Program Areas - Pollution Prevention


Program Manager: Doug Bruner (757) 824-2441

Pollution Prevention (P2), also known as "source reduction," is any practice, which reduces, eliminates, or prevents pollution at its source. Under Section 6602(b) of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, Congress established a national policy to prioritize environmental management. Executive Order 13423: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management and Executive Order 13514: Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance require goals to reduce the release and use of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials and to increase solid waste diversion. The ranking of pollution prevention strategies is as follows:

  1. Prevention - Reduce pollution at the source.
  2. Reuse - Reuse/recycle when you cannot reduce.
  3. Treatment - Treat pollution when you cannot reduce or reuse/recycle.
  4. Disposal - Safely dispose of pollution as a last resort.

Pollution may be prevented by many types of approaches. Reduction of pollutants can be achieved by using raw materials, energy, and water more efficiently. Other actions, which may prevent and reduce pollution include:

  • Product redesign.
  • Substitution of raw materials (use of greener chemicals).
  • Process or equipment modifications.
  • Improvements in maintenance, training, inventory control, or housekeeping.

The Wallops Pollution Prevention Plan discusses these concepts in more detail. Preventing pollution offers important benefits; if pollution is never created there is no need for waste management and cleanup.

The Wallops Environmental Office is available to help with any of these environmental management actions. Contact Doug Bruner at extension 2441 for assistance.

Reuse

The Wallops Environmental Office has established a spreadsheet of chemicals available for reutilization for official government use by government or government contractor employees while performing official government duties. Each chemical will be available for up to sixty days. All chemicals are unopened, in date, and will be issued with a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

To obtain a chemical from the spreadsheet or to have excess in date chemicals added to the list contact Marianne Simko at extension 2127.

Recycling

Click on the following county names to find out more information about recycling opportunities in Accomack, Northampton, Wicomico, and Worcester.

In 2011, a new single stream recycling program was launched at WFF. Click on the words single stream recycling to see which materials can be placed in the recycling station containers or contact Wayne Redmond at extension 1191

The table below describes the recycling avenues at WFF.

ITEM REQUIREMENTS EMPTY AN EXISTING CONTAINER REQUEST A NEW CONTAINER
Aluminum cans, bi-metal cans, glass Empty Wayne Redmond, x1191 Wayne Redmond, x1191
Used Oil Solvent free Haz Waste Line, x1718 Haz Waste Line, x1718
Batteries Not leaking Haz Waste Line, x1718 Haz Waste Line, x1718
Bulk items Liquid drained Peter Joseph, x2306 -
Cardboard Flat, broken down Wayne Redmond, x1191 Wayne Redmond, x1191
Chemicals In date, MSDS Haz Waste Line, x1718 Haz Waste Line, x1718
Plastic drink containers Empty Wayne Redmond, x1191 Wayne Redmond, x1191
Packing peanuts, wrap - Bring to N-222 -
Scrap metal No liquids Peter Joseph, x2306 Peter Joseph, x2306
Tires - Peter Joseph, x2306 Peter Joseph, x2306
Toner and laser cartridges - - HELP Desk, x4357
White paper, colored paper, magazines - Wayne Redmond, x1191 Wayne Redmond, x1191
Wood Pallets Not broken Peter Joseph, x2306 Peter Joseph, x2306