GBP - Pollution Prevention

Pollution prevention can help any business or industry increase profits. According to the Pollution Prevention Resource Center, "Cutting water and energy use, as well as reducing waste has saved more than $384 million in the Northwest." Read More>>

Potential Costs & Challenges

Internal resources such as management and employee time are required
Facility personnel may require additional training
New technologies may be needed to implement changes
Senior management must be committed and provide resources

Implementation

We can help you develop an Environmental Management System (EMS)

An EMS is a proactive approach that increases efficiencies, reduces risk, and reduces pollution in a systematic way. The first step is to determine environmental issues facing the business and legal requirements, set goals and objectives, and then identify management actions that are required to meet those goals. We can help you with this process through a site visit and energy audit.

We look at aspects of your business over which you have control. You may not be able to control how electricity is generated, or how raw materials are obtained, but you can control where you purchase from and how much electricity is used. For example, Cats Exclusive Veterinary Center in Shoreline can't control how paper is made, but made a choice to purchase 100% post-consumer recycled paper for use in the facility.

By doing a site visit, we are able to learn what aspects of your operation have the biggest costs and impacts on the environment. This is useful in setting priorities and creating a plan for reducing your costs.

What to Consider

Actual or potential costs to you and costs to the environment
Costs associated with improving efficiencies
Potential savings for improving efficiencies
Pollution prevention potential from improving efficiencies
Risks of not making any changes
Community concerns
When applicable, an Emergency Preparedness Plan

With our help, you can create an objective goal and a way to measure your progress.

It is also important to receive input from employees impacted by any change in operations. Staff members may be aware of inefficiencies or potential solutions that management is not aware of. Including employees in the process of developing an Environmental Management System and providing recognition to participants increases the chances of success in the long term.

An Environmental Management System specifies who will do what, how they will do it, and when it will be accomplished

Environmental Purchasing Procedures

Many organizations, cities, counties, states, and the federal government are in the process of developing internal procedures to incorporate Environmental Purchasing Procedures (EPP) criteria into their purchasing decisions. This research takes staff time. Pollution Prevention Resource Center is pleased to be able to assist with the process by offering the "Environmental Purchasing Procedures" Rapid Research Service. EPP Rapid Research Service is provided by PPRC and is funded by an EPA grant. PPRC will provide up to 5 hours of research into the environmental aspects of a specific purchasing question. The PPRC web page includes a list of previous questions and responses, as well as instructions about how to ask your own environmental purchasing question.
Contact: Debra Taevs ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
PPRC.org

The Green Business Program refers small business to PPRC for help when appropriate.

For more information on PPRC go to: PPRC.org

Stormwater Management

As concerns grow about restoring Puget Sound to health, stormwater management will become a day-to-day issue for businesses. Native landscaping and reducing impervious surfaces are two approaches to addressing stormwater, which will create spin-off benefits for business as well as ensure the long-term community benefits of a healthy sound, including tourism and outdoor recreation industries.

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