United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
&EPA
2Get
for Pollution
Prevention Week!
Jump on the bandwagon:
September 16-22, 1996.
If EM Hows Round-Up
Catch up on some ofEPA's
activities over the last few
months.
? What's
Happening in...
Several recent reports provide
updates on the status of air
emissions and solid waste.
Resources
Recent publications,
videos, and more.
Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics
Washington, DC 20460
June-July 1996
EPA 742-96-001
Pollution
Prevention
News
EPA PROPOSES TO EXPAND TRI REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS TO 6,400 NEW FACILITIES
1994 TRI SHOWS DECLINE IN RELEASES, BUT INCREASE IN WASTES GENERATED
On June 26, 1996, Vice President Al
Gore announced a major proposed
expansion in the Toxics Release
Inventory program, extending reporting
requirements to an additional 6,400
industrial facilities. A total of 31,000
facilities will now be required to make
public the levels of toxic chemicals they
release into the air, water, and land. The
Vice President noted, "Putting information
about local pollution into the hands of the
public is the single most effective, com-
mon-sense tool available for protecting
human health and the environment."
The 6,400 facilities affected by the
proposal include seven new industrial
categories: metal mining, coal mining,
electric utilities, commercial hazardous
waste treatment, petroleum bulk termi-
nals, chemical wholesalers, and solvent
recovery services. Twenty other industrial
categories already report to the TRI.
The White House and EPA also an-
nounced the release of 1994 TRI data,
which show an 8.6% decline in pollution,
largely attributable to pollution control
and prevention measures taken by two
fertilizer plants in Louisiana. Recycling of
toxic chemicals increased by 8.5 percent
in 1994, but total wastes generated by
industry also increased, by 5.4 percent.
The chemical manufacturing industry
accounted for 38 percent of total releases
of toxic chemicals, followed by the pri-
mary metals industry, paper, and trans-
portation equipment.
TRI data are available in a variety of
formats; for assistance, call EPA at 202-
260-1531. Summary data are on the
Internet at http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/tri.
ATLANTA GOES FOR A GREEN OLYMPICS
With hundreds of thousands of
athletes, spectators, and media
from around the world, the 1996
Summer Olympics present monumental
challenges to Atlanta residents, police,
businesses, construction workers, and
hospitality industries. The Olympics also
presents a unique challenge and showcase
for Atlanta's pollution prevention efforts.
The city set an ambitious target of
limiting the waste generated during the
Games to 9,000 tons. This represents only
a 2 percent increase from the normal
amount generated in Atlanta over the
same time period. "We have an environ-
mental image to uphold," says Bill Steiner,
EPA Advisor to the Games.
Local businesses, government, and
charities, working with EPA and the
Department of Energy, developed a
partnership to ensure that these games
will be a successful model for future
pollution prevention efforts. For example,
in an effort to curtail the amount of excess
food generated at the Games, vendors are
working with local charities to distribute
surplus food to the needy. That effort alone
will significantly reduce the amount of
waste produced during the Games.
On a separate front, virtually all soft
drinks will be served in commemorative
souvenir cups, to minimize paper and
plastic waste.
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2 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1996
POLLUTION PREVENTION WEEK
The Western Center for
Pollution Prevention is a
nonprofit organization
established to encourage the
use of pollution prevention
strategies by the public and
private sectors.
The Western Center
thanks the following organi-
zations for their support of
Pollution Prevention Week
1995: Research Triangle
Institute, Local Government
Commission, California
Department of Toxic Sub-
stances Control, U.S. EPA
Region 9.
Far more information about
Pohtlou Prevention Week
1996, conta
Aad,ouyEu lo
Wsteru Center far
Pollution Prevention
555 Snyder Avenue
Sanioen, CA 95125
(408) 947-7102
aeelo@Ix.netcom.com
GET READY FOR POLLUTION
PREVENTION WEEK:
SEPTEMBER 16-22, 1996!
by Tony Eulo
T he three-year old experiment with a
national Pollution Prevention Week
(PPW) has proven to be a successful
catalyst for pollution prevention activities.
Started in California in 1993 with 100
participating organizations, PPW went
national in 1995. PPW offers environmen-
tal protection professionals an opportunity
to focus attention on pollution prevention
and the positive role it can play in simul-
taneously promoting environmental
protection and economic development.
Similar to Earth Week in design, PPW
establishes a time during which commu-
nity groups, government agencies, and
business associations can all convene
pollution prevention events. Some 30
states are expected to participate in PPW
1996, to be held the week of September 16.
The sheer number of simultaneous
events occurring over the course of one
week makes coverage more attractive to
the media, and results in higher pollution
prevention awareness, political support,
and management interest. PPW also
stimulates some organizations to conduct
additional pollution prevention activities
beyond those regularly planned by the
organization. Essentially, these are
“bonus” events for the pollution prevention
movement.
