Assessment of environmental costs efficiency in service stations

Abstract

Environmental pollution problems are increasing rapidly with the worldwide acceleration of economic and technological development. Service stations are among the polluters, which are required to bear social responsibility in respect of consumers and society as well as taking steps to prevent contamination of the environment or to minimize the harm caused to the environment. In order to assess the social and financial efficiency of environmental costs incurred by service stations, a model for assessment of environmental costs for service stations was prepared. The formation of the model was based on the following criteria: to assess whether environmental costs has been incurred on a voluntary or compulsory basis; to assess whether the costs return in the form of direct financial benefits or in the form of indirect social and/or financial benefits. The methodology is implemented in five steps: analysis of activities of the service station; identification of environmental threats and actions aimed at their mitigation; identification of environmental costs; identification of financial expression of environmental costs; efficiency assessment of environmental costs. There are different kinds of environmental costs and therefore it is appropriate to analyse them in groups. These groups are: preventive costs; costs of restoring environmental functions; compensatory costs; mandatory costs; voluntary costs. Direct financial benefits are calculated using financial indicators, e.g., investment payback period in years, reduction of the tax burden as a result of environmental costs incurred. Social benefits come through future benefits, goodwill, and image of a responsible company. Model of assessment of environmental costs efficiency was validated in terms of environmental efficiency of expenditure in a service station N.[...]