Mail Code74C
4>EPA POLLUTION PREVENTION
INCENTIVES FOR STATES
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 2
Technical Assistance 4
Technical Training.
Education and Outreach.
Regulatory Integration
Demonstration Projects
Legislation and Infrastructure
.12
...16
Awards and Recognition 18
For More Information... ....20
EPA Regional Contacts Back Cover
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POLLUTION PREVENTION
Harmonizing Environmental
Protection with Economic Efficiency
EPA has made significant progress over the last 20
years in improving the quality of the environment by
controlling pollution with its air, water, and
hazardous and solid waste programs. The traditional
approach, however, stresses treatment and disposal
after pollution has been generated. EPA now believes
that reducing or eliminating the source of pollution is
a competitive, effective way to reduce risks to human
health and the environment. This approach is also
the most cost-effective option because it reduces raw
material losses, the need for expensive "end-of-pipe"
technologies, and long-term liability. In short,
pollution prevention offers the unique advantage of
harmonizing environmental protection with
economic efficiency.
In the 1990 Pollution Prevention Act, Congress
formally declared it national policy of the United
States to prevent or reduce pollution at the source
whenever possible. In addition, the Act created a
pollution prevention program at EPA and established
a grant program. This grant program, Pollution
Prevention Incentive for States (PPIS), fosters the
development of state pollution prevention programs.
Because states have closer, more direct contact with
industry and hence are more aware of local needs,
EPA believes that state-based environmental programs
can make a unique contribution to pollution
prevention. EPA designed the grant program to give
the states flexibility in addressing local needs. EPA is
committed to support states in establishing and
expanding pollution prevention programs, to foster
Federal and state information sharing and
communication, and to test different pollution
prevention methodologies and approaches at state
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and local levels.
3.
The PPIS grant program is an integral part of EPA's
strategy to encourage and promote source reduction
throughout the United States. The program began in 1989
as the Source Reduction and Recycling Technical
Assistance program, but was renamed in 1990 to reflect
EPA's increased emphasis on preventing pollution in all
forms. This approach minimizes the transfer of pollutants
across all media air, land, and water. PPIS has supported
over 100 projects in states, territories, localities and
regional organizations across the country many of
which had no pollution prevention activities underway
prior to PPIS funding. PPIS has provided approximately
$20 million dollars to the states during the first three years.
Three years after making pollution prevention the
nation's highest environmental priority, 49 states now
maintain pollution prevention programs. Over half of the
states across the country have enacted state pollution
prevention legislation. Numerous businesses, working
with the states, have obtained technical assistance through
PPIS and saved millions of dollars. Thousands of people
have received training in pollution prevention techniques.
Now that the states have developed basic pollution
prevention programs, EPA has shifted responsibility for
implementing the grant program from EPA Headquarters
to its regional offices. This shift gives the Regions
flexibility to focus resources on local priorities.
This brochure highlights just a few of the PPIS grant
recipients. Many other state programs use PPIS funds to
address local needs of industry and citizens. Contact your
Regional Pollution Prevention Coordinator (listed at the
end of the brochure) for more information on pollution
prevention activities in your area. The following pages
describe common activities and achievements of several
grant recipients in the following program areas:
Technical assistance
Technical training
Education and outreach
Regulatory integration
Demonstration projects
Legislation and infrastructure
Awards and recognition
Across all of these areas, the grant recipients have
demonstrated success, helped businesses to increase
efficiency and save money, and reduced future pollution
control costs.
"Twenty years
of end-of-pipe
regulation have
taught us an
important lesson -
that the best way
to clean up the
environment is to
prevent environ-
mental degradation
in the first place."
Carol Browner
EPA Administrator
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4.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Florida's Waste
Reduction Assistance
Program alone has saved
businesses $3.7 million.
For the environment, this
savings translates into a
reduction of over four
million pounds of
hazardous waste.