PPW activities range from simple
proclamations by City Councils to
Governor’s Awards to large workshops,
conferences, and facility tours. The size and
scope of a PPW activity is limited only by
an organization’s interest, energy, and
funding. Here are three examples of PPW
activities.
Santa Clara County, California. Santa
Clara County’s activities started with a
proclamation by the Board of Supervi-
sors and continued with a number of
industrial outreach activities. Two
pollution prevention workshops were
held for dry cleaners, and two on
pollution prevention in environmental
education. A dialogue session designed
to establish pollution prevention
partnerships brought together 63
leaders. The County also sponsored a
public outreach campaign on simple
things that everyone can do to prevent
pollution. This campaign resulted in
numerous media placements and
information requests.
State of Arizona. Following a proclama-
tion of PPW by the Governor of Arizona,
the state pollution prevention program
held a pollution prevention open house,
sponsored a tour of local facilities,
distributed a special edition of the
pollution prevention newsletter, ran a
series of pollution prevention videos,
and distributed news releases on PPW.
U.S. EPA, Region 3. One inventive
Regional staffer, among other activities,
convinced the managers of a skyscraper
in Philadelphia to run a pollution
prevention message on its building as
part of its nighttime display!
PLANNING FOR PPW 1996
Plans are being made now for an expanded
PPW in 1996. The Western Center will
distribute resource documents to assist
PPW activity planners, including activity
planning guides, media outreach guides,
posters, case studies of successful activi-
ties, and activity planning calendars.
These materials are available upon
request at no cost. A series of public
service announcements will also be
available to interested pollution preven-
tion leaders. Staff from the Western
Center will be available on call to connect
PPW leaders with one another to facilitate
peer support and exchange of ideas.
We encourage any and all organizations
committed to pollution prevention to make
September 16-22 a focal point for pollution
prevention activities this year. Join us!
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3 Pollution Prevention News
June-July 1996
OLYMPICS 1996
ATLANTA’S GREEN GAMES
C..tl...d fr. p.,. 1
Local businesses agreed to cut back on
operations in July, in part to reduce the
amount of waste generated, and are
encouraging workers to volunteer at the
Games. EPA alone is providing 150 volun-
teers to serve as recycling coordinators.
In addition to its waste reduction
plans, the city of Atlanta is also mounting
an aggressive recycling and composting
effort. Of the targeted 9,000 tons of
materials generated during the Olympics,
the goal is to recycle 3,825 tons, compost
3,825 tons, and landfill 1,350 tons (15
percent of the total).
To facilitate recycling, 25,000 blue and
green trash cans are being spread through-
out the Olympic Village, Welcome Center,
and Olympic Park. Blue trash cans contain
aluminum and cardboard waste, while the
green cans contain food waste. In addition,
4,200 janitorial staff who have been trained
in the waste prevention efforts are on hand
to make sure the system works.
While the finest American and interna-
tional athletic talent will be on display at
Olympic venues throughout Atlanta,
numerous energy efficiency and renewable
energy projects, employing the latest
technologies, are also being displayed or
incorporated into the Games.
o’
In one initiative, the
U.S. Department of
Energy, together with
the Department of
Transportation, local
transportation authori-
ties, and private firms,
are providing over 300
Alternative Fuel
Vehicle (AFV) buses
and at least as many
light duty vehicles, for
use throughout the
Olympics. The AFVs,
operating on com-
pressed or liquefied natural gas, electric-
ity, alcohol, or hydrogen, demonstrate the
effectiveness, reliability, benefits, and
market-readiness of these technologies.
In addition, a fuel cell powered electric
vehicle is being used at the Southface
Energy and Environmental Resource
Center during the Olympics to shuttle
visitors around the Science Museum
property in Atlanta. The fuel cell operates
on hydrogen which will be produced by
electrolyzing water using electricity
generated from photovoltaic shingles on
the Southface Center.
Along with these projects, an education
and outreach program has been put in
place by DOE to ensure on-site and
worldwide dissemination of information on
the availability and benefits of these and
other energy efficiency and renewable
energy options.
The application of waste reduction
programs, along with the use of the latest
environmental and energy technologies.
promise to make these Summer Games the
“greenest” ever, and to serve as a showcase
for waste reduction and energy technolo-
gies of the future.
“While we are not going to turn the
Olympics into the ‘Environment ii
Games,’” added Mr. Steiner, “we do realize
that part of making these Summer Games
the best ever is a sensitivity and responsi-
bility to the environment.”
Th. Olympk swimming and
diving facility us., photovoltaic
modul.s (solar coils) to produc.
•I.ctrkity and a solar th.rmai
h.ating syst.m to hoot Ii. pool
wat•r. This is th. Iarg.st
photovoltaic building system in
th. world and will r.duc.
d.mand on th. local utility.
Work.rs iastalld 2$56 photovoltak modvl.s
oa th. roof of th. main swimming facility.
