Making The Decision: Pollution Prevention (P2) Equipment Evaluation, Procurement, Implementation and Monitoring

摘要

We will take a look at some of the decision making and lessons learned at NAS Patuxent River. How do you decide which P2 option is best for your needs. Some fundamental questions should first be answered. What is your primary objective. Is it waste reduction or saving money. Are you planning to select the best P2 options for achieving your waste reduction goals, or are you limited to selecting those options that show significant cost savings. Once you have made those decisions, there are several questions to consider to help you prioritize the options, put them into operation, and evaluate the results. What processes contribute to your waste streams, and which one should you tackle first. One of the first steps in developing a successful P2 Program is to identify the types and amounts of each waste stream. Then determine the processes and activities that generate those wastes. We considered three major categories of waste: hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste, and municipal solid waste (MSW). The hazardous waste category may be your first priority for waste stream reduction due to safety, health, environmental and disposal cost considerations. Although a material may not be a hazardous waste as it enters a process, exposure to other materials during the process may render it hazardous. Consider starting with a less hazardous material (e.g., using solvents with a high flash point) to reduce the likelihood that you will have to dispose of a hazardous waste at the end of the process. Find out which processes contribute the most to your waste stream and see which activities are the primary users of those.