Florida Waste Reduction
Assistance Program
Businesses across the country are taking advantage of
free technical assistance from state pollution prevention
programs supported by PPIS grants. These programs
assist businesses in reducing wastes across all
environmental media (air, solid and hazardous waste,
water, and energy consumption). This assistance
generally results in savings to participating businesses
by reducing waste management costs and allows them
to be more competitive with other companies both in
the United States and abroad. Florida's Waste Reduction
Assistance Program alone has saved businesses $3.7
million. For the environment, this savings translates
into a reduction of over four million pounds of
hazardous waste.
In many cases PPIS technical assistance programs offer
confidential, on-site pollution and waste assessments
for both large and small businesses. These assessments
take place outside of the regulatory environment and
participation is strictly voluntary on the part of
businesses. They show businesses how to save money;
increase efficiency; reduce the need for new, costly
disposal facilities; and help promote a good public
image. During a waste assessment, engineers review all
operations of the businesses to uncover potential waste
reduction strategies and opportunities. Afterwards,
companies receive a detailed report that identifies and
evaluates various waste reduction opportunities and
provides specific recommendations for action. The
decision to proceed with any recommended option is
strictly the decision of the company. The sole purpose
of the assessments is to provide non-binding
suggestions and ideas.
The pollution prevention program at the Colorado
Department of Health (CDH) is just one of many
programs that offer this type of technical assistance.
Majestic Metals, a manufacturer employing 115
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people, received a pollution prevention assessment from
the Colorado program. The company adopted CDH
recommendations to install high-volume, low-pressure
paint guns and gun-cleaning wash. CDH estimates that
the paint guns will pay for themselves in only two
months. In addition, CDH estimates that by
implementing these pollution prevention practices the
company will reduce VOC emissions by 7,400 pounds
annually and decrease rinse water use by 770,000
gallons. The corresponding reduction in paint usage will
save the company $25,000 per year.
To further assist businesses, some PPIS grant recipients
have studied the barriers that inhibit businesses from
implementing pollution prevention. The Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality, for example,
has developed a comprehensive survey for industrial
waste generators in the state to help identify both
regulatory and non-regulatory barriers to implementing
pollution prevention practices. The state hopes to use
the survey results to tailor its pollution prevention
program to local needs.
SAVING MONEYREDUCING WASTE
Tennessee is just one of many states that offers an
extensive technical assistance program to
businesses. Since 1989, the Tennessee Waste
Reduction Assistance Program's (WRAP) pollution
prevention experts have performed over 200 on-
site assessments in companies in a variety of
industries. Companies found that reducing waste
led to savings in disposal, raw materials, labor,
and utilities costs. In addition, companies
increased revenue by selling recyclable goods.
A follow-up study of 31 companies that received
assistance revealed that, on average, companies
saved $41,500 per year by adopting the
recommendations of WRAP experts.
These recommendations resulted in waste
reduction of:
1.3 million pounds of hazardous waste
8.8 million pounds of solid waste
91,000 gallons per day of wastewater
87,000 gallons per day of fresh water
consumption
450,000 pounds of air emissions
"Many of the
recommendations of the
waste assessment have
already been implemented
by our company. We have
realized substantial
savings in material costs
and waste reduction.
Thanks to all for your
courtesy, hard work,
professionalism and, most
of all, good results!"
Letter to Colorado
Pollution Prevention
and Waste Management
Program
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6.
TECHNICAL TRAIN ING
To minimize the amount of pollution generated across
the country, EPA encourages the sharing of information
on source reduction techniques. PPIS grants further this
objective by funding state programs that provide
technical training to industry, government, and student
groups. Those trained become more aware of the
pollution prevention ethic and acquire the expertise
to act on their new appreciation of environmental
impacts.
Many state programs train business leaders on how to
implement pollution prevention techniques at their work
sites. Utah, for example, is conducting a series of
environmental training workshops for the Utah
Manufacturer's Association. The training series has alerted
participating businesses to the information and services
available to them from the state's pollution prevention
program. The training sessions focus on source reduction
in hazardous waste, solid waste, air toxics, and protection
of drinking water and wetlands.
