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Pollution Prevention at Your Facility

Download the Pollution Prevention Workbook

(842 kb)

If you want to reduce or eliminate your wastes, it is very important to know what they are, how much you are producing, and where they are coming from. Waste manifests, invoices for disposal, reports to regulatory agencies, sampling programs and purchase orders, are all good sources of information about your wastes. Check your dumpster or other waste storage area and inventory the types and amounts of waste you see. You can do this process once, or, in order to get more accurate information, repeat the process at different times over a period of a month or two. Don’t forget to include releases to other areas, such as water or air. Make sure to inventory the waste from each process (each individual process may have independent waste storage areas). Ask yourself these questions:

What is the main component of our waste? Chemicals? Solvents? Paints? Nutrients? VOCs? Paper?
Can we make our processes more efficient (or fine-tune them) to reduce the waste?
Are there any hazardous wastes that we could minimize by substituting another, less toxic material somewhere in the process or by changing the process?
Is there anything in our waste that we could reuse or recycle?

Process redesign involves changing the process in order to reduce generated waste. Examples include:

Using a physical means for paint removal (closed blasting facility) instead of solvent based paint strippers
Using less packaging for the product (redesign product)
Finding ways to extend the life of hazardous materials which will in turn minimize the amount of waste produced
Capturing process water for reuse
Using smaller quality control samples and returning them back into the process
Running batch processes

Substituting a less toxic material is an effective pollution prevention technique. There are many solvents and coatings that may be substituted with less hazardous ones. Many times water can be used just as effectively. It is important to realize that product substitution may require some re-training of staff on the procedures for use of the new product. Consider the following:

Rather than detergents, use hot water/steam-cleaning methods for washing oil off metal parts such as engines, tools and equipment.
Use non-solvent cleaners. You can also reduce pollution by using a solvent parts washer with a recycling service or filtration unit.
Use non-chlorinated compounds rather than chlorinated ones; they are less toxic.
Use waterless hand cleaners.
Try using safe cleaning alternatives such as baking soda and vinegar.

Specific Industry or Sector Help

For pollution prevention help for a specific industry (i.e. dry cleaning operations, construction, hospitals, food industry, manufacturing, marinas, auto body shops), visit the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange. Click on "Topic Hubs and Sector Resources."

For further information on energy efficiency, spill prevention and cleanup, waste and materials storage, vehicle fueling, vehicle maintenance and washing, pesticide use, landscape installation and use, consult the B4B Pollution Prevention Workbook (842 kb). You may also contact Mary Lynn Wilhere, Businesses for the Bay Coordinator, at 410-267-5719 or 1-800-YOUR-BAY x719 for an immediate response.

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For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office:
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 / Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY / Fax: (410) 267-5777.