Pollution Prevention Opportunity Assessments for Research and Development Laboratories

Book excerpt: This handbook presents proven tools and examples of ways to reduce waste generated by R&D processes, projects, and programs. It assists researchers, environmental compliance staff, and managers of R&D programs in private industry, government, and university research departments in identifying ways to reduce chemical and material use, minimize the generation of waste, and lower associated costs. It includes a pollution prevention opportunity assessment that provides a simple and systematic approach for finding pollution prevention opportunities, developing them, and documenting these efforts. This method, coupled with a strong Pollution Prevention Program, has saved the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory $1.9 million in avoided waste-related costs over three years.