Pollution prevention is the reduction or elimination of discharges or emissions to the environment. Each of the pollution prevention practices described in this fact sheet is an extension of the simple but powerful idea that it makes far more sense to eliminate the generation of waste than to develop complex and costly treatment schemes once it has been generated. Pollution prevention is good business. While most pollution control strategies cost money, pollution prevention has saved many firms thousands of dollars in treatment and disposal costs alone. Many companies have already discovered the tremendous benefits of pollution prevention.
Smaller companies can also benefit.
A systematic approach will produce better results than piecemeal efforts. An essential first step is a comprehensive waste audit. The waste audit should systematically evaluate opportunities for improved operating procedures, process modifications, process redesign and recycling. Coal is the primary source of energy for electrical generation and accounts for half of the electricity produced. The fossil fuel electric power generators are major producers of waste including organic and inorganic chemical substances contained in the approximately 100 million tons per year of solid waste produced, and liquid and gaseous emissions which contain hazardous or toxic materials.