|
Why Pollution Prevention?
Since the early 1970's, environmental protection programs in the U.S. have been directed primarily at controlling not preventing pollution. Pollution control programs, in general, have consisted of discharge, storage, and treatment standards, information reporting, regulations, and economic incentives. Overall, these programs have been effective, but environmental protection challenges still remain.
Pollution prevention evolved from a 1976 United Nations conference, called Principles and Creation of Non-Waste Technology and Cleaner Production, in response to the energy crisis begun three years earlier. How much energy could be saved, the conference asked, by reducing waste?
This conference represented a formal recognition of the limitations of end-of-pipe approaches to environmental problem solving. It became apparent that environmental protection challenges require a different approach. This approach to environmental protection involves continuing pollution control programs while at the same time developing and implementing broad-based pollution prevention programs.
To raise its importance, the Arizona legislature adopted a state Pollution Prevention Policy in 1991.
Pollution prevention planning is required to reduce the amount of waste generated and toxic substances used to reduce risk to public health, safety and welfare, and the environment. Pollution prevention planning is also required to assist in meeting the state waste minimization and toxic substance reduction goals.
What is Pollution Prevention?
Pollution prevention means making changes in operational procedures, processes and improvements in housekeeping or management techniques that reduce potential or actual releases of pollutants to the overall environment (air, water and land).
Pollution prevention in Arizona can include any of the following:
Source reduction, toxic use reduction, recycling of wastes or secondary materials, reuse, waste minimization, reclamation, conservation, chemical substitution, and toxic substance volume reduction. Reduction at the source is the most important of these items.
How can pollution prevention benefit your company?
There are many reasons to reduce both the amount of wastes generated and the amount of toxic substances released to the environment. For example, there are:
- Economic Incentives
- Regulatory Incentives
- Liability Incentives
- Public Benefits
- Human Health and Environmental Benefits
Your company can save money on disposal costs, raw material costs, and labor costs. You will find reduced liability, and reduced compliance costs. It can improve a company's relationship with the public - neighbors and customers. It will help protect our health and the environment we live in. It is not only environmentally a good choice, but can give your company an economic advantage over other companies. When we protect the environment, we are ultimately protecting ourselves, our children and grandchildren.
What is Arizona's pollution prevention policy?
In Arizona House Bill 2121 the Arizona legislature adopted a state Pollution Prevention Policy: "In the interest of protecting the public health and safety and the environment, the legislature declares that it is the policy of this state to:
- Encourage pollution prevention whenever technically and economically practicable, without shifting risks from one part of a process, environmental medium or product to another.
- Reduce the amount of hazardous substances used and reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated in this state."
What are some pollution prevention techniques?
Source reduction includes any activity that reduces or eliminates:
- The generation of hazardous waste at the source
- Toxic chemical emissions
- Toxic substance use
Source reduction can include product changes that involve:
Source Reduction - Product Changes
- Product Substitution
- Product Conservation
- Changes in Product Composition
Source reduction can also be accomplished through source control; including input material changes, technology change and good operating practices.
Source Reduction - Source Control
Input Material Changes
- Purification
- Substitution
Technology Changes
- Equipment, piping, or layout changes
- Automation
- Operating Settings
Good Operating Practices
- Procedural Changes
- Loss Prevention
- Management Practices
- Waste Stream Segregation
- Material Handling Improvements
- Production Scheduling
- Inventory Control
- First In/First Out
Pollution prevention includes a wide array of opportunities. Focus first on source reduction as a first step. If that is not possible then try recycling or reuse to identify waste minimization opportunities. There are many different types of activities you can undertake.
| 
