Pollution Prevention

Pollution Prevention is synonymous with Cleaner Production (CP) and mainly used in the US. It stands for “source reduction,” as defined under the United States Pollution Prevention Act, and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, or protection of natural resources by conservation. The Pollution Prevention Act defines “source reduction” to mean any practice which:

• reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal; and
• reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

The term includes: equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign or products, substitution of raw materials, and improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, training, or inventory control. See http://www.epa.gov/p2/ for more information.