For further information about the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange, contact Jeff Burke at 202-299-9701 x1 or e-mail .

The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx™) is a national partnership of regional pollution prevention information centers funded in part through grants from EPA. They build networks, deliver P2 information, and measure P2 program results. The strength of the network lies in the expertise and diversity among the regional centers and the variety of audiences served including government and state environmental agencies, technical assistance providers, businesses, educators, nonprofit organizations, and the general public.

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The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx™) is a national network of regional centers that advance pollution prevention as a cornerstone of sustainability.

To achieve our mission, we connect, we inform, and we measure.

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1. Build and facilitate dynamic regional and national P2 topic driven networks.
2. Serve as the trusted source for P2 information.
3. Increase the awareness, accessibility, and usability of P2 information.
4. Evaluate and measure the impact of various tools to achieve our goals.

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Please click on the following image to get it in PDF format.

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The Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange was created in 1997 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The goal was to lay the groundwork for a seamless national network of easy to access, high quality pollution prevention information that promotes waste reduction throughout the United States.

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Pollution prevention means "source reduction," as defined under the Pollution Prevention Act, and other practices that reduce or eliminate the creation of pollutants through:

• increased efficiency in the use of raw materials, energy, water, or other resources, or
• protection of natural resources by conservation.

The Pollution Prevention Act defines "source reduction" to mean any practice which reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream or otherwise released into the environment (including fugitive emissions) prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal and reduces the hazards to public health and the environment associated with the release of such substances, pollutants, or contaminants.

The term includes: equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution of raw materials, and improvements in housekeeping, maintenance, training, or inventory control.

Under the Pollution Prevention Act, recycling, energy recovery, treatment, and disposal are not included within the definition of pollution prevention. Some practices commonly described as "in-process recycling" may qualify as pollution prevention. Recycling that is conducted in an environmentally sound manner shares many of the advantages of prevention--it can reduce the need for treatment or disposal, and conserve energy and resources.

In the agricultural sector, pollution prevention approaches include:

• reducing the use of water and chemical inputs;
• adoption of less environmentally harmful pesticides or cultivation of crop strains with natural resistance to pests; and
• protection of sensitive areas.

In the energy sector, pollution prevention can reduce environmental damages from extraction, processing, transport, and combustion of fuels. Pollution prevention approaches include:

• increasing efficiency in energy use;
• substituting environmentally benign fuel sources; and
• design changes that reduce the demand for energy.

Terms synonymous with pollution prevention include: best management practices - better performance - cleaner production - design for the environment - eco-efficiency - energy conservation - energy efficiency - green business - green productivity - increased efficiency - industrial ecology - materials efficiency - materials productivity - pollution prevention - process efficiency - process improvement - process optimization - reusability - resource efficiency - source reduction - sustainable development - toxics use reduction - TQEM - waste minimization - waste reduction - water conservation

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By clicking on your state or region to you will go the page maintained by the regional center highlighting their services.

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The information from P2Rx is provided solely as a preliminary source of information regarding pollution prevention options and technologies. It is not a comprehensive document covering every option available to your operation or every environmental regulation that could affect you or your business as a consequence of adopting a pollution prevention strategy. Other alternatives for resolution of your particular problem or situation may exist that are not listed on this site.
All options must be considered in light of the circumstances of your particular situation. It is your responsibility to seek specific advice for your particular application. Please conduct thorough research and/or consult the technical assistance providers in your area that might have additional information relevant to evaluating your options.

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