8022

Rev.  5/05

                                                         

WASTE MINIMIZATION AND POLLUTION PREVENTION AWARENESS PROGRAM

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention (WM/P2) concepts will be embedded into all aspects of research and operations at Fermilab.  A strong WM/P2 program is an integral part of the Laboratory’s Environmental Management System.  Fermilab’s WM/P2 Program reflects Department of Energy, national and local WM/P2 goals and policies. It represents an ongoing effort to integrate WM/P2 with our research mission. 

 

 

REGULATORY DRIVERS

 

Fermilab is required to have a Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Program.  The attached list describes the regulatory drivers that require the program and its elements.

 

 

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

 

Fermilab’s WM/P2 program is anchored by three tenets commonly associated with pollution prevention objectives. They are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

 

Reduce

The most effective way to eliminate waste and reduce pollution is to avoid creating it.  Source reduction prevents the generation of waste in the first place and thereby minimizes the environmental impact.   Consider the total life cycle cost of materials, rather than just the initial cost.  Ways to reduce include: 

 

 

 

Reuse

All items eventually reach an end to their intended need.  Often times, however, an item may not have reached the end of its serviceable life before it is no longer needed.  In this case, opportunities exit to make items available to others who might find a renewed use.  Fermilab has several options to make items available to others for reuse including a chemical exchange system and a property exchange program, which can make some items available for both internal (Fermilab) and external (DOE complex) reuse.

 

 

Recycle

Items that cannot be reused should be recycled whenever possible. Recycling is the preferred option for materials that are being discarded.  Recycling reduces the demand for raw materials and the associated environmental impacts.  Recycled materials also typically require much less energy to produce compared to goods made from raw materials. Fermilab’s recycling program includes an office desk-side program as well as several other programs run by various internal organizations.  The attached table describes items commonly recycled at the lab.

 

Construction and Demolition debris can also be recycled.  Typically 85% of the waste generated during construction and demolition projects occurring at the lab has the potential to be recycled.  Where recycling of this material is desired, the sub-contract or other procurement documents should specifically reflect it.

 

 

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program

Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is buying products that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.  This comparison may consider materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance, or disposal of the product or service.  Fermilab is required by the EPA to purchase environmentally preferable products, as designated by the EPA.  Fermilab’s EPP program is run through Business Services, Purchasing Group. 

 

 

WM/P2 GOALS

 

Reduction and improvement goals are set as part of the Lab’s Environmental Management System (EMS).  Our goals reflect a desire to meet or exceed DOE’s Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency Goals.  Fermilab’s WM/P2 goals are developed, formalized and set by the Environmental Protection Subcommittee.  Our goal commitments are documented via the EMS, Environmental Management Program Form.

 

 

REPORTING

 

Progress toward meeting our goals will be reported to DOE for inclusion in their waste reduction report and to EPA in the SARA Title III, Section 313 (TRI) report.  To support these reporting requirements, Divisions/Sections shall document all their waste reduction and recycling activities and report them to the ESH – Environmental Protection Group.

Common Currently Recycled Items at Fermilab

 

 

 

Recyclable Items

Recycling Method

White and mixed paper, newsprint and magazines

Janitorial Service

Cardboard – boxes must be flattened and packing materials removed.

Janitorial Service

Scrap metal (various)

Local scrap pick-up locations

Computers and electronics

Business Services Pickup

Batteries:

Lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, silver oxide, mercury and nickel-metal hydride

Submit HCTT* Waste Pickup Request Form through your Waste Coordinator

Fluorescent and high-intensity discharge lamps

Submit HCTT Waste Pickup Request Form through your Waste Coordinator

Used oils

Submit HCTT Waste Pickup Request Form through your Waste Coordinator

Wood & plastic pallets

Call BSS for pickup

Printer toner cartridges

Drop-off bin, Wilson Hall, ground floor

Construction/Demolition debris

 Must be included in construction/ demolition contract

 

 

*  HCTT – Hazard Control Technology Team

 

In addition to the above material recycled lab-wide, local area recycling of other items (such as aluminum cans, paint cans, aerosol cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles) is also encouraged. 


Pollution Prevention Regulations and Policies

 

The following table provides direct legal and policy drivers that require the implementation of Fermilab’s Waste Minimization and Pollution Prevention Program.