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4 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1996
EPA NEWS ROUND-UP
RECYCLED CONTENT
IN PAPER PRODUCTS
I n May 1996, EPA issued final recom-
mendations for federal agencies on
purchasing paper and paper products
containing post-consumer and other
recovered materials. The final Paper
Products Recovered Materials Advisory
Notice addresses issues raised by
paper manufacturers, merchants and
purchasers as they implemented
EPA’s 1988 recommendations.
Despite comments that EPA should
adopt a broader definition of post-
consumer material that would include
such things as over-issue newspapers
and magazines, the Notice maintains
the definition for post-consumer paper
in the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA). The Notice
contains a greatly expanded list of
recycled content recommendations
(over 50 items) in five major catego-
ries. The final Notice lowers some of
the recommendations for recycled
content levels — for example, news-
print requirements were lowered from
the draft Notice’s requirement of 40-
100c% recovered fiber (including 40-
85% post-consumer fiber) to 20-100%
total recovered fiber, with 20-85%
post-consumer fiber. For more infor-
mation, contact the RCRA Hotline at
800-424-9346 or 703-412-9810. The
Notice and background paper are
available on the Internet via
gopher.epa.gov and the World Wide
Web at http://www.epa.gov.
In another paper-related move that
has sparked some controversy, Executive
Order 12873 (which requires federal
agencies to buy recycled products desig-
nated by EPA) was amended in March 1996
with respect to its minimum-content
standard for printing and writing paper.
Formerly, the Order required certain
specialty grades to contain 50 percent total
recycle fiber, of which 20 percent was to be
post-consumer fiber. Now, the specialty
grades need not contain 50 percent total
recycled content, although the 20 percent
requirement is still in place. The amend-
ment was made after complaints from
small mills that the specialty grade provi-
sion was hurting them, rather than protect-
ing them, as originally intended. Printers
and federal purchasing agencies also
complained about the difficulties of classify-
ing and guaranteeing that certain grades of
paper fit the 50/20 standard. Specialty
grades of paper account for less than 2
percent of all paper purchased by the
federal government.
The amendment comes at a time when
the markets for recovered materials and
pulp are depressed. To help develop a
strategy for improving government
procurement of recycled content paper, the
Office of the Federal Environmental
Executive is convening a White House
meeting on Paper Recycling and Utiliza-
tion Issues in July. For more information,
contact the Office of the Federal Environ-
mental Executive at 202-260-1297.
EPA/GSA IDENTIFY
GREENER CLEANERS
Building on President Clinton’s 1993
Executive Order, EPA and the General
Services Administration (GSA) announced
in May the results of the joint Greener
Cleaners project. The two agencies have
developed environmental and health
information for a list of 28 “environmentally
preferable” biodegradable commercial
cleaners and degreasers that can be pur-
chased by U.S. government agencies. The
federal government is one of the largest
buyers of cleaning products in the country,
with purchases of $8.8 million in biodegrad-
able cleaners and degreasers since 1993.
Copies of the list are available from the
GSA Centralized Mailing List Service at
817-334-5215. For more information call
Tom Murray, EPAIOPPT, 202-260-1876.
STRONGER RIGHT-
TO-KNOW STANDS
In the first major challenge of the Clinton
Administration’s stronger and expanded
Community Right-Th-Know program, a
Dear Readers:
In case you were wondering — no,
we did not drop you off our
subscription list accidentally! This is
the first issue of Pollution Prevention
News we have been able to print
since last summer. Unfortunately,
due to budget uncertainties at EPA
over the past year, we have been
unable to publish our regular bi-
monthly issues. The good news is
that we are back on our regular
publication schedule, at least for
the next few months.
This is a good opportunity to
remind you that each issue of this
newsletter is uploaded onto EPA’s
homepage on the World Wide
Web at “www.epa.9ov”. In fact, we
were able to make the September!
October issue available electroni-
cally, even while we could not print
iton paper and mail itoutto
subscribers. if you want to stop
receiving paper copies of PPN
because you are accessing it on the
Internet, let us know!
It’s good to be back! Enjoy the
“year in review” issue.
Ruth Heikkinen, Editor
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5 Pollution Prevention News
June-July 1996
EPA NEWS ROUND-UP, CONTINUED
federal court on May 2, 1996, ruled in favor
of EPA’s position against a challenge from
the Chemical Manufacturers Association
(CMA) and others in the chemical indus-
try. Under the Right-to-Know program,
companies must report as publicly avail-
able information chemicals that they
release into the environment. In November
1994, EPA Administrator Carol M. Browner
nearly doubled the list of toxic chemicals
for which reporting is required, from 329 to
615. CMA and other chemical industry
groups challenged the legality of that list
expansion, seeking to curtail the public’s
access to information on toxic chemicals.
