Where to Go for Help
For copies of prioritization resources
mentioned in this brochure, or for other waste
minimization information, contact:
1? The RCRA hotline at 800 424-9346 or
TDD 800 553-7672.
http://~www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/
minimize
For technical assistance, contact:
S The National Pollution Prevention
Roundtable's P2 Hotline at 888 745-7272.
http://www.epa.gov/envirosense/nppr
A Member of Partners for the
Environment
The Waste Minimization National Plan is
part of EPA's Partners for the
Environment. The pro-
gram works with small and
large businesses, citizens'
groups, and other organiza-
tions to incorporate pollu-
tion prevention as a central
consideration in doing busi-
ness. The programs set reachable
environmental goals, such as conserving water
and energy and reducing toxic emissions and
solid wastes. These voluntary efforts are
achieving measurable environmental results
often more quickly and with lower costs than
traditional regulatory approaches.
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United States
Environmental Protection
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September 1997
http://www.epa.gov
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Solid Waste and Emergency Response
&EPA Waste
Minimization
National Plan
Reducing Toxics
In Our Nation's
Waste
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What Is the Waste Minimization
National Plan?
The Waste Minimization National Plan is a
long-term national effort to reduce the quan-
tity and toxicity of hazardous wastes. The
goals of the National Plan are to:
Why Target PBT Chemicals?
WASTE
MINIMIZATION
NATIONAL PLAN
Reduce by 50 percent
the most persistent,
bioaccumulative, and
toxic (PBT) chemicals
in the nation's haz-
ardous waste by the
year 2005, as com-
pared to the baseline
year of 1991.
Emphasize source
reduction (reducing
waste at its source,
before it is even gener-
ated) and environ-
mentally sound recy-
cling, over waste treat-
ment and disposal.
Prevent transfers of chemical releases from
one medium (air, water, or land) to another.
Why Minimize Waste?
To Reduce Costs
To Reduce Impacts of RCRA Requirements
To Improve Human Health and the
Environment
To Exhibit Environmental Leadership
To Build Better Community Relations
R
educing the presence of PBT chemicals in
waste will reduce long-term threats to
human health and the environment.
Persistent (P) chemicals generally do not break
down in the environment.
Bioaccumulative (B) chemicals tend to concen-
trate in animal and plant tissue.
Highly Toxic (T) chemicals can cause cancer or
other health effects in humans, and greatly
endanger the environment.
What Resource is Available to Help
Identify PBT Chemicals and Set
Priorities?
The Waste Minimization Prioritization
Tool (WMPT) is a flexible Windows-
based software system that provides
relative rankings of chemicals according to
their persistence, bioaccumulation potential,
and human and ecological toxicity. It allows
you to rank specific chemicals based on PBT
and chemical quantity.
Using the Chemical-Waste Code Crosswalk
function, the Tool also allows you to identify
which RCRA waste codes potentially contain
PBT chemicals.
EPA will use the Tool to identify a subset
of ranked chemicals with which to track
and report national waste minimization
progress.
Other Resources:
State and local environmental agencies, public
and private sector technical assistance centers,
trade associations, and product suppliers are all
sources of specific technical assistance. (See
reverse for addresses and phone numbers.)
As a Waste Generator, How Can I
Make the Plan a Reality?
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