 

Federal Procurement Guidelines

 

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 40 CFR 247

Requires procurement of recovered materials by federal facilities and contractors

Hazardous Waste Generator Manifest Certification

RCRA 40 CFR 262, 264-265

Requires generator to put in place a hazardous waste minimization program

Hazardous Waste Generator Biennial Report Certification

RCRA 40 CFR 262, 264-265

Requires generator to put in place a hazardous waste minimization program

Hazardous Waste Part B Permit Conditions

RCRA 40 CFR 270

Requires generator to put in place a hazardous waste minimization program

Toxic Release Inventory Reporting

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
40 CFR 372

Establish reporting requirements for the use, storage, and on-site and off-site transfers of hazardous and toxic chemicals

National Pollution Prevention Policy

Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) 42 USC 13101

Requires federal facilities to deploy pollution prevention as the first choice in environmental management

Toxic Release Inventory Reporting

PPA 42 USC 13106

Expands EPCRA reporting requirements to include source reduction and recycling information

Clean Fuel Fleet Program

Clean Air Act (CAA)
40 CFR 88

Requirement to meet clean-fuel fleet vehicle emissions standards

Protection of Stratospheric Ozone

CAA 40 CFR 82

Phase-out of CFCs, halons, and carbon tetrachloride; limit on emissions of ozone-depleting substances during the servicing, use and disposal of equipment containing those substances

Radiation Protection Programs

10 CFR 835

Requires the establishment of goals and performance indicators for the minimization of radioactive waste. It also requires a waste minimization program that will reduce the generation of radioactive waste and spread of contamination from Contamination, High Contamination or Airborne Radioactivity Areas.

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

Clean Water Act (CWA) 40 CFR 122

Requires that industrial Storm water discharge facilities have an on-site pollution prevention plan

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures Plan

CWA
40 CFR 110.112

Direct dischargers must have plans to prevent and respond to spills.

Environment, Safety, and Health Policy for DOE

DOE Order 450.1

Requires Pollution Prevention Plans, Annual Waste Reduction Reports, and a Pollution Prevention Awareness Program

Radioactive Waste Management

DOE Order 435.1

Requires Waste Management Plans including actions to minimize radioactive waste generation. Requires each DOE LLW generator preparing a design for a new process or process change to incorporate principles into the design that will minimize the generation of LLW. 

 

Federal Fleet and Transportation Efficiency

Executive Order (EO)
EO 13149
(April 21, 2000)

Requires reductions in the amount of petroleum fuel used in federal fleet vehicles, including contractor-operated vehicles.

Leadership in Environmental Management

EO 13148
(April 21, 2000)

Requires reductions in use of specified toxic chemicals, development of environmental management systems, and environmental performance measures.

Developing and Promoting Biobased Products and Energy

EO 13134
(August 12, 1999)

Directs increased federal planning and research on biobased products and calls for demonstration projects and private sector incentives.

Efficient Energy Management

EO 13123
(June 3, 1999)

Requires energy audits, procurement of Energy Star products, purchase of electricity from renewable sources, and achievement of energy use reductions per unit floor space for federal facilities.

Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Federal Acquisition

EO 13101 (September 14, 1998)

Requires procurement of environmentally-preferable products and services and establishment of pollution prevention and recycling programs

DOE Pollution Prevention and Energy Goals

Secretary of Energy Memorandum
November 12, 1999

Sets Complex-wide pollution prevention and energy efficiency goals and requires that site-specific goals be established and progress tracked.

DOE Pollution Prevention Program Guidance

DOE Pollution Prevention Program Plan, 1996

Provides contractors with specific guidance on meeting DOE HQ pollution prevention expectations.

Sewage System Discharge

Cities of Batavia & Warrenville Sewage Discharge Ordinances

Limits materials that can discharged in sinks and drains, or that might otherwise enter the Richland sewage system.

Kane County’s Recycling Requirements

Kane County Mandatory Recycling Ordinance

Establishments must recycle the two largest recyclable materials in their garbage.

 

Additional Incentives for Pollution Prevention

National Environmental Policy

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
10 CFR 1021

Requires environmental review of all federal actions, including federal contractors.

National Energy Policy

Energy Policy Act

Promotes energy conservation and efficiency and promote renewable energy.

Handling and Transportation Requirements

Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (HMTA)
49 CFR 171-180

Safety requirements raise costs of handling and transporting waste

Handling Requirements

Occupational Safety & Health Act (OSHA)
29 CFR 1910

Safety requirements raise costs of handling and transporting waste

Environmental Taxes

Revenue Reconciliation Act (RRA)

Taxes on ozone-depleting chemicals