Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization - doe-hdbk-1139-1-2000

DOE-HDBK-1139/1-2000

Change Notice No. 1

2.7 Pollution Prevention and Waste Minimization

Pollution prevention and waste minimization should be considered during planning,

acquisition, use, consumption, excessing, recycling, and waste disposal. If the

chemical management program does not cover waste management, some interface

and coordination with the site waste management program should be in place.

Pollution prevention is the most responsible and preferred approach to minimizing

DOE's impact on the environment and minimizing potential health effects on

workers using toxic or hazardous substances or handling wastes, reducing

compliance vulnerabilities, and saving money otherwise spent on waste

management. Pollution prevention is one of the fundamental principles underlying

Environmental Management Systems and, as such, should be part of each DOE

site's ISMS. DOE and contractor pollution prevention coordinators should be

consulted to assist with tailoring pollution prevention integration to meet program

requirements and site needs.

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 established a hierarchy of preferred practices:

Prevent or reduce at the source (source reduction);

Recycle in an environmentally safe manner;

Treat in an environmentally safe manner; and

Employ disposal or other release into the environment only as a last

resort and conduct in an environmentally safe manner.

In a memorandum dated November 12, 1999, the Secretary of Energy announced a

November 12, 1999,

Memo

pollution prevention and energy efficiency leadership program with five

environmental objectives, including:

Design and operate DOE facilities using pollution prevention processes

that lead to minimal waste generation and lowest life-cycle costs; and

Diminish use of environmentally harmful materials, equipment, and

processes to minimize releases of toxic chemicals, ozone-depleting

substances, and greenhouse gases.