Pollution Prevention Basics

in PicturesWestern Regional Pollution Prevention Network 2003 Conference

Judy Lankey , Senior Source Control Inspector Eastern Municipal Water District

Pollution Prevention 101 October 15, 2003

P2 Methods• Practices and procedures

• Equipment modification

• In-process recycling

• Material substitution

• Product reformulation

• Process modification

• Energy/resource conservation

Practices and Procedures

• Purchasing

• Inventory control

• Improved housekeeping

• Preventive maintenance

• Training

• Waste segregation

Purchasing-Rotating Stock

Inventory ControlNote the cobwebs

Improved Housekeeping

Preventative maintenance

Training on chemical management software

Waste segregation

Equipment Modification

• Change process equipment to:

–minimize waste

–increase efficiency

Rolling Aqueous Cleaner

In-process Recycling

• Redirect materials

• Closed loop recycling

• On-site recycling

Antifreeze Recycling

Material Substitution

• Changing input materials

• Not “drop-in” conversion

Water-based ink

Product Reformulation

• Change design

• Redesign product to allow for less toxicity

Chrome bumper

Plastic bumper

Regular lightbulb

Low mercury lightbulb

Process Modification

• Change process or operation

• Same end product

Painting with oil-based paint

Painting with powdercoater

Conservation

• Energy Conservation– insulate

– efficient lighting

• Material conservation– reuse envelopes

– both sides of paper

Energy conservation

Material conservation

Finally

Pollution Prevention Act of 1990

The Congress hereby declares it to be the national policy of the United States that pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible; pollution that cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner, whenever feasible;

pollution that cannot be prevented or recycled should be treated in an environmentally safe manner whenever feasible; and disposal or other release into the environment should be employed only as a last resort

and should be conducted in an environmentally safe manner.

Source Reduction

The term ''source reduction'' means any practice which - (i) reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or

contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal; and

(ii) reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

The term includes equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution of raw materials, and improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, training, or inventory control.

The term ''source reduction'' does not include any practice which alters the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics or the volume of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant through a process or activity which itself is not integral to and necessary for the production of a product or the providing of a service.

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