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Elements of an Effective Facility Waste Minimization (WM) Program
A facility waste minimization program is an ongoing, comprehensive examination of the operations at a facility with the goal of minimizing all types of waste products (non-product output). An effective program integrates the steps outlined below:
- Obtain Management Commitment
- Organize Teams
- Divide Facility into Logical Areas
- Identify Raw Materials and Wastes (Materials Accounting)
- Identify Full Spectrum of Operating Costs (Environmental Cost Accounting)
- Establish Goals and Priorities
- Develop a WM Plan
- Implement the WM Plan
- Follow Up on Recommendations/Implement Continuous Improvement
The Facility Pollution Prevention Guide is a great resource for developing a program at your facility and provides more detail about the steps outlined above. If you would like more information or assistance with developing a waste minimization program at your facility, contact either Please direct any questions or comments about the Waste Minimization Program to Sharon Perez-Suarez (perez-suarez.sharon@epa.gov) or Peter Piergiovanni (piergiovanni.peter@epa.gov), or a Team member from your State.
RESOURCES TO WRITE A WASTE MINIMIZATION PLAN
- Facility
Pollution Prevention Guide [Adobe
Acrobat PDF file]
(EPA/600/R-92/088 May 1992. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC 20460)
- EPA Compliance Assistance Centers Compliance Assistance Centers focus on specific industry sectors, such as printing, metal finishing, automotive services and repair, printed wiring boards, small chemical manufacturers, and agriculture.