In her decision, Judge Gladys Kessler of
the U.S. District Court upheld EPA’s final
rule, noting that “EPA undertook a mas-
sive administrative effort, starting in
1992, to determine what additional
chemicals belonged on the list. . . The
history of this rulemaking demonstrates
that EPA scientists and technical staff
devoted enormous amounts of time to
scientific evaluations that formed the
basis of the listing decisions. . . [ and)
exercised its statutory discretion reason-
ably.” As of this writing, three of the
original plaintiffs have appealed the
District Court’s decision. Reporting on the
additional 286 chemicals added by EPA is
required to begin this year.
AIR QUALITY
PRINTING & PUBLISHING INDUSTRY,
POLYMERS TO CUT AIR EMISSIONS
On May 17, 1996, EPA announced several
regulations that incorporate pollution
prevention requirements into air stan-
dards. In one action. EPA issued a final
rule for the printing and publishing
industry that will reduce emissions of air
toxics, such as methanol, hexane and
toluene, by 5200 tons annually from
publication rotogravure printers (a 30
percent reduction from current levels), and
2100 tons annually from package-product
rotogravure and wide-web flexographic
printers (a 40 percent reduction from
current levels). The rule, which will affect
about 200 printing and publishing facilities
nationwide, demonstrates EPA’s commit-
ment to making pollution prevention an
integral part of regulatory actions when-
ever possible. The printing and publishing
requirements allow for pollution prevention
options, such as substitution of non-toxic
materials for air toxics, instead of tradi-
tional “end-of-pipe” controls.
In a second action, EPA issued a final
rule for the manufacture of polyethylene
terephthalate polymers and certain
styrene-based thermoplastics that will cut
emissions of air toxics, such as styrene and
butadiene, by 3880 tons annually, a 20
percent drop from current levels. These
materials are used in such products as soft
drink bottles, plastic auto parts, packing
materials, and plastic toys. The rule,
which will affect about 66 facilities nation-
wide, was developed by EPA with industry
and other major stakeholders. The rule
contains pollution prevention measures
that should save new polymer facilities $5
million annually over what they would
have paid if EPA had required traditional
command-and-control approaches.
For more information, contact David
Salman on printing and publishing at 919-
541-0859; and Robert Rosensteel on
polymers at 919-541-5608. The rules and
background information are also available
electronically on EPA ’s Technology Trans-
fer Network (TTN at 919-541-5742 under
“Recently Signed Rules” on the TTN’s
Clean Air Act Amendments bulletin board.
CONSENSUS REACHED OH
REDUCING EMISSIONS FROM
LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT
EPA, the manufacturers of lawn and
garden equipment, the small engine
industry, and state air quality representa-
tives recently reached a consensus on
substantially reducing emissions from
handheld gasoline engines (under 25
horsepower), such as leaf blowers, lawn
trimmers and edgers, chain saws and
shredders. The Statement of Principles
signed in late May will be used as a basis
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6 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1996
EPA NEWS ROUND-UP, CONTINUED
for proposing Phase 2 emission reduction
standards, to be phased in from 2002
through 2005. which will reduce ozone-
forming compounds of hydrocarbon and
nitrogen oxides an additional 30 percent
over Phase 1 levels. Manufacturers that
produce handheld engines below the
standards will be allowed to display a
label indicating that the engine reduces
more pollution than required.
EPA ISSUES VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUND PROPOSAL
As required by Congress in Section 183(e)
of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990,
EPA has issued a proposal to control
volatile organic compound (VOC) emis-
sions from a variety of consumer prod-
ucts, including engine degreasers, insecti-
cides and oven cleaners. VOCs are a
prime ingredient of urban ozone, or smog,
which has serious health effects on the
human respiratory system and plagues
many major U.S. metropolitan areas. The
proposed rule is based on reformulation of
products, instead of add-on control
devices. Reformulation of these prod-
ucts by the manufacturers reduces
the amount of VOCs in the product.
Several states already have set
reformulation standards for these
products as part of their smog-
control programs. EPA’s proposal,
issued on April 1, 1996, would establish a
single national standard with which
manufacturers would have to comply
rather than numerous state standards.
EPA expects its proposal to reduce VOC
emissions nationally by 90,000 tons
annually. For more information, contact
Bruce Moore, 919-541-5460.
REDUCING SMOG FROM
AUTO-REFINISHING INDUSTRY
Another attack on VOC emissions has
come from an EPA proposal to significantly
reduce smog-forming emissions from the
auto refinishing industry. The proposal,
announced on April 30, 1996, would make
use of innovative pollution prevention
techniques to help reduce VOC emissions
o’
by 36,000 tons annually, a 37-percent
reduction from current levels from the
auto refinishing industry. Under the
proposal, manufacturers could sell only
coatings with a lower VOC content to local
body shops.
The proposal, developed in partnership
with state and local government officials
and industry representatives, affects only
the manufacturing process, not the process
of applying auto-refinish coatings (such as
primers and topcoats). Therefore, local
auto and truck body shops are not directly
affected by the requirements. For more
information, contact Mark Morris,
919-541-5416.
