 |
|
|
Everyone knows that most pollution comes from big, ugly pipes, factory smokestacks, sewer outfalls, and the like, right? Not exactly. A significant share of pollution comes from small sources that add up: the cars we drive, the energy we use to heat and light our homes and businesses, and the water and chemicals we consume for cleaning and sanitation.
You can prevent or reduce the pollution generated from many sources and still operate your business effectively. In fact, pollution prevention practices can save money on utility bills, make your office healthier (reducing employee sick time), and improve your property. Pollution prevention practices give you another reason to be proud of your business by helping to keep our air and water clean, protect salmon, and reduce consumption of natural resources.
Local disposal resources for paints, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, gasoline, and electronic waste: Click Here
RVTD - Rogue Valley Transportation District offers Employee Bus Pass Program, Business Energy Tax Credit Assistance, Guaranteed Ride Home, Park & Ride and more: www.RVTD.org; 541.608.2429
Pacific Power's Blue Sky energy options give Pacific Power customers the opportunity to choose renewable electricity for their home or business: www.pacificpower.net/bluesky
The City of Ashland Renewable Pioneers program enables Ashland utility customers to support clean, Northwest generated electricity by purchasing Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation: www.GreenAshland.org
The Energy Trust of Oregon offers professional guidance, financial assistance and incentives for customers of Pacific Power and PGE interested in employing onsite wind, solar, biopower or other clean electricity sources: www.energytrust.org
The City of Ashland offers financial and professional assistance for Ashland utility customers interested in installing photovoltaic panels and solar hot water heaters: www.ashland.or.us/conservation
THRIVE – The Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy – Creates connections among local businesses and community members to cultivate a socially, financially and environmentally sustainable economy. www.thriveoregon.org
Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center: www.pprc.org
SMART Notes
Motor vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in Oregon. If every commuter car in the U.S. carried just one more passenger we would save 600,000gallons of gasoline and reduce air emissions by 12 million pounds of C02 every single day. Each person who drives alone to work creates more than 2 tons of auto exhaust each year. The U.S. has 5% of the world's population, but accounts for 50% of the total motor vehicle miles driven
- Encourage employee commuting alternatives by posting an information board with carpool sign-up sheets and information about Rogue Valley Transportation District schedules and routes to your business. For information, call RVTD at 541.779.5821.
- Sell or provide bus passes at a discount to your employees.
- Offer a shuttle service to/from bus if possible.
- Provide a "guaranteed ride home" for employees who carpool or take public transit.
- Set aside carpool/vanpool parking spaces in your parking lot.
- Patronize services close to your business (examples include: food service, copy centers, etc.) and encourage employees to do the same.
- Offer employee telecommuting opportunities.
- Offer flexible schedules so workers can avoid heavy traffic commutes.
- Encourage bicycling to work by offering employee rebates on bicycles bought for commuting.
- Provide secure and enclosed bicycle parking for employees (examples include: bike lockers).
- Provide shower facilities for employees who walk/jog/bike to work or contract with an athletic club/spa for use of their facilities.
- Use company vehicles that run on natural gas, biodiesel, or electricity.
SMART Notes
The Rogue Valley is susceptible to air pollution caused by winter temperature inversions.The surrounding mountains reduce airflow and trap pollutants on the valley floor.
SMART Notes
It is estimated that replacing half of the nearly 1.3 million walk-behind gas mowers used in the US with electric mowers would eliminate the equivalent hydrocarbon emissions of 2 million cars.
