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How to do a P2 Assessment at Your Business
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A P2 Opportunity Assessment is a step-by-step procedure to: |
1) understand the facility’s wastes and processes,
2) identify options for reducing waste, and
3) determine which of the options are technically and economically feasible.
And, by "wastes" we don’t mean just solid and hazardous wastes. We also include air emissions and liquid discharges. Pollution prevention is a multi-media concept. Otherwise, you might just be moving the pollution around, not preventing it in the first place.
Stated in very basic terms, to do an assessment start at the end of your process. Dumpster dive if you need to. Make a list of all the wastes which are produced and then figure out why they are produced.
Wastes are inputs and resources you are paying for twice, once when you
purchase them as raw materials and once when you pay for their disposal.
Wastes generally mean inefficiency and can indicate opportunities to save
materials and save money. And, get the people who work on the line involved.
They are the ones who really know how things operate and probably have
some good suggestions.
A P2 Opportunity Assessment looks at items including:
- the raw materials you use,
- how your equipment is laid out,
- your inventory procedures,
- timing of color changes,
- your cleaning procedures,
- your quality control program,
- worker training,
- the sequencing of steps in the process, and
- the handling of wastes.
Once you’ve got your list of possible changes you might make, it’s time to figure out if they are financially feasible. In doing your analysis make sure to include all the costs that will go down as a result of preventing pollution including:
- lower insurance and liability costs,
- lower waste management costs (think of all the time you’ll save by not filling out government reporting forms),
- lower cost of input materials (waste reduction usually decreases the demand for input materials),
- lower utility costs (from saving water and reducing electricity usage), and
- worker morale and attendance might go up.
And, there may be other less obvious costs you may save, so be sure to carefully consider all cost savings in your financial analysis. It could mean the difference between a go and no-go decision.
For additional information on how to do a P2 assessment at your facility, check with the P2 experts in your State or our EPA Region 3 office.