39 PERCENT REDUCTION IN SO 2
LEVELS ANNOUNCED AT AUCTION
In Chicago, the fourth annual acid-rain
allowance auction took place in March,
run by the Chicago Board of Trade on
behalf of EPA. The auction resulted in the
sale of 275,000 allowances, generating
$18.2 million in proceeds that will be
returned to the electric utilities from
which the allowances were drawn.
The auction is part of EPA’s program to
significantly reduce acid rain by cutting
utility SO 2 emissions in half nationwide. The
acid-rain-control program mandates an
annual reduction of 10 million tons of SO 2
emissions from 1980 levels by the year 2010.
The reductions are to be accomplished in
two phases: Phase I affects 445 boilers,
including the largest, highest-polluting
plants in the United States; this phase
began in 1995. Phase II will affect about 700
additional plants beginning in 2000.
Sources affected under Phase I were
required to reduce emissions of S02 from
10.9 million tons in 1980 to 8.7 million
tons in 1995. Data released by EPA after
the auction, however, show that actual
emissions from these sources in 1995
totaled only 5.3 million tons, 39 percent
below the maximum permissible level.
For further information, contact Linda
Reidt Critchfield, EPAJOAP/Acid Rain
Division, 202-233-9087.
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7 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1996
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN...
AIR POLLUTION
O ver the last century, emissions of
most air quality criteria pollutants
reached their highest point in the
early 1970s. and have been declining
steadily ever since. However, EPA’s 1995
report on national and regional trends in
air quality showed increasing emissions in
1994 for all criteria pollutants except SO,.
While the decline since 1970 was largely
due to the 1970 Clean Air Act, the recent
increases were related to a rise in con-
sumption of industrial fuels as a result of
increased economic activity, as well as
increased on-road emissions due to higher
vehicle miles traveled. The 1990 Clean Air
Act Amendments are only beginning to
affect emission levels; significant emission
reductions are not expected until after
2000. Following are summaries of trends
and attainment status for each pollutant:
‘ Carbon monoxide C0) emissions have
decreased 23% since 1970. As of mid-
1995, 41 areas of the country were in
nonattainment with 1990 CAAA
standards, but 39 were expected to
reach attainment by 1996.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions
continue to elude reduction, rising 14
percent between 1970 and 1994. 1994
levels of NOx emissions were the second
highest this century.
Volatile organic compound (VOCs)
emissions have dropped 24% since 1970
due to regulatory controls. Nationwide,
82 areas remained in nonattainment for
ozone standards in 1994. including 22
areas with serious nonattainment
levels.
Sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions have
dropped 32% since 1970 and reached
their lowest level in 1994 since the
early 1940s. Nevertheless, 49 areas
remain about five years away from
attainment.
Particulate matter less than 10 microns
(PM-10) dropped 72% from 1970 to 1994,
although emissions jumped 9% from
1993 to 1994. Fugitive dust emissions
rose 7 percent in that year as well. Some
83 areas were in nonattainment for PM-
10 standards in 1994, with 19 areas
being six or more years away from
attainment designation.
Lead emissions dropped 98% from 1970
to 1994, the largest improvement in
any of the criteria pollutants,
primarily as a result of unleaded
gasoline. As of 1994, 13 areas
still remained five years
away from attainment
with the lead standard.
The report, National Air
Pollutant Emission Trends,
1900-1994, also includes sec-
tions on air toxics, international emis-
sions, greenhouse gases, projections, and
biogenics. Contact: Infochief Hotline,
U.S. EPA (MD-14) , Research Triangle
Park, NC 27711, 919-541-5285.
ACID RAIN REDUCTION
A n EPA study of the results of sulfur
dioxide (SO 2 ) emission reductions by
utilities under the Clean Air Act
Amendments estimates that 31 eastern
states (the region most affected by acid
rain) will share in human health benefits
valued between $3 billion and $11 billion
in 1997. Reductions in premature deaths
account for about 88 percent of the total
health benefits; reductions in the number
of new cases of chronic bronchitis account
for another 9 percent.
SO 2 is the main ingredient in the forma-
tion of acid rain, which damages lakes,
forests, and buildings; SO 2 also leads to the
formation of sulfates, acidic particles that
can cause respiratory problems in humans.
In 2010, when EPA’s acid rain reduction
program will be fully implemented, annual
U.S. health benefits are estimated to range
between $12 billion and $40 billion. These
benefits far exceed the estimated control
costs of the SO 2 reductions: $1.2 billion in
1997 and $2.4 billion in 2010.
Copies of the study, which was peer
reviewed by EPA’s Science Advisory Board,
are available from Ann Watkins at 202-
233-9 113 or on the Acid Rain Division’s
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$ Pollution Prevention News
June-July 1996
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN..., CONTINUED
homepage on the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/acidrainlardhome.html.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
E PA’s latest Municipal Solid Waste
Report indicates steadily improving
trends. Although the total amount of
municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in
the United States in 1994 — 209 million
tons — was up by 3 million tons from
1993, recycling and recovery were signifi-
cantly improving. Recovery of materials for
recycling arid composting accounted for 24
percent of the wastestream in 1994, up
from 21 percent in 1993 and 17
percent in 1990.
