Businesses large and small follow pollution prevention techniques to comply with federal and state laws. Manufacturing businesses generate harmful wastes as byproducts of manufacturing processes. Wholesalers and retailers also generate waste that must not pollute the environment.

The government concerns itself with two main areas: air pollution control and water pollution control. Businesses can stop pollution or minimize its emissions using a variety of engineering controls and pollution control equipment. Preventing air pollution includes placing filters on smokestacks to traps harmful particulates. Water pollution prevention includes dilution of liquid discharges and specialized storage containers.

The Internet provides many resources for businesses that must enact pollution prevention controls. Business incurs some initial cost to implement pollution prevention controls but those controls avoid costly penalties for non-compliance. Pollution prevention results in operational cost savings.

1. Learn which federal and state pollution prevention regulations apply to your business.

2. Find equipment and processes that can be adapted to meet those requirements.

3. Hire consultants when necessary to assist with compliance and to measure success.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find applicable pollution prevention laws

Many state and federal regulations govern how business must protect the environment. Most states have equivalent laws, some of which are more stringent than the federal guidelines. In case of a conflict, businesses should follow the law that is more strict.

I recommend: The United States Code contains the federal laws governing environmental protection. Oversight agencies ensure businesses comply with the Clean Air Act and other laws that protect wildlife and their habitats. States also enact their own pollution prevention laws. View a comprehensive listing of state and federal laws on Environmental Law Net.

Compare pollution prevention tools and techniques

Environmental businesses produce many products that help other businesses control air and water pollution. Innovative designs create state-of-the-art products to prevent pollution in landfills, agricultural fields, and other soil-based areas that companies could potentially contaminate.

I recommend: Pollution Control Corp. designs products for containing oil, gas, and other hazardous chemicals. Guardian Environmental Technologies develops products to absorb hazardous material spills on land or water. Air Cleaning Technology designs and installs air cleaning equipment and dust collector systems to meet air pollution standards. Millennium Enterprises carries a complete line of pollution prevention products for handling hazardous materials.

Hire pollution control specialists to assist in application and measure of success

Sometimes pollution prevention takes more than buying the right equipment. Your business may need to hire specialists to study your business for potential pollutants. Once you address the issues, the same specialist or another consultant can monitor your performance against standards and set goals for improvement.

I recommend: Groundwater & Environmental Services consults with commercial, petroleum, manufacturing and government clients to establish pollution controls. KSPE Consultants provides resources for storm water pollution prevention and erosion control for the construction industry. Chicago Chem Consultants Corporation offers engineers and consultants to study your pollution prevention or waste minimization programs for efficiency.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Companies must comply with the water pollution control act and other environmental laws or face federal fines. If a company does business for the government, repeated violations may result in losing the government contract.