Industries vary approaches to preventing pollution in wastewater

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994 · Environmental Solutions; (United States)

OSTI ID:6956892

Kratch, K

In wastewater management, various efforts considered to be pollution prevention activities technically fall under EPA's definition of waste minimization, which is one step below source reduction in the agency's pollution prevention hierarchy. EPA defines waste minimization as an umbrella term that includes the first two categories--source reduction and recycling--of its preferred hazardous waste management strategy. Because industrial processes vary, no particular technology can be used across the board to reduce the amount of wastewater generated or hazardous materials present in wastewater. Companies tend to implement the easiest and most cost-effective pollution-prevention processes first, according to Nellor. They then evolve to source-reduction activities, in response to other dynamics, such as product bans. True pollution prevention strategies are being required in some cases. The Clean Air Act Amendments mandate a unilateral production phase-out of ozone-depleting compounds by 1995. To beat this deadline, companies are phasing in use of environmentally-sound cleaning solutions to reduce volatile organic compounds in wastewater effluent.

• OSTI ID: 6956892
• Journal Information: Environmental Solutions; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Solutions; (United States) Vol. 7:10; ISSN ESOLE7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
CHEMICAL EFFLUENTS
CHEMICAL WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL WASTES
LIQUID WASTES
MANAGEMENT
NONRADIOACTIVE WASTES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER