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Office of Solid Waste ACHIEVING RCRA GOALS THROUGH PERFORMANCE BASED ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS OCTOBER 27, 2008 Office of Solid Waste TOPICS Current programs Benefits for OSW Office of Solid Waste Performance Track is an established partner for achievement of RCRA program goals, particularly for Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) RCC - A national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently. 3 Goals – – – Prevent pollution, promote reuse and recycling Reduce priority and toxic chemicals Conserve energy and materials Office of Solid Waste RCC – four national priorities Municipal Solid Waste Green Initiatives – Electronics Industrial Materials Recycling Priority and Toxic Chemicals Reduction Office of Solid Waste Several programs within RCC specifically partner with Performance Track National Partnership for Environmental Priorities School Chemical Cleanout Campaign Construction and Demolition Materials Office of Solid Waste National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) Encourages public and private organizations to form voluntary partnerships with EPA to reduce the use and/or release of any of 31 Priority Chemicals. 156 partners have committed to or achieved Priority Chemical reductions of more than 9 million pounds. Office of Solid Waste NPEP National Challenge