Pollution Prevention (P2)

What is P2? Pollution Prevention (P2) is reducing or eliminating waste at the source by modifying production processes, promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using materials rather than putting them into the waste stream. P2 is about efficiency. As non-product outputs are minimized then materials and resources are used more efficiently and profits are maximized.

Why is the City of Dallas interested in P2? Through P2 programs, businesses get into and stay in compliance with environmental laws, improve profits, productivity and become more environmentally friendly. This also helps the City reduce its costs for treatment, reduces interference with the operation of treatment facilities and risk of pass-through of toxic pollutants, prevents violation of water quality standards, prevents POTW sludge contamination, protects the health and safety of the worker, and maintains treatment capacity at the wastewater plants. This in turn saves tax dollars.

Dallas Water Utilities (DWU) Pretreatment & Laboratories Services Division (PALS) will annually recognize companies with pollution prevention (P2) success stories. Interested companies may submit, either by mail or electronically, a brief (two pages or less) summary of their P2 program or practice by July 31 each year. Electronic submission should be e-mailed to the DWU pretreatment group. PALS will select the best success story and will present the selected company with an award during the Blue Thumb Award ceremony each year. The awards will recognize those organizations that are providing leadership and innovation in P2 programs and practices.

See the P2 Fact Sheet. For more information on P2, go to EPA pollution prevention website.

Guides and Resources

The following P2 guides and resources are available on the EPA's National Environmental Publication Information System website.

• 625R99003 Guide to Industrial Assessments for Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency
• 625R99009 Capsule Report: Managing Cyanide in Metal Finishing
• 625R96004 Best Management Practices for Pollution Prevention in the Textile Industry, Manual
• 625R96003 Pollution Prevention in the Paints and Coatings Industry, Manual
• 625R94007 Guide to Cleaner Technologies Alternative Metal Finishes
• 625R94006 Guide to Cleaner Technologies: Organic Coating Replacements
• 625R94002 Guide to Septage Treatment and Disposal
• 625R93015 Guide to Cleaner Technologies: Organic Coating Removal
• 625R92011 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Metal Finishing Industry
• 625R92009 Guides to Pollution Prevention: Metal Casting and Heat Treating Industry
• 625R01003 Organizational Guide to Pollution Prevention
• 625790013 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Automotive Repair Industry
• 625790009 Guides to Pollution Prevention: Selected Hospital Waste Streams
• 625790008 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Commercial Printing Industry
• 625790007 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing Industry
• 625790006 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Fabricated Metal Products Industry
• 625790005 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Paint Manufacturing Industry
• 625790004 Guides to Pollution Prevention: The Pesticide Formulating Industry
• 625788003 Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual
• 625487018 Seminar Publication: Meeting Hazardous Waste Requirements for Metal Finishers
• 6251085001 Environmental Regulations and Technology: The Electroplating Industry
• 625R93006 Guides to Pollution Prevention: Municipal Pretreatment Programs