[GreenYes] Fwd: Zero Waste as a goal of Pollution Prevention

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

>Is Zero Waste considered as a goal of Pollution Prevention programs? See 
>the last sentence below.  From http://www.epa.gov/p2/aboutp2/business.htm
>
>Gary Liss
>**************************
>Benefits
>P2 practices can improve a business's bottom line through reduced raw 
>material and energy costs, treatment and disposal expenses, and associated 
>labor costs. Many P2 strategies, such as substituting toxic materials with 
>safer alternatives, are simple and inexpensive.
>
>Cleaning Up Through P2
>
>WEBCO Industries in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, demonstrates the potential for 
>significant cost savings through P2 activities. The company eliminated 
>solvent cleaning processes and saved $8,000 in operational costs, 18 
>employee-hours per week, and $18,000 in equipment costs.
>
>P2 practices reduce or eliminate:
>
>Treatment, disposal, and associated labor costs
>Wildlife and habitat damage
>Property devaluation
>Remediation costs
>Civil and criminal fines
>Permit fees
>Insurance costs
>Process disruption
>Down time
>Other key P2 benefits include:
>
>Enhanced Public Image. Consumers more favorably view businesses that adopt 
>and practice P2 strategies, and the marketing of these practices can 
>increase profits.
>
>Increased Productivity and Efficiency. P2 assessments help organizations 
>identify opportunities to decrease raw material usage, eliminate 
>unnecessary operations, increase throughput, reduce off-spec product 
>generation, and improve yields.
>
>Doing More With Less
>
>United Musical Instruments in Nogales, Arizona, worked with the Arizona 
>Department of Environmental Quality's Pollution Prevention Unit to 
>implement a closed loop system that reduced water use by 500,000 gallons 
>per year, cut lab fees, and decreased sludge generation. These activities 
>reduced hazardous waste by 58 percent in 3 years and saved the company 
>$127,000 in the first year alone.
>
>Reduced Regulatory Burden. Improving environmental performance and 
>reaching performance goals that go beyond compliance are ways to reduce 
>regulatory burdens.
>
>Decreased Liability. Handling hazardous and toxic materials brings high 
>liability should an accident occur. Organizations that substitute toxic 
>materials with safer alternatives reduce the liability and high costs 
>associated with an unsafe environment.
>
>Improved Environmental and Health Quality. P2 methods can help reduce the 
>air, water, and land pollution that results from waste generation, 
>treatment, and disposal, reduce worker and resident health risks and the 
>environmental risks associated with pollutant emissions, and conserve 
>natural resources and landfill space.
>
>P2 Implementation
>Technical Assistance Programs
>Businesses interested in P2 should contact their state or regional 
>technical assistance program (TAP). The State P2 Programs page lists state 
>and regional TAPs across the country.
>
>Workplace P2 A to Z
>Below is an A to Z listing of how to encourage pollution prevention in the 
>workplace.
>
>Assign life cycle responsibility to production management, linking cost 
>and liability.
>
>Be the unsinkable champion of source reduction.
>
>Charge the true cost of waste created to the operating units and make them 
>responsible for liabilities, management, and costs of the waste stream.
>
>Design products for the environment with zero ultimate waste potential and 
>cradle to grave functionality.
>
>Educate each individual on what pollution prevention means.
>
>Focus on optimizing the use of resources consumed in your process.
>
>Goals for pollution prevention need to be established so that everyone in 
>the organization feels empowered to put them into practice.
>
>Saving the Bay Through P2
>
>In 1998, 250 businesses participated in the "Businesses for the Bay" 
>program and prevented more than 74 million pounds of waste from entering 
>the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They also saved more than $900,000. 
>Participants, ranging from marinas and gas stations to utilities and 
>chemical manufacturers, developed preventive maintenance programs, 
>improved procurement practices, modified manufacturing processes, and used 
>alternative, less toxic products to achieve these results.
>
>Have pollution prevention incorporated into performance evaluations for 
>middle management.
>
>Incorporate pollution prevention into the development of new products and 
>processes.
>
>Just instill a philosophy of continuous improvement.
>
>Keep working hard with the non-believers - be patient.
>
>Link zero discharge, total quality management and pollution prevention 
>into your program.
>
>Management support needs to be enlisted. Have Management demonstrate their 
>support by providing a written policy statement.
>
>Never let leaks persist.
>
>Organize innovative trainings for teaching pollution prevention concepts.
>
>Plan your waste reduction work and work your waste reduction plan.
>
>Quickly shift from paper systems to paperless communications.
>
>Recycling structures can be created that also compliments source reduction.
>
>Seek fundamental understanding of the sources of waste.
>
>Think about sharing the money saved through pollution prevention with the 
>originator(s) of the idea.
>
>Use and develop life cycle studies for processes and products.
>
>Value personnel input on ways to improve the processes.
>
>Work at publicizing your pollution prevention accomplishments.
>
>Xeriscape - use low water consumption, drought resistant native plants and 
>low impact irrigation in landscaping
>
>You need to establish a culture of not-wasting.
>
>Zero waste should be the goal.

Gary Liss
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485

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