The Department of Transportation and Public Works is currently conducting a pollution prevention pilot program focussed on its own activities. Information being gathered, particularly with respect to waste management, is being compiled on the Waste and Excess Materials Disposal Guide . Headings include Highlights of Legislation, General Information, Product Usage and Information, Typical Products, Ingredients, Handling and Training, Storage, Disposal Procedure, Alternative Disposal Techniques, Pollution Prevention, Spills, Off- Site Transportation, Collectors, and Government Contact List. It includes reduced raw material consumption, material substitution, equipment and process modification, on site reuse and recycling, and improved maintenance practices. It does not include treatment, disposal, off site reuse and recycling, mitigation, or cleanup.
Pollution prevention is important for a variety of reasons.
First, producing pollution is wasting of resources. Wasted resources cost money. By preventing pollution, we will be making operations more efficient and therefore less expensive. Pollution of soil, water, and air can lead to financial liabilities for the department. Simply put, it is much cheaper to prevent pollution than it is to clean it up.