Improvements in conservation and use of our national resources including water, air and land resources. Such conservation makes these resources available, not only to existing, but also to future generations. Therefore, pollution prevention programs should be viewed as a true investment in the nations future. We accept the fact that good health is the result of good hygiene, nutritious food and other facets of health care. For most people, acceptance of good health practices is a natural state of mind.
Pollution prevention needs to be approached from a similar perspective for it to be effective.
Activities that can lead to true pollution prevention include modifications in equipment, technology or procedures used during the production of goods or performance of tasks, reformulation or substitution of raw materials inputs, reformulation or redesign of intermediate or end products, improvements of maintenance and housekeeping and good inventory and record keeping. Pollution prevention approaches and practices can be applied to all pollution-generating activities, including industrial processing, energy production, farming operations, government and many consumer activities at work or at home. In addition to the activities listed above, pollution prevention may include energy and natural resources conservation techniques and management practices that minimize damage to sensitive ecosystems and habitats. To be effective, pollution prevention must not result in the production of previously unknown waste or increase the risk associated with daily management or operation of the pollution-generating systems. Pollution prevention should also be multi-media oriented, meaning it should not result in the transfer of pollutants from one environmental medium to another, such as the transfer of pollutants from water to air.