After decades of steady growth,
the per capita generation of MSW is
expected to remain steady at 4.4
pounds per day through the year
2000. This rate may increase to 4.8
pounds per day by the year 2010, if
decreases in the generation of yard
trimmings plateau and generation of
products and packaging increases. For the
first time, composting of food scraps
reached measurable proportions at the
national level. An estimated 3.4 percent of
food scraps was composted (500,000 tons
out of 14.1 million tons generated).
Paper and paperboard continue to make
up the single largest component (39
percent by weight) of the municipal
wastestream. Office paper increased from
6.4 million tons to 6.7 million tons from
1990 to 1994 and is expected to rise to 7.8
million tons by 2000 and 9.6 million tons
by 2010. However, recovery of paper and
paperboard continues to increase (35.3% or
28.7 million tons recovered in 1994).
For information on ordering Character-
ization of Municipal Solid Waste in the
United States: 1995 Update, contact EPA’s
RCRA Hotline, 800-424-9346.
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL
PERFORMANCE
A February 1996 report by the inde-
pendent Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development
(OECD) reviews U.S. environmental
performance since 1970 and compares it
favorably with 25 other industrial nations.
The report notes that the United States
has been a leader in environmental
programs for the past 25 years and “is
entering a new phase in the evolution of
environmental protection, one that
emphasizes the positive relationship
between a healthy environment and a
prosperous economy.”
The report commends certain U.S.
practices and policies, such as environ-
mental impact assessments, public
participation, access to environmental
information and right-to-know policies,
strong compliance and enforcement,
emissions trading, the use of sound science
as the basis for decision making, and
international environmental leadership.
Areas for improvement? The report
notes that natural resources such as water
and energy are underpriced and thus
overused, and recommends a review of
government financial assistance for
sewerage, waste water treatment and
irrigation, and grazing on public lands in
light of the polluter pays principle and the
user pays principle. Other recommenda-
tions for environmental policy changes
include: streamlining the U.S. regulatory
system; shifting to more performance-
based programs while simultaneously
maintaining environment and health
standards; changing the new chemical
notification system to include fewer
substances with testing requirements;
more thorough assessments of high-
volume chemicals by EPA.
The U.S. review, conducted throughout
the country, was based on an examination
of documents as well as meetings with
more than 400 individuals from federal,
state and local governments, industry,
nongovernment organizations, labor unions
and academic institutions. A fact sheet on
the report is available by calling 202-260-
1383. Copies of the 2 75-page report are
available from the OECD bookstore in
Washington, D.C., 202-785-6323.
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9 Pollution Prevention News
June-July 1996
RESOURCES
A selection of recent publications and resources
in pollution prevention and resource conservation
Making Less Garbage on Campus:
A Hands-on Guide. Case studies and
strategies for waste prevention at
colleges and universities for students,
faculty, staff, and administration. Focus
is on four types of waste: paper, organ-
ics, food-service items, and packaging.
Contact: INFORM, Inc., at 212-361-2400.
Solid Waste Volume Source Reduc-
tion Programs in the NEWMOA
States. Reviews New England states’
practices and strategies for solid waste
volume source reduction. Contact:
Carole J. Ansheles, Northeast Waste
Management Officials’ Association, 617-
367-8558.
33/50 Company Profiles. EPA has
developed nine new company profiles for
companies participating in the voluntary
33/50 Program. The latest companies
profiled include: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Company, Chrysler Corporation,
Eastman Kodak, Eaton Corporation,
Emerson Electric Company, Inland
Steel, Lockheed Martin, Monsanto, and
Unisys. There are a total of 23 compa-
flies in the profile series. Contact: David
Sarokin at 202-260-6907.
Citizen’s Guide to Pest Control and
Pesticide Safety. A revised, 49-page
brochure covering pest management
including non-chemical methods.
Contact: National Center for Environ.
mental Publications and Information,
P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242-
2419. The guide is also available on the
Internet through two pathways:
gopher.epa.gov or the World Wide Web
at http://www.epa.gov.
, Industrial Pollution Prevention
Project (1P3): Summary Report.A
summary of 23 documents produced in
the course of EPA’s 1P3 project, in-
tended to examine how industrial
pollution prevention can be incorpo-
rated into EPA’s regulatory framework.
(EPA 820-R-95-007, July 1995). Contact:
Jim Lund, Director, 1P3, U.S. EPA
(4301), 401 M Street SW, Washington,
D.C. 20460.
New Edition of ACCESS EPA 1995/
96. EPA has released a new edition of
“ACCESS EPA,” a convenient directory
of EPA’s major information resources
and services. Containing over 400
pages, the main sections are color-
coded for easy reference. Each entry
contains a description of the resource
as well as ordering and contact infor-
mation. Copies available through
libraries and government distributors,
and electronically via the Internet:
(te lenet://epaibm.rtpnc.epa.gov
path=Public Access/OLS/A). For more
information, contact EPA’s Public
Information Center at 202-260-2464.
