ADEQ's Pollution Prevention, or P2, program requires Arizona businesses to use their knowledge of their operations to reduce toxic substances at the source, minimize the generation of hazardous waste and prevent the release of pollutants to the environment.

The program requires all industrial facilities within a certain threshold of hazardous waste generation and toxic substance use to perform a P2 analysis and to file an annual P2 plan. The P2 plan becomes a stand-alone management tool that:

• Documents pollution prevention assessments that are performed
• Records the toxic substances used and emissions and wastes generated by facility operations
• Outlines specific pollution prevention opportunities and performance goals within a suggested implementation schedule
• Creates a comprehensive database for planning and tracking success

The success of Arizona's P2 program is due in part to a growing awareness among the regulated community of the benefits that come from participating in the program. What began in 1991 as a regulatory, compliance-driven program has evolved to include incentives that encourage companies to implement P2 plans. Today ADEQ provides a 50 percent reduction in hazardous waste generation fees when a company has an approved P2 plan in place. From 1999 through 2001, the program has meant an average annual savings to filers of more than $260,000.

Pollution Prevention Is Important

Many companies understand the simple importance of pollution prevention and have moved away from a pure compliance philosophy. They have learned that public expectations are a better gauge to drive their environmental programs, not minimum compliance with regulations. Businesses are beginning to establish overriding environmental principles designed to govern company wide decision making and to ensure they are moving well beyond the minimum standards set by regulations. We hope your company will join these others who have realized the importance of pollution prevention.

About Our Program

As Arizona grows, so does the generation of hazardous waste and the use of toxic substances. One very good way for businesses and citizens to improve Arizona's environment (air, water, land) is to reduce hazardous waste generation and to reduce the use and release of toxic substances. This is the purpose of the Pollution Prevention (P2) Program:

1. Reduce the use of toxic substances in our state.
2. Emphasize the preference for source reduction over recycling, waste treatment or disposal.
3. Encourage reduction through use of methods such as:
   • Substitution with a less toxic chemical
   • Product reformulation
   • Process modification
   • Improved housekeeping
   • Recycling/Reclamation
   • Conservation and Waste Minimization

Our pollutant source reduction extends to:

1. Hazardous waste
2. Toxic Chemicals on EPA's TRI List

The pollution prevention concept includes the need to reduce without shifting the pollutant release between land, water or air.

Creating a Successful Pollution Prevention Program

Facilities have implemented a variety of pollution prevention programs in Arizona. Some programs may be more successful than others. The following elements are considered important by the most successful pollution prevention programs.

• Facilities have a clear understanding of their pollution prevention direction.
  • Have a definition of pollution prevention.
  • Have either a facility or corporate pollution prevention policy.
• Facilities have a method for identifying and documenting wastes and emissions.
• Facilities have pollution prevention goals.
  • Have facility and or corporate pollution prevention goals.
  • Using input solicited from employees and other sources, facility environmental leaders provide input into the corporate and facility goal setting processes.
  • Corporate pollution prevention directives influence the program.
• Facilities use a champion or facilitator or focal point person to lead the program.
  • Management supports pollution prevention and commits the necessary resources to support pollution prevention activities.
  • Pollution prevention is integrated into business planning.
• Environmental considerations are part of business planning process.
  • Facility pollution prevention goals are part of the business planning process.
  • Pollution prevention is used, whenever possible, in anticipation of future compliance requirements
• Priorities are assigned to waste streams.
• Cross functional teams are used.
• Sustainable pollution prevention programs are cost effective.
• Pollution prevention projects need to meet a rate of return on investment.
  • Facilities use financial and non-financial criteria to evaluate projects.
  • Facilities implement some pollution prevention projects that are not cost effective
• Pollution prevention progress is tracked and communicated.
  • Facilities have the ability to measure progress.
  • Facilities periodically publish results against goals.
  • Results are communicated to key people.
• Facilities use quality tools in their pollution prevention program (i.e. team based quality culture, ISO 9000/14000, use of Pareto principles, total quality management, etc.)
• There is a responsibility and accountability for pollution prevention results.
  • Many facilities tie waste and emissions accountability to the generating operation.
• Facility pollution prevention teams know their plant culture and pattern the program to that culture.
• Recognition sustains employees motivation
  • Immediate recognition of early accomplishments help establish the pollution prevention program.
  • Facility and/or corporate level recognition programs help sustain employee motivation.
• Company resources support facility pollution prevention programs.
  • Facilities have access to corporate resources for program implementation.
  • Facilities use external resources to aid their pollution prevention program (i.e. corporate engineering, marketing, research, laboratories, outside suppliers)
• Effective communication increases pollution prevention awareness.
  • Have communication process within the facility.
  • Have communication process with the community.
• Pollution prevention is integrated into pre-manufacturing decisions.
  • Pollution prevention begins at research, development and design phases of the product or process life.
  • Facilities work with equipment and raw material suppliers and customers to help identify pollution prevention opportunities for products and processes.
• Facilities use new technology to achieve significant improvement.

Need Assistance?

ADEQ's Pollution Prevention Unit implements the state's Pollution Prevention program. ADEQ staff can assist you in:

• Completing a P2 plan
• Identifying pollution prevention opportunities, or
• Answering questions about our program requirements

1110 W. Washington St.
Pollution Prevention Program
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Fax: (602) 771-4538

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