The Tennessee Waste Reduction Assistance Program
(WRAP) has developed and delivered numerous
presentations on waste reduction. To date, WRAP has
trained over 12,000 people. In response to the growing
interest of Tennessee companies in solving their solid
waste problems, WRAP has combined waste assessments
and training efforts in Solid Waste Focus Groups. This
program, in coordination with the Chamber of
Commerce, trains industries to conduct snapshot
assessments of their solid waste. This unique program
has allowed WRAP staff to assist 10-12 companies in just
two days.
PPIS funding may also be used to train state and local
environmental officials to focus on pollution prevention
opportunities during the course of their work. For
example, Cornell University used PPIS grant funding to
develop a comprehensive package of training and
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informational materials to serve as a guide for local
officials and others responsible for pollution prevention.
Local officials from 36 counties in New York State
attended the first training session and found it to be very
informative. The PPIS-supported program in Rhode Island
is also training state officials. Rhode Island is educating
staff at its largest publicly owned water treatment facility
on pollution prevention techniques. The project helps
train officials to focus on preventing pollution in all
forms during compliance audits and independent waste
audits. Several states are training employees in state
environmental agencies to identify source reduction
opportunities and avoid the transfer of pollutants during
the course of their work.
In order to provide quality technical assistance to
businesses, state pollution prevention programs must
retain staff with considerable technical expertise. PPIS
provides funding for this technical training. Tennessee,
for example, pioneered a program that trains retired
engineers to conduct waste assessments in the Tennessee
technical assistance program. The State supplies extensive
classroom and on-site training in pollution prevention
techniques for the engineers. Retired engineers have been
quite successful as they have vast technical experience
and are well respected by industry.
In addition, several of the established pollution
prevention programs have trained new PPIS grant
recipients in technical skills and effective pollution
prevention program management strategies. The
Alabama program for example has trained staff in
Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Mississippi and
South Carolina.
Several of the grant recipients coordinate their
technical assistance program with local universities. The
programs provide graduate students with in-depth
training in identifying pollution prevention
opportunities. The students then conduct on-site
pollution and waste assessments for facilities
participating in the technical assistance program.
Everyone benefits from these student internships: the
students gain real-world experience in pollution
prevention and the state programs receive much needed
assistance.
7.
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BOOK
MOSfLE
HOURS
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
A Michigan Department of Education study found that
Michigan schools generate over 13,000 pounds of solid
waste per week three pounds daily per student. If the
schools recycled half of the paper thrown away, 6000
cubic yards of landfill space could be saved each week.
The study indicated that while some teachers had begun
pollution prevention activities in the classroom, they
lacked enough central administrative support to be
successful in the long run. The Department of Education
determined that the most practical method of
implementing pollution prevention methods in Michigan
schools would be to change management practices and
policies.
In addition to funding the Michigan study and
guidebook, PPIS has supported the development of
curricula, educational videos, university courses, and
student intern programs.
MANAGING POLLUTION PREVENTION IN SCHOOLS-A GUIDE
The Michigan Board of Education developed a guidebook and video to help school
policy makers, facilities managers, teachers, and students reduce the amount of waste
and pollution emitted to the environment. The guidebook provides suggestions to
help school districts avoid fumbling over problems that have been solved elsewhere.
The guide includes management and decisionmaking processes that can be applied to
a broad range of pollution prevention projects in schools. It also provides information
for implementing projects in selected topic areas: solid waste, chemicals and
hazardous waste, pesticides, underground storage tanks, air quality, and energy
conservation.
The guide encourages student participation in data gathering, implementation, and
documenting of pollution prevention projects. Student involvement is key in that
pollution prevention projects will often require student action such as separating solid
wastes in the classroom or cafeteria, careful handling of hazardous waste in classrooms
and laboratories, and cooperation in reducing energy use. In addition, students
develop a positive environmental attitude.
