In 1992, Washington businesses generated about 317 million pounds of hazardous waste, compared to 229 million pounds in 1998. Under that law, the department provides technical assistance to businesses that generate hazardous waste. Beginning in 1992, facilities generating 2,640 or more pounds of waste per year were required to participate in pollution-prevention planning. It shows what can happen when the public and private sectors put their creative energies to work together.
Companies benefit, and so do the public and the environment.
Industries in Washington are not required to create the pollution-prevention plans on their own, said Sorlie. Environmental scientists and engineers at Ecology provide planning assistance to companies that manufacture products such as sheet metal, electronic components, fiberglass products and paint. They help advance the plans by developing cost analyses of pollution-prevention opportunities, and also suggesting process improvements that use products that are less toxic as well as smaller amounts of hazardous substances in the production lines. Together with assistance in implementing the plans, businesses can cut hazardous wastes extensively, said Bob Lemcke, who works in Ecology's hazardous-waste program. But there also are economic benefits for companies because they often end up needing less materials in their production processes.