- top -
Clean Electricity Programs:
Generating electricity is a significant source of air pollution and a major cause of smog, acid rain and habitat destruction. About 40% of the electricity consumed in the Northwest comes from burning fossil fuels, such as coal and gas. These and other conventional sources of electricity harm human health, degrade ecosystems, and add to global warming. Using renewable power shifts the electricity system towards clean resources that keep the air clean and preserve our quality of life. One of the easiest ways to show support and build demand for renewable energy supplies is to participate in clean electricity programs offered by your utility:
- Pacific Power’s Blue Sky energy options give Pacific Power customers the opportunity to choose renewable electricity for their home or business: www.pacificpower.net/bluesky
- The City of Ashland Renewable Pioneers program enables Ashland utility customers to support clean, Northwest generated electricity by purchasing Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation: www.GreenAshland.org
On-site Solar Power:
Solar energy is abundant in Jackson County. Solar systems can dramatically reduce your electric bill by providing some or all of the electricity needed to power your facilities. Plus, if your solar system produces more power than you use, through net metering the power goes into the utility's grid system, and your business can be credited for the excess power. Today's on site solar systems are attractive and reliable, and they are more affordable than ever. Cash incentives and Oregon state energy tax credits can cover up half of the total cost of a solar electric system. Learn more about financial assistance at:
- The Energy Trust of Oregon offers professional guidance, financial assistance and incentives for customers of Pacific Power and PGE interested in employing onsite wind, solar, biopower or other clean electricity sources: www.energytrust.org
- The City of Ashland offers financial and professional assistance for Ashland utility customers interested in installing photovoltaic panels and solar hot water heaters: www.ashland.or.us/conservation
Modifications to materials, products, technology and processes are very effective methods for preventing pollution. Avoid changes that merely replace one form of waste generation or hazardous material use with another!
Use the least hazardous, least polluting products that work:
- Consider alternative products for these common materials and others:
- Cleaning products: Use biodegradable, film free products.
- Paint products: Where possible, use low VOC and water based products.
- Avoid tints with heavy metals.
- Solvents: Could less toxic solvents or aqueous based cleaners work?
- Pesticides/fertilizers: Use integrated pest management techniques, less toxic products, and biological controls.
- Aerosol spray cans: Use refillable, pressurized spray cans (one example: WD 40)
- Reduce redundant or similar products
- Use non-corrosive and higher purity raw materials.
Modify or redesign products to prevent pollution:
- Change product composition to reduce hazardous materials/wastes in product (for example making products that are aqueous, rather than solvent, based).
- Change product design to reduce the hazardous materials associated with the production or use of the product (for example: design parts that can be cleaned with aqueous based cleaners instead of solvents)
Utilize technology to identify process changes to prevent pollution:
- Optimize raw material use and minimize residues: Allow adequate drainage. Use wall wipers. Use nonstick surfaces and minimize wetted surface area.
- Improve process controls (examples include: automate temperature, agitation, feed row, purity, turbulence, and flow controls to improve process efficiency and minimize waste).
- Use efficient washing and rinsing methods. Eliminate the use of filter aids. Use countercurrent and reactive rinsing methods
- Implement equipment changes or modify processes to reduce hazardous materials used and/or waste generated. Here's some examples:
- Use digital photo imaging instead of chemical photo processing
- Replace solvent systems with mechanical abrasives
- Use instrumental analysis instead of wet chemistry
- Use thermal "bake off' ovens, or (recirculating) aqueous systems.
- Experiment with changes in processes such as waste treatment to determine if more efficient methods can be used.
Look for ways to reuse your waste products either in your processes or as a raw material for other companies. Segregate waste streams to allow for the reuse/recycling (on or off site) of hazardous materials /wastes. Waste exchanges or offsite recycling may be available for many of your wastes.
- Recover raw materials such as metals from used solutions.
- "Waste exchange" with a company that can use your spent, off spec, or expired materials.
- Send wastes, which cannot feasibly be reused/recycled onsite to an offsite recycling facility.
- Recycle empty containers:
- Return to supplier for refill.
- Recondition onsite* or contract with drum re-conditioner.
- Reclaim scrap value onsite* or contract with scrap dealer.
*Permit requirements may apply.
Recycle Fluorescent Tubes
Fluorescent lamps are one of the most energy efficient lighting sources available. They use one-quarter of the energy used by incandescent lamps for the same amount of light and last as much as ten times longer. However, they contain mercury, which is highly toxic to the human nervous system. It also is persistent and can bioaccumulate in fish and birds when it is released to the environment. When fluorescent lamps are recycled, the component parts can be separated and any hazardous materials can be managed properly to avoid any environmental contamination.
Neither Rogue Disposal nor Ashland Sanitary accept fluorescent lights from commercial accounts in the garbage. However they do offer recycling options.
Fluorescent Tube Recycling options:
Routine housekeeping and operating practices can be very effective in reducing pollution, without requiring a significant capital investment. Some good housekeeping and spill prevention measures may be required by local hazardous material/waste regulations. These measures are important and should be integrated into your business management practices whether or not you are subject to regulations. Allocate hazardous waste management costs to the specific operations generating them. You'll have a truer picture of the costs and profitability of the operation.