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Delaware used PPIS funding to develop a pollution
prevention curriculum for grades K-8 based on the
philosophy that children tomorrow's voters and
politicians, landowners and builders, conservationists
and consumers must be equipped to deal effectively with
the environmental legacy of past generations. The
curriculum ties the environmental "3R's" (reducing,
reusing and recycling) into the basic curriculum subjects,
such as history, science, and math. Undoubtedly, the
students will need to know as much about ecology and
the environment as the traditional "3R's" (reading, writing,
and arithmetic). Delaware also provides books, videos,
and other materials to state libraries and bookmobiles.
To further encourage the public to adopt the pollution
prevention ethic, PPIS supports education and outreach
projects which target consumers and businesses. Grant
recipients have developed newsletters, fact-sheets, videos,
and television programs to increase awareness
of source reduction opportunities. Many of the programs
sponsor workshops, conferences, and make presentations
to businesses and other interested parties. Thousands of
people have attended these workshops and presentations
across the country.
The American Samoa Environmental Protection Agency
(ASEPA) used PPIS funding to launch a major public
education campaign to help residents manage their
wastes. In the past, most of the main island's waste was
biodegradable and was disposed of on land, in streams, in
the ocean and by burning. The increase in import and use
of metals, plastics, oil, paints and solvents, however, has
created waste management problems for the island.
ASEPA developed three half-hour television programs and
provided communities with information on proper waste
management practices including disposal, recycling and
source reduction. In addition, ASEPA encouraged
community involvement by sponsoring a t-shirt contest,
a poster contest, and a "pick-a-thon."
In addition to providing company-specific technical
assistance, many grant recipients actively pursue outreach
activities to industry and government to increase
awareness of pollution prevention resources. Features of
outreach efforts at the Center for Hazardous Materials
Research (CHMR) include:
A quarterly newsletter, press releases, and
articles printed in trade associations that
describe CHMR's services
A Speakers Bureau which provides experts in
pollution prevention to speak at conferences
and meetings
Coordination with key business, trade, and
non-profit organizations
9.
"Schools have a dual role
in pollution prevention.
As regulated institutions,
they must comply with
regulations and avoid
liabilities. As educational
institutions, they are
charged to develop proper
environmental attitudes
and behaviors in their
students. Students who
take part in pollution
prevention programs will
learn attitudes and
behaviors that will build a
lasting responsibility for a
sustainable environment."
Pollution Prevention
In Schools. Michigan
State Board of Education
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10.
OUTREACH & EDUCATION (CONTINUED)
CHMR also distributes a series of industry-specific fact
sheets that describe the incentives for preventing
pollution, giving various pollution prevention options
that range from simple and universal techniques such as
improved housekeeping, to more complex industry-
specific techniques and technologies. Some of the
industries targeted include chemical production, coal
mining, petroleum refining, and paper manufacturing.
During 1991, over 3,500 copies of the fact sheets were
distributed at workshops and seminars and through
CHMR's toll-free hotline.
ADOPT-A-WATERBODY
At the State of Utah's Clean Water Celebration
in 1992, the Utah Department of Environ-
mental Quality introduced the "Adopt-a-
Waterbody" program. The purpose of the
program is to educate the public on water
quality issues and to promote the stewardship of
surface water and groundwater resources. Any
individual or group may adopt a public surface
waterbody or groundwater resource in the State.
The "adopter" chooses an education/information-
oriented project or a restoration/pollution
prevention-oriented project related to the
"adoptee" waterbody. The Division of Water
Quality administers the program and is
preparing a manual and bibliography to assist
"adopters" with ideas for projects and contacts
at participating agencies.
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SAVE THE OZONE LAYER
& SAVE MONEY
Leaking air conditioners from motor vehicles
contribute to global warming and acid rain. In
response to this problem the Iowa Waste
Reduction Center (IWRC) launched an education
campaign to inform car-owners of the effect their
vehicles have on the environment. The campaign
used billboards and public service announcements
to encourage car owners to invest in preventative
maintenance. Consumers discovered that while
protecting the environment, they could also save
money! For example, early detection and servicing
of a leaking air conditioner reduces the amount of
ozone-destroying freon gas released in the air and,
at the same time, saves the consumer the expense
of purchasing a new air-conditioning unit at a later
date. A follow-up study conducted by IWRC
indicated that the education campaign had a
significant impact on consumer behavior in Iowa.
