Pollution Prevention Techniques and Practices

Pollution prevention promotes continuous improvement through operational and behavioral changes. Pollution prevention is a shared responsibility among governments and individuals, industrial, commercial, institutional, and community sectors. It focuses on areas such as:

• Substances of concern
• Materials and feedstock substitution
• Operating efficiences
• On-site reuse and recycling
• Training
• Purchasing practices
• Product design
• Equipment modifications
• Product reformulation
• Process changes
• Clean production
• Avoidance of cross-media transfer of pollutants or waste
• Avoidance of spills and accidents
• Leak detection

Pollution Prevention is the preferred approach to environmental management (EM). It avoids the costs and risks associated with pollution by reducing pollution and waste at the source. Pollution prevention can save money, resources and improve economic efficiencies.

P2 in the Environmental Management Hierarchy

Pollution prevention is particularly beneficial, when effectively applied, because it:

• minimizes or avoids the creation of pollutants;
• prevents the transfer of pollutants from one medium to another;
• accelerates the reduction and/or elimination of pollutants;
• minimizes health risks;
• promotes the development of source reduction technologies;
• uses energy, materials and resources more efficiently;
• reduces the need for costly enforcement;
• limits future liability with greater certainty;
• recognizes that waste is a cost that can be reduced;
• avoids costly clean-up in the future; and
• promotes a more competitive economy.