Power Boosters: Ohio’s Energy
Efficiency Success Stories. Case
studies of 19 Ohio businesses that have
saved $13.8 million per year on energy
costs; profiles of 11 Ohio manufacturers
of energy efficient products. Contact:
Safe Energy Communication Council,
202-483-8491.
j Access: Environment is an e-mail
newsletter which guides Internet users
to sites on the Internet with material
useful to environmental professionals.
Also contains reviews of environmental
information sources, including CD-
ROM services and bulletin boards.
Contact: Environmental Compliance
Reporter, Inc., at Mstjc@aol.com or 1-
800-729-1964.
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10 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1996
RESOURCES, CONTINUED
Preventing Pollution in Our Cities
and Counties: A Compendium of
Case Studies. A report released in
December 1995 by five national organi-
zations representing the interests of
local governments highlights 19 case
studies of local government efforts to
incorporate preventive approaches to
environmental pollution. Many of the
communities found monetary savings,
improvements in the management of
hazardous chemicals, and improve-
ments in their relations with the public
as a result of their pollution prevention
activities. Sponsoring the report are:
the National Association of Counties,
the U.S. Conference of Mayors and its
affiliate the Municipal Waste Manage-
ment Association, the National Associa-
tion of County and City Health Offi-
cials, and the National Pollution
Prevention Roundtable. Contact: Shawn
Bullard, NACo, 202-942-4222.
WasteWi$e Program Reports
Progress. EPA’s voluntary waste
reduction program, WasteWi $e, reports
on its progress: the 368 companies
participating reduced nearly 250,000
tons of waste in 1994, the first year of
the program, and recycled nearly one
million tons of waste. Reducing or
reusing transport packaging conserved
nearly 140,000 tons of materials.
Simple measures were found to be cost-
saving as well as waste-reducing.
NYNEX in New York cut paper and
postage costs by more than $2.5 million
by printing customer invoices on both
sides of the page. Quaker State Corp. in
Oil City, PA changed the shape of its
motor oil bottle from round to rectangu-
lar, reducing the use of corrugated
packing by 15 percent and saving
$600,000. Call 1-800-EPA-WISE (800-
372-9473) for a copy of WasteWi$e
First-Year Progress Report.
o
“We All Live Downstream” is the title
of a half-hour educational video on
nonpoint source pollution developed by
the Oregon State University Extension
Service. Shot primarily in Oregon’s
Tualatin River basin, the video offers
tips for how Americans can protect their
drinking water sources. Orders ($30)
should be directed to: Publication
Orders, Agricultural Communications,
Oregon State University, A422 Adminis-
trative Services Bldg., Corvallis, OR
97331-2119.
Virginia Nonpoint Source Video.
Another video on nonpoint source
pollution, this one highlighting initia-
tives at Virginia farms and forests, is
available from the Virginia Military
Institute Research Laboratories. An
accompanying manual gives guidance to
land owners and managers on imple-
menting an effective nonpoint source
program. For information, contact
VMIRL at 540-464-7743.
Telecommuting Materials. Arizona’s
Telecommuting Program has prepared a
variety of materials to promote
telecommuting as a method of cutting
down on air pollution. Materials include
a 12-minute video briefing for managers
($5); a coordinator’s handbook ($20) for
starting up a pilot program; a training
package ($41) including video and
workbook for pilot programs; and a
training package ($40) for organizations
expanding their telecommuting pro-
grams. To order, contact John Corbett,
Arizona Dept. of Administration, 602-
542-3637.
. ) EPA Catalogue of Voluntary Pollu-
tion Prevention Programs. EPA has
prepared a descriptive catalogue of its
28 voluntary partnership programs.
The catalogue describes each of the
programs and provides mail and
telephone contacts for them. The
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11 Pollution Prevention News
June-July 1996
RESOURCES, CONTINUED
voluntary programs deal with conserv-
ing water and energy, and reducing
greenhouse gases, toxic emissions, solid
wastes, indoor air pollution and pesti-
cide risks. For copies of Partnerships in
Preventing Pollution: A Catalogue of the
Agency’s Partnership Programs, contact
Michelle Price at 202-260-3372 or
Sheila Canavan at 202-260-8621. The
catalogue is also available on the
Internet at: http://www.epa.gov/part-
ners or http://es.inel.gov/partners
Polymer Characterization and
Control in Biosolids Management.