In an effort to reduce the pollution generated by
the 3.5 million vehicles in the Washington D.C.
area, the Metropolitan Council of Governments
has initiated a campaign targeting vehicle
maintenance establishments. The council
documented the waste management practices
followed by both private and publicly-operated
shops in the first phase of the project. To promote
the economic and environmental benefits of
sound management of waste products, the
Council plans to target educational materials to
the shops in Phase Two. The Council itself,
consists of local leaders from the District and
surrounding municipalities and counties. As
pollution knows no borders, the PPIS grant
program encourages regional coordination to
address pollution problems.
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12.
RCRA
REGULATORY INTEGRATION
Pollution prevention does not take place in a vacuum.
Because pollution is omnipresent, we must consider the
effect of our actions on the environment. This rule
applies not only to businesses and consumers, but also to
government agencies. PPIS encourages government
agencies to integrate the pollution prevention ethic into
all areas of state environmental regulation.
Pollution is easily transferred from one form to another.
An incinerator, for example, may ease the burden on a
local landfill by burning municipal waste. If the
incinerator burns certain materials, however, it will create
harmful dioxins, which pollute the air. While the
incinerator may seem like a good way to reduce waste, in
reality, it may simply transfer the pollution from one
medium, the land, to another, the air. PPIS promotes the
integration of regulatory activities to minimize this type
of transfer of pollutants from one medium to another.
To inhibit the transfer of pollution, Massachusetts
developed a cross-media inspection program that
incorporates pollution reduction requirements into
enforcement procedures. The State began by conducting a
pilot program in the Blackstone River Valley. In the pilot
project, State agencies trained teams to inspect facilities in
air, water, and hazardous waste compliance while
providing pollution prevention technical assistance at the
same time. Since the approach was successful and cost-
effective in the initial setting, Massachusetts
institutionalized the approach in four regional offices.
The Blackstone Project received the 1991 Ford Foundation
award for innovation in state and local government.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
is integrating pollution prevention elements into its air,
water, and hazardous waste permit and compliance
programs. It hopes to demonstrate that inspections and
permit writing, coordinated across air, water, and waste
programs in selected industries, will institutionalize
pollution prevention activities and avoid cross-media
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shifts of pollutants. After selecting one to three industrial 13.
categories on which to focus, DNR will evaluate
procedures for issuing permits, review of facility plans,
and inspections and determine how pollution prevention
techniques can be incorporated. For individual facilities,
DNR will write permits and coordinate inspections
among the different programs to minimize pollution
across all media. DNR will revise guidelines, admin-
istrative rules and procedures, based on the findings of
the project.
Several grant recipients have implemented projects to
increase coordination of different regulatory agencies. For
example, several local governments in California joined
together to demonstrate that regional planning is an
effective pollution prevention management tool. Another
state agency, the Washington Department of Ecology,
has established a mechanism to increase communication
and coordination regarding pollution prevention among
governmental agencies and within the Department itself.
The agency has formed an inter-governmental committee
which covers four regions of the State to meet
periodically on pollution prevention. The agency has also
developed an intra-agency workgroup of employees in
each of the media programs.
In addition to promoting coordination among state
and local agencies, PPIS also supports the integration of
the pollution prevention ethic into Indian tribal policy.
PPIS awarded a grant to the All-Indian Pueblo Council
and the University of New Mexico to institutionalize
pollution prevention in the Pueblo Governments. The
Pueblo leaders will designate program coordinators who
will be trained in pollution prevention principles. The
coordinators will work together to reduce pollution on
Pueblo lands.
