100% Pollution Cleanup
Cost to Cleanup Costs MSC 0% 100% Pollution Clean Up
What is the Point Where We Should Stop Cleaning Up? Benefits and Costs (Dollars) MSB MSC 0% 100% Pollution Abatement
How Much Should We Clean Up Lake Erie? Marginal Benefit Marginal Cost of Clean Up of Clean Up Completely 0% =___________ = ____________ Polluted (25%)_____________ (25%) ____________ 25% $500,000 $75,000 (50%)______________ (50%) ____________ 50% $750,000 $175,000 (75%)___________ (75%)____________ 75% $865,000 $290,000 (100%)___________ (100%)______________ Completely Clean 100% $875,000 $590,000
The Results Marginal Benefit Marginal Cost of Clean Up of Clean Up Completely 0% =$0.00 =$0.00 Polluted (25%)$500,000 (25%) $75,000 25% $500,000 $75,000 (50%)$250,000_ (50%)$100,000 50% $750,000 $175,000 (75%)$115,000 (75%)$115.000 75% $865,000 $290,000 (100%)$10,000 (100%)$300,000 Completely Clean 100% $875,000 $590,000
What Percentage Should We Clean Up Lake Erie? = Only 75% Why?
Solution: Clean up until the cost and benefits are equal. Benefits and Costs (Dollars) MSB MSC 0% 100% Pollution Abatement
The Answer is Based on… • Technology (Do we have the capabilities to clean it now?) • Money (Is it available now?) • Value (Does everyone have the same?) • Priorities (What is most important?) • Can’t the money to clean up 100% be used more effectively elsewhere?
So… • Is Clean Really Clean? • What does clean really mean? • Should we clean until it is 100% clean? • Should we clean until costs outweigh benefits?
Decisions are Based on… • Values • Priorities • Economics
Whatever the decision, we must remember that our choices… ● Influence the environment ● Have unintended consequences ● Are influenced by rewards