Pollution Prevention

What is Pollution Prevention 

Pollution prevention is any practice that reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at the source. It doesn't just apply to reducing the pollution coming out of the "end of the pipe", but can also include practices that reduce resource consumption, raw material extraction, or the use of toxic chemicals throughout the lifecycle of a product or service. It can be achieved through options like the redesign, modification, upgrade or replacement of products, services, production methods, procedures, equipment, technology or extraction practices on the front end in a way that results in the reduction or avoidance of pollution on the back end. 

Pollution prevention is central to achieving a Circular Economy, which is an economy where materials are used in a way that minimizes extraction of the world’s resources and reduces and ultimately eliminates waste, the use of toxic chemicals and pollution.  

Looking at the Waste Management Hierarchy, you will notice that pollution prevention is located at the top of the hierarchy as it is the most preferred option for managing waste. This is because pollution prevention offers the benefits of reducing our consumption of raw materials and energy, while also reducing the use of toxic substances before they are incorporated into products. 

The next tier in the waste management hierarchy is reuse, where extracted materials and products are kept in use for as long as possible through remanufacturing, refurbishing, repairing, sharing, leasing or recycling - all of which can keep materials in the Circular Economy. Ultimately, pollution prevention will ensure a Circular Economy that is free of toxic chemicals in products and our environment so that the sharing, reusing and recycling of materials and products is safer and healthier for future generations.

In the end, any waste, toxic chemical or pollutant that cannot be prevented, reused or recycled in an environmentally safe manner, should be treated and disposed of in an environmentally safe manner and employed only as a last resort. 

Achieving Pollution Prevention

There are many ways to achieve pollution prevention. Some of the approaches DEC is using are:

• Outreach and Technical Assistance: DEC works directly with hazardous waste generators and with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute to help companies, including small businesses, reduce their generation of wastes and use of toxic chemicals, which makes their operations more efficient and saves money. 
• Sales Restrictions & Bans: DEC is implementing a wide variety of programs to keep toxic chemicals out of consumer goods like apparel, cosmetics, furniture, and other products. These programs help to reduce the presence of toxic chemicals in our homes and the environment, while also making certain materials more reusable and recyclable at the end of their useful life.
• Green Procurement: Working closely with the Office of General Services, DEC helps ensure that the products and services used by New York State reduce resource consumption and pollution by assisting with the development of green procurement specifications. 
• Product Testing: Supports all other activities.

Toxic Chemical Bans in Products