THE TEAM APPROACH TO POLLUTION PREVENTION
Problem: Fragmentation and lack of communication among State and local
agencies results in a shift of pollutants between media, rather than a
net reduction of pollutants entering the environment.
Solution: Three counties in California entered into joint venture entitled the "Technical
and Educational Assistance Model" (TEAM) Project. The objective of the alliance
was to test strategies to integrate pollution prevention activities throughout the
local regulatory agencies in each region. The general strategies implemented by the
TEAM Project included:
'Integrated training sessions for industry
' Formal and informal cooperative agreements between State
and local agencies
Integrated inspections
Information dissemination
Outcome: All three counties found that enthusiastic support for pollution prevention
issues brought environmental service agencies together to look beyond
medium-specific interests and work together for a common purpose.
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14.
DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS
EPA encourages states to initiate demonstration projects
that test and support innovative pollution prevention
approaches and methodologies. The funding of
demonstration projects allows EPA and the states to learn
how new initiatives will work before business or
Government invests a significant amount of time and
resources. To ensure continuous quality improvement in
source reduction capabilities, it is essential that EPA foster
the development of pollution prevention technologies
and management strategies.
PPIS supports demonstration projects in a variety of
areas. Some of the areas tested include: alternative
pollution prevention technologies, community waste
reduction and recycling programs, and management
approaches to reduce pollution in specific industries.
THE GREEN INDUSTRIES INITIATIVE
CREATING MARKETS FOR RECYCLED GOODS
In order for recycling to work, institutional barriers must be identified and
overcome, and demand for recycled materials must exist. Delaware's Green
Industries Initiative was established to foster market development of recycled
materials. Delaware offers financial and technical assistance to companies that
use recycled materials in their manufacturing processes; process, collect and
distribute recyclable materials; or significantly reduce waste generation.
Financial assistance includes significant corporate income tax credits and low
interest loans to qualifying small businesses. This is the first initiative in the
country to combine incentives for job creation and pollution prevention.
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PPIS supports the testing of new technologies both in
the laboratory and in the field. Nevada, for example, is
studying alternatives to the current mining process of
analyzing the gold and silver content of ore. The
current process, fire assay, wastes lead and contaminates
the final refuse. Researchers have conducted a literature
review of techniques which do not use lead and are now
examining these alternatives in the laboratory. Initial
research indicates promising results for non-polluting
alternatives to fire assay.
The Mississippi Technical Assistance Program
(MISSTAP) demonstrated the feasibility of a new source
reduction technology designed to recover valuable
materials from chemical waste. The program targeted a
chemical company that is currently losing significant
amounts of marketable products as a result of the 3.8
million pounds of waste it incinerates. The study found
that implementing the new technology would reduce the
amount of waste by over 40 percent. The recovered
products are worth $1.6 million per year. In addition, the
technology creates a valuable chemical by-product. Using
the technique over a one year period would generate
more than $600,000. Adopting pollution prevention
approaches would increase total revenue by an estimated
$2.2 million per year.
PPIS requires that all grant supported pollution
prevention programs address the transfer of potentially
harmful pollutants across all environmental media: air,
water, and land. Comprehensive and coordinated pollution
prevention planning and implementation efforts raise the
likelihood that pollution prevention measures in one
medium will not adversely affect another.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has
teamed up with the Tennessee Valley Authority to help
agrichemical dealerships reduce or prevent pollution. The
agricultural business community comprises one of
Missouri's leading industries. As a major industry, and
because of the nature of the food production, agriculture
makes a significant environmental impact on this mostly
rural state. A major component of the joint-effort is a
demonstration project at a bulk fertilizer and pesticide
dealership. The project will identify areas where changes
in business practices could substantially reduce or
prevent pollution of the environment in the areas of
solid and hazardous waste, wastewater, storm water and
air quality. It is anticipated that this demonstration
project will have widespread applications in dealerships
across Missouri.
15.
A MISSTAP demon-
stration project found
that implementing a
new source reduction
technology would reduce
the targeted company's
waste by over 40 percent
and would increase total
revenue by an estimated
$2.2 million per year.