Peer-reviewed research funded by the
Water Environment Research Founda-
tion and EPA indicates that effective
dosage control can reduce polymer
consumption by 17-20 percent in the
U.S., resulting in a potential national
savings of $22-26 million annually for
municipal water agencies and their
customers. For information or to order
the report, contact WERF at 800-666-0206.
j ACEEE Energy Reports. Consumers
and businesses will save about $10
billion as a result of three major energy-
saving technologies developed over the
last 15 years by the U.S. Department of
Energy and private companies: low-
emissivity windows; electronic lighting
ballasts; and high efficiency superrnar-
ket refrigeration systems. That’s the
conclusion of a report by the American
Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy, Successful Government-
Industry Partnership: The U.S. Depart-
ment of Energy’s Role in Advancing
Energy-Efficient Technologies. Another
ACEEE report, Partnerships: A Path for
the Design of Utility/Industrial Energy
Efficiency Programs, analyzes win-win
strategies for utilities to help industrial
customers become more energy effi-
cient. The ACEEE’s Guide to Energy-
Efficient Office Equipment helps
consumers in selecting the most energy-
efficient equipment on the market and
accessing EPA’s up-to-the-minute
Energy Star Office Equipment data-
base. Other ACEEE publications are
listed in the non-profit group’s 1996
Publications Catalog. Tel: 510-549-9914;
Fax: 510-549-9984; E-mail: aceee@
ix.netcom.com.
Pollution Prevention Research
Projects. Check out the new World
Wide Web site on the Internet for an
updated database on pollution preven-
tion research projects and clearing-
house for Requests for Proposals,
operated by the Pacific Northwest
Pollution Prevention Research Center.
To visit the site, go to: http://
pprc.pnl.gov/pprc/
Greening the Government: A Guide
to Implementing Executive Order
12873. Published by the Office of the
Federal Environmental Executive in
April 1996, this guidance describes each
section of the Executive Order and
offers model programs and case studies
to help federal agencies implement the
Order’s requirements. For copies,
contact OFEE at 202-260-1297.
P2 Promoter is the new publication of
the Local Government Commission, a
nonprofit organization of elected
officials and others active in pollution
prevention. P2 Promoter combines
three other newsletters: the Waste
Minimization Update, the Bay Area
Preventer and the So Cal Preventer.
For information, contact Leif
Christiansen at 916-448-1198.
Pollution Prevention Success
Stories EPA has compiled case histo-
ries from agriculture, consumer goods,
energy, i ndustrv (furniture manufactur-
ing, newspapers, gold mining, electron-
ics, and ink pens), and transportation,
as well as federal, state and local
government. Available free of charge
from the Pollution Prevention Informa-
tion Clearinghouse at 202-260-1023.
Editorial Staff.-
Ruth Helkklnen, Editor
GUsh L,i 1 gpy
Brian Blackstona
Free Hand Press lAyout
lb be added to our m 1Hng
list, please write:
Pollution Prevention News
U.S. EPA (MC7409)
401 MStreetSW
Washington, DC 20460
or xto.
Ruth Heikkinen,
202-260-2219
E-mail to: heikkinen uth@
epamaliepa.gov
PlWed w v cble oil-ba
ht inks on i rec dedj*per
‘6 ’ (lO%poet-cosmimer).
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12 Pollution Prevention News
June - July 1996
CALE
DATE
Aug. 28
Sept. 10-11
Sept. 16-18
Sept. 17-19
Sept. 23-25
Sept. 24-26
NDAR
EVENT
Solvent Alternatives
Exposition (free workshop)
Putting Pollution
Prevention into Action
Sustainable Transportation
& S/EV96 Symposium
Fuel Cells in Transportation
1996 RI Pollution
Prevention Conf. & Expo
Southern States Annual
SITE SPONSOR
Orchard Park, NY NY State Dept. of
Environ. Conservation
Washington, B.C. Hampshire Research Institute,
U.S. EPA 33/50 Program
New York, NY Northeast Sustainable
Energy Assn.
Chicago, Intertech Corp.
Providence, RI RI Dept. of Env.
Management, others
Biloxi, MS MS DEQ, MS Tech Assist.
CONTACT
Dottie O'Hare
Tel: 518-457-0880;
Fax: 518-457-2570
Tel: 703-683-6695;
Fax: 703-684-7704;
E-mail: cpurett
©hampshire.org
Tel: 4 13-774-6051;
Fax: 413-774-6053
Tel: 207-781-9800;
Fax: 207-781-2150
Tel: 401-277-3434
x4414
Tel: 601-325-8067
Environmental Conference
Oct. 26-29 World Environmental
Congress
Nov. 12-14 Environment and Energy
Conference of Ontario
April 7-9, 1997 1997 Total Life Cycle
Conf. & Expo
Cincinnati, OH
Toronto, Ont
Auburn Hills, MI
Center, EPA Regions
4 & 5, TVA
Air & Waste Management
Assn., U.S. EPA, UNEP,
Univ. of Western Ont.
Ontario Ministry of
Env. and Energy
SAJE International
Tel: 519-858-5055;
Fax: 519-858-5056;
E-mail: sti.ekabi
©info.london.on.ca
Tel: 416-327-8073
Tel: 412-772-7131;
Fax: 412-776-0002;
E-mail: meetings
©sae.org
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