Pollution government or companies?

Question

Should companies be responsible to clean up their own acts when it comes to pollution, or is it the government's job to regulate them?

Answer 1

I think the customers should clean it up.

Answer 2

there's a sort of middle man, who works a firm that is subsidized by the government, who checks companies are following procedure. Or at least i hope there is, that will be my job.

Answer 3

If there was a short term economic gain most companies would clean up their act, at least for that short gain.  The problem is that most companies only see long term cost associated with pollution controls.  Some companies have voluntarily changed processes and methods because of economic benefits.  Recycling is a good example.  However to clean the air emissions from say a steel mill, the economics all seem negative.

So the government steps in with regulations, and the means to enforce those regulations.  An example where there is little or no government regulation could be seen in the air at the Olympics.