Mississippi Technical
Assistance Program
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16.
LEGISLATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
One of the most striking aspects of state pollution
prevention efforts is how much legislative change has
taken place over the past few years. Before 1985, there
was only one state law that dealt with any aspect of
pollution prevention. Today, over half of the states have
enacted pollution prevention legislation.
Many states now have more than one waste reduction
or pollution prevention law. In some cases, the state
statute is stricter than federal law. Massachusetts, for
example, set a goal of 50 percent reduction in the use of
toxins by 1997 when it enacted its Toxins Use Reduction
Act in 1989.
Individual pollution prevention laws vary in scope.
Some of the state laws establish numerical pollution
reduction goals. Maine, for example, set a goal of a 10
percent reduction by 1993, 20 percent by 1995, and 30
percent by 1997. Some laws focus on a specific form of
pollution, such as hazardous waste. If this is the case, the
law will often exclude activities that transfer pollutants
from one medium to another. Other states enacted
comprehensive multi-media approaches to pollution
prevention. Activities mandated may include technical
assistance to business, facility planning, information
centers and outreach, waste exchanges or training. To
fund pollution prevention programs, some states have
imposed a tax or fee on hazardous waste generation or
solid waste disposal, or appropriated money from the
state's general fund.
New Jersey's Pollution Prevention Act is designed to
help the environment, but also to help the State develop
a competitive edge, by building robust businesses able to
maintain a healthy work force. New Jersey requires
facilities to develop a pollution prevention plan and
report certain facility-wide data. The New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection and Energy's
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(DEPE) approach rests on the following premises:
Pollution prevention usually saves money
for businesses.
Businesses will take advantage of pollution
prevention when they are aware of it.
DEPE seeks to build a framework of mandatory
pollution prevention planning. This planning allows
businesses to judge for themselves whether or not to
implement pollution prevention techniques. DEPE plans
to measure the success of pollution prevention by facility-
wide reporting.
Colorado's Pollution Prevention Act of 1992 establishes
pollution prevention as the environmental management
tool of choice and provides that pollution should be
prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible. To
support the prevention approach the Act established a
Pollution Prevention Advisory Board as well as a cash
funding mechanism for the technical assistance program.
In response to the passage of the bill, the Colorado
Association of Commerce and Industry (CACI)
commented, "CACI was pleased to support a non-
regulatory environmental effort that is a win-win for
business, government, and the public. The success in
passing the bill shows that government, the environ-
mental community, and business can work together in a
cooperative fashion to improve the environment."
In addition to enacting pollution prevention laws
and funding pollution prevention programs, the states
have demonstrated a commitment to pollution
prevention by developing the necessary infrastructure to
support related activities.
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management,
for example, established a public/private partnership to
allow private donations to support its technical assistance
program in addition to public funding. This structure, in
addition to harnessing industrial support, will allow the
program to continue after federal funding ceases.
Other programs have developed fees to guarantee
pollution prevention programs. Iowa, for example,
increased its solid waste "tipping fees" to fund a revolving
low-interest loan program to provide assistance to
businesses in adopting waste reduction technologies.
In sum, pollution prevention laws, funding,
and other infrastructure developments ensure that
pollution prevention activities will continue after federal
funding ceases.
17.
"CACI was pleased to
support a non-regulatory
environmental effort
that is a win-win for
business, government,
and the public. The
success in passing the
bill shows that
government, the
environmental
community, and
business can work
together in a cooperative
fashion to improve the
environment."
Colorado Association
of Commerce Industry
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18.
"Enrolling in the
Green Star Program
helped us realize there
were changes we could
implement without a
great deal of cost or
effort. It was just a
matter of setting goals,
implementing them,
and evaluating our
progress. Not only is it
a responsible endeavor,
but there are economic
benefits for our
company as well.
Sales Manager
Asplund Supply
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
To honor businesses that have set a strong example in
practicing pollution prevention in day-to-day operations,
many states have established award and recognition
programs. These award programs offer incentives for
other businesses to improve operations to prevent or
reduce pollution.
