Pollution Prevention for Business Services 7300

Pollution Prevention (P2) for Business Services 7300

Opportunities may exist to save a significant amount of money for your business and simultaneously protect the environment through P2.

What is P2? P2 is the use of materials, processes, or practices that eliminate or reduce the creation of pollutants or waste at the source. P2 consists of a variety of strategies and techniques that strive to avoid the production of waste and the subsequent costly and sometimes dangerous waste management activities. Waste avoidance or reduction may result in increased facility efficiencies as well as significant savings from lowered waste management costs, raw materials costs, reduced insurance and worker safety costs. There is, therefore, the opportunity to simultaneously improve your bottom line - and protect the environment.

Where can I obtain information? The Business & Environmental Service Centers have compiled a library of P2 reference materials that may help you identify and adopt P2 measures appropriate to your business. For local P2 information, call 1-800-GOV-1-STOP. The following publications may be requested online:

What are the benefits of P2?

Business Cost Savings: You may realize - reduced energy costs, operational costs, production costs, raw materials costs, transportation costs, treatment and disposal costs, compliance permits, monitoring and enforcement costs.

Environmental Protection: Your employees and patrons will appreciate your leadership in the implementation of business practices that are economically viable, sustain natural resources and diversity, and enhance the quality of life for present and future generations.

Regulatory Relief: It is easier to achieve and maintain compliance once P2 measures have been implemented.

Reduced Liability, Exposure, and Health Risk: Less waste means less liability for environmental problems at both on-site and off-site treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Reducing waste also means less potential risk to human health and safety and reduced worker exposure to toxic chemicals.

Reduced Energy Consumption: Energy conservation and energy use efficiency will reduce costs and the risk of power outages.

What new technologies reduce costs and promote P2?

Office Paper Reduction: Adopt a company policy that all documents are to be printed on both sides of the page, collect and reuse one sided paper for drafts and scratch pads, and use e-mail for forms, document transmittals and faxes. Advantages include: minimizing paper use will save money for your office by reducing the cost of both buying paper and disposing of office paper waste.1
Energy Conservation: Maintain company automotive fleets, use energy efficient light bulbs and other electrical office equipment, and keep garage and warehouse doors closed to reduce heat/air-conditioning loss. Advantages include: the potential for a large reduction in fuel and other energy costs.2
Electronic Equipment Recycling: Send obsolete electronic equipment such as computers, monitors, and printers to recyclers or donate equipment to schools, community groups and non-profit organizations. Advantages include: safe disposal of hazardous computer waste and lead coated monitors; recycles and finds new uses for the varied plastics.3
Other Sources of Waste Reduction: Maintain and repair products, buy reusable rather than single-use products and products with the least amount of unnecessary packaging, buy products that are made from recycled material and that can be recycled locally, or borrow, rent, lease or share items that you use infrequently. Advantages include: saves natural resources and energy needed to make new products, reduces air or water pollution often associated with manufacturing new products, saves your business money by reducing operating and waste disposal costs.4

Why is P2 a good idea for businesses? Compare areas of cost savings that may be achieved through the implementation of one or more P2 technologies:

Practice Benefits

Paper Waste Reduc-
tion

Energy Conser-
vation

Electronic Equip
ment Recy-
cling

General Waste Reduc-
tion

Purch-
asing Recycled Goods

Reduces Solid Waste

√

Reduces Toxic Waste

√

Reduces Air/Water Pollution

√

Ec
on
om
ic

Be
ne
fi
ts

Reduces Purchasing Costs

√

Reduces Handling Costs

√

Reduces Storage Require-
ments

√

Lowers Operating Costs

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Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board 8/24/2000