Experts believe it is often more cost effective to prevent pollution from being created at its source than to pay for control, treatment and disposal of waste products. Pollution prevention approaches include: increasing efficiency in energy use; use of environmentally benign fuel sources. In the agricultural sector, pollution prevention approaches include: Reducing the use of water and chemical inputs; Adoption of less environmentally harmful pesticides or cultivation of crop strains with natural resistance to pests; and Protection of sensitive areas. In the industrial sector,... Show more

Experts believe it is often more cost effective to prevent pollution from being created at its source than to pay for control, treatment and disposal of waste products.

Pollution prevention approaches include:
increasing efficiency in energy use;
use of environmentally benign fuel sources.

In the agricultural sector, pollution prevention approaches include:
Reducing the use of water and chemical inputs;
Adoption of less environmentally harmful pesticides or cultivation of crop strains with natural resistance to pests; and
Protection of sensitive areas.

In the industrial sector, examples of P2 practices include:
Modifying a production process to produce less waste
Using non-toxic or less toxic chemicals as cleaners, degreasers and other maintenance chemicals
Implementing water and energy conservation practices
Reusing materials such as drums and pallets rather than disposing of them as waste

In homes and schools examples of P2 practices include:
Using reusable water bottles instead of throw-aways
Automatically turning off lights when not in use
Repairing leaky faucets and hoses
Switching to "green" cleaners

(Source: EPA, USA)

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