New Jersey began its annual "Governor's Award for
Outstanding Achievements in Pollution Prevention" in
1988. In 1991, it received 37 applications from businesses
and community organizations for consideration for the
award. In addition to recognizing one large business and
two community organizations, New Jersey presented the
award to a Department of Environmental Protection and
Energy employee for her contribution to the state's source
reduction efforts.
Alaska has enrolled over 100 businesses in its "Green
Star Program". This program is a forward-thinking,
pioneering effort demonstrating that pollution
prevention and energy efficiency save money and attract
customers. Businesses that enroll in the Program receive
detailed recommendations for implementing Green Star
standards. They are invited to the various Green Star
workshops where they can share ideas with other
businesses. Once the business implements the standards,
it may display the Green Star Award and earn positive
publicity through a promotional campaign. Canadian
Airlines received a Green Star Award after reducing its per
passenger waste by 30 percent.
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19.
POLLUTION PREVENTION MADE
SIMPLE AT CANADIAN AIRLINES
Initially motivated by a desire to increase
employee pride and clean up the environment,
Canadian airlines embarked on a pollution
prevention program. The airline soon recognized
an additional benefit from their program real
cost savings! The airlines studied its operations
and identified three areas for improvement. First,
the company began to recover and reuse halon,
an ozone-depleting gas used for fire suppression.
This practice resulted in a 95 percent reduction
in use of virgin halon and will save the company
$40,000 per year. Canadian Airlines then reduced
the weight of its in-flight magazine by 15 percent
using lighter, recycled paper. Because each
kilogram costs between $30 and $60 per year in
fuel, this simple measure will save the company
over $100,000 each year. In addition, the
company began using lighter aluminum cans
instead of steel cans for in-flight service, saving
$10,000 per year in fuel expenses.
Although each of the measures seems simple in
concept, the pollution prevention program has
stimulated employee pride and loyalty, saved
money, and brought public recognition for a
commitment to environmental protection.
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20.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Publications
EPA disseminates publications on pollution prevention
through a clearinghouse maintained at EPA Headquarters.
The Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse
(PPIC) contains documents on general pollution
prevention strategies and industry-specific information.
Materials may be accessed by calling (202) 260-1023.
State Program Information
Regional EPA offices can provide more information on
PPIS and state pollution prevention programs. Please
contact the Pollution Prevention Coordinator in your
region of the country listed on the back cover of this
booklet.
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EPA
STATE
CT, M\A, ME, NH,
RI.VT
NJ, NY, PR, VI
DC, DE, MD, PA,
VA, WV
AL, EL, GA, KY,
MS, NC.SC.TN
IE, IN, Ml, MN,
OH, Wl
AR, LA, NM,
OK.TX
IA, KS, MO, NE
CO, MT, ND.SD,
UT, WY
AS, AZ, CA, CNMI,
GU, HI, NV, RP
AK, ID, OR, WA
REGIONAL CONTACTS
REGION
REGION 1
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(PAS)
JFK Federal Building Room 2203
Boston, MA 02203
REGION 2
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(2-PPIB-OPM)
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
REGION 3
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(3ES43)
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107
REGION 4
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
345 Courtland Street, NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
REGION 5
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(ME-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IE 60604-3590
REGION 6
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(6M-PP)
1445 Ross Avenue
12th Floor, Suite 1200
Dallas, TX 75202
REGION 7
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 661 01
REGIONS
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(8PM-SIPO)
999 18th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
REGION 9
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
(H-1-B)
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 941 05
REGION 10
Pollution Prevention Coordinator
1200 Sixth Avenue
Seattle, WA 981 01
PHONE
(617)565-1155
(212)264-1925
(215)597-0765
(404)347-7109
(312)353-3387
(214)655-6580
(913)551-7315
(303)293-1471
(415)744-2190
(206) 553-8579
Milted on recycled paper using soy inks.
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