The 54 percent hazardous waste cut represents a reduction in the amount of waste generated by all of BNL's routine operations, from photo processing to the washing of precision-made parts to the making of sophisticated computer circuit boards. It does not reflect waste collected during environmental cleanup projects around the site. DOE had set a goal of 50 percent reduction by 1999. BNL is now working toward its own 1998 goal of a 60 percent reduction. Another notable accomplishment, made over the last four years, was a 67 percent drop in production of mixed waste, which contains both hazardous chemicals and radioactive elements.
Mixed waste is especially expensive and difficult to dispose of.
The DOE goal was 51 percent. Low-level radioactive waste was cut by 10.6 percent in the same period, exceeding DOE's goal of a 5 percent reduction. All of BNL's hazardous waste is collected from around the site, packaged according to federal guidelines and sent to approved storage or disposal sites. The effort is looking for any areas of noncompliance with EPA waste regulations, as well as opportunities for additional waste minimization and pollution prevention. Reductions Groundwork laid in 1997 will help BNL make more pollution prevention gains in 1998.