Pollution prevention programs

Formal pollution prevention programs (Pollution Prevention Act)... 

Sources of Information The successful development and implementation of any pollution prevention program is not only dependent on a thorough understanding of the facility s operations but also reqmres an intimate knowledge of current opportunities and advances in the field. In fact, 32 percent of industry respondents to an EPA sui vey identified the lack of technical information as a major factor delaying or preventing the implementation of a waste-... 

One of the key elements of the assessment phase of a pollution prevention program involves mass balance equations. These calculations are often referred to as material balances the calculations are performed via the consei vation law for mass. The details of this ofien-used law are described below. 

By performing a material balance in conjunc tion with a pollution prevention assessment, the amount of waste generated becomes known. The success of the pollution prevention program can therefore be measured by using this information on baseline generation rates (i.e., that rate at which waste is generated without pollution prevention considerations). 

As discussed previously, industiy is beginning to realize that there are profound benefits associated with pollution prevention including cost effectiveness, reduced hability, enhanced public image, and regula-toiy compliance. Nevertheless, there are barriers or disincentives identifiea with pollution prevention. This section will briefly outline both barriers and incentives that may need to be confronted or considered during the evaluation of a pollution prevention program. 

Lack of infoimation. In some instances, the information needed to make a pollution-prevention decision may be confidential or is difficult to obtain. In addition, many decision makers are simply unaware of the potential opportunities available regarding information to aid in the implementation of a pollution-prevention program. 

Con.sumcrprcfcrcncc obstacles. Consumer preference strongly affects the manner in which a product is produced, packaged, and marketed. If the implementation of a pollution-prevention program results in the increase in the cost of a product or decreased convenience or availability, consumers might be reluctant to use it. 

Institutional hai iiers. In an organization without a strong infrastructure to support pollution-prevention plans, waste-reduction programs will be difficult to implement. Similarly, if there is no mechanism in place to hold individuals accountable for their actions, the successful implementation of a pollution-prevention program will be limited. 

Reduced wa.ste-treatment co.sts. As discussed in reason no. 5 of the dirty dozen, the increasing costs of traditional end-of-pipe waste-management practices are avoided or reduced through the implementation of pollution-prevention programs. 

ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH POLLUTION-PREVENTION PROGRAMS... 

The main problem with the traditional type of economic analysis is that it is difficult—nay, in some cases impossible—to quantify some of the not-so-obvious economic merits of a pollution-prevention program. Several considerations have just recently surfaced as factors that need to be taken into account in any meaningful economic analysis of a pollution-prevention effort. What follows is a summary listing of these considerations, most which have been detailed earher. 

The U.S. government is promoting poUution prevention at feder2d facilities. Cooperating with the EPA are the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs. The U.S. Postal Service has also committed to an extensive pollution prevention program. 

The book Green Profits A Manager s Handbook for ISO 14001 and Pollution Prevention (N. P. Cheremisinoff and A. Bendavid-Val, Butterworth-Heinemann, Mass., 2001) provides a step-by-step approach to developing pollution prevention programs in an organization. In this section we summarize the basic approach for the reader, but refer you to the above publication for further details and examples. 

All pollution prevention programs start the same - with an audit. The objective of an audit is to gather information aimed at developing a baseline description of the operations. Once we understand how much the costs of compliance to air and other pollution media are, then we can apply engineering tools and management practices to reduce these costs. 

Feasibility Analysis Phase The point in a pollution prevention program at which waste reduction options are evaluated technically, economically and environmentally. The results are used to select options to be recommended for implementation. 

Pollution Prevention Champion one or more people designated to facilitate the pollution prevention program by resolving conflicts. 

Corporate management, role in facilitating research partnerships, 24 384-385 Corporate pollution prevention programs, 9 456 57... 

Setting np a pollution prevention program does not require exotic or expensive technologies. Some of the most effective techniques are simple and inexpensive. Others reqnire significant capital expenditures, but many provide a return on that investment. 

Middle School Energy and Pollution Prevention Program Michigan Technological University James Mihelcic... 

Since pollution prevention first entered the environmental lexicon in the 1980s, it has become a touchstone of U.S. environmental policy. To succeed, pollution prevention programs need sustained top management support and defined links to the company s core business activities. Equally important, the values represented in the program must fit with the academic institution, company, or individual s existing values. For example, syntheses that minimize wastes are environmentally Mendly and may provide quality improvements and cost and energy savings. Environmental consciousness should be incorporated early into chemical research (Lnnt and Bowen, 1996). 

Every successful pollution prevention program has three basic components strategic direction, infrastructure, and implementation. An iterative and evolntionary approach to pollution prevention can generally be categorized into three stages of development ... 

North Carolina Pollution Prevention Program Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources P.O. Box 27687 512 North Salisbury Street Raleigh, NC 27611 (919) 733-7015... 

Identify and promote the implementation of effective non-technological approaches to pollution prevention. This research area includes socioeconomic and institutional factors that motivate behavior and foster changes in behavior as they relate to incentives for adopting pollution prevention techniques. Research is needed to understand the roles of non-technological factors in implementing pollution prevention approaches and their impact on the effectiveness of pollution prevention programs. 

In order to provide a liaison channel between researchers in the field of pollution prevention and potential implementors of new and improved pollution prevention techniques, the EPA has joined with the University of Cincinnati in establishing the Waste Reduction Institute for Scientists and Engineers (WRISE). This new channel is important because of the unique nature of EPA s pollution prevention program and because EPA s ultimate clientele for this research are, to a large part, individuals in industry with whom EPA, traditionally, has not directly dealt, i.e., those people concerned with the processes that generate pollutants as opposed to those people who are concerned with the treatment and disposal of wastes. 

Initiation of Corporate Pollution Prevention Programs - Polaroid Dow. Dupont Monsanto, etc... 

For the businesses that have implemented pollution prevention programs, the amount saved or earned has been quite dramatic. For example, in the 3M Company, the Pollution Prevention Pays (3P) Program netted 350 million for their U.S. plants from 1976 through 1987 while reducing waste generation by more than 425,000 tons per year. 

After participating in over 75 waste reduction or treatment programs, one thing has become clear—there is a recipe for success. We have found that successful pollution prevention programs are characterized by the following four success factors ... 

The dotted boxes on the right-hand side of Fig. 10 show the information and tools available to help jump start, maintain, and increase the effectiveness of the pollution prevention program. These include ... 

This initial phase of the pollution prevention program consists of four steps securing business leadership support, establishing the program, selecting the waste streams, and creating a core assessment team. 

The decision to begin a pollution prevention program can be triggered by one or more of the drivers listed below ... 

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