Good housekeeping & preventive maintenance:
- Establish a system for keeping facilities clean and orderly.
- Inspect inventory, storage and/or shipping areas for potential accidents.
- Allow ample aisle space and space between containers in storage areas; keep well lit and free of obstructions.
- Use quality, resealable containers and keep containers and tanks covered when not in use.
- Regularly (at least every three months) inspect and clean out separators and grease traps.
Purchasing policies to minimize incoming hazardous materials:
- Buy in as large of a container as appropriate to usage - bulk size for heavily used materials, small containers for seldom-used materials.
- Require vendors to take back unused samples or off spec materials.
Buy containers that minimize material loss- wider containers offer reduced surface area cling.
Inventory control procedures to reduce waste generation:
- Minimize the inventory of fluids and chemicals: Stock only what you need and order materials on a "just in time" basis. Only allow trained personnel access to materials to reduce contamination or misuse.
- Track time sensitive materials and use a "first in, first out" policy.
- Work with vendors to return excess or expired stock.
Receiving procedures for materials to prevent spills and unnecessary waste:
- Use a designated receiving area that can contain spills.
- Inspect shipments prior to acceptance for opened, damaged or leaking containers; check for expiration date and proper labeling.
Operations scheduling to minimize cleaning and reduce waste:
- Schedule in batches and maximize batch size.
- Plan operations to avoid shifting production schedule to rush orders (may increase cleaning required or cause current production to be wasted).
- Schedule like runs back to back; proceed from light to dark colors, from high purity requirements to lower purity requirements;
Prevent and control spills to minimize waste and pollution:
- Place clean up supplies in convenient, easy to locate areas.
- Store materials near point of use to avoid spills while transporting them.
- Install spill and leak control equipment such as spill basins, splashguards, drip boards, overflow controls, alarms, relief valves, interlock and leak detection devices.
- Use material transfer methods that prevent spillage (pipelines, spout & funnel, etc.).
- Use drain mats or plugs to prevent spilled fluids from entering sanitary and storm drains.
- Keep record of spills to find patterns or areas needing improvement.
- Use "dry" cleanup methods inside the shop and at fuel dispensing islands:
- Clean up small spills with squeegees and rags.
- Clean up larger spills with a hydrophobic mop* or wet/dry vacuum
- Recover fluids for reuse or recycling (squeeze from mop, wring from rags or absorbent mats, or discharge from vacuum).
- If hydrophobic mop cannot be used or is not available, sweep area using dry absorbent material.
- Reuse absorbents until spent, and then dispose of properly.
- Clean private catch basins once a year, before the first rain.
- Implement a spill clean up plan, which minimizes water use (use dry clean up methods), protects storm drains and includes procedures for different types of spills.
- Post signs at trouble spots (such as loading docks, dumpster areas, and outdoor hoses) that identify the potential pollution problems and describing proper behaviors.
- Monitor subcontractors to be sure that they are not polluting storm drains your company is liable if the subcontractor handles materials improperly.
- Keep dumpster areas and loading docks free from litter.
- Cover dumpsters to keep water out of garbage.
- Keep rainfall from directly contacting outdoor working areas or material storage areas.
- Do not clean equipment or tools outdoors where water may flow to a street, gutter, storm drain or creek.
- Regularly clean loading dock areas to remove spilled materials and leaked motor fluids (remember to use dry clean up methods).
- If your company owns vehicles, routinely check for leaks and establish a "ground staining" inspection routine.
- Regularly sweep parking lots and areas around your facility instead of washing them down with water.
- Move vehicle maintenance under cover or indoors.
- If you wash vehicles regularly, discharging vehicle wash water in a storm drain is prohibited.
- Use landscaping to minimize existing or potential erosion problems.
- Prevent erosion during landscaping activities.
- Design berms or grading to prevent run off or rain water from flowing across industrial areas where it could be contaminated.
- Install secondary containment or berms around areas where liquids are stored to capture spills.
- Install shutoff valves at storm drains on property, or keep temporary storm drain plugs available at loading docks or outdoor process areas for quick spill response.
SMART Notes
One quart of discarded used oil can pollute 250,000 gallons of drinking water.One pint of oil could produce a toxic slick on surface waters approximately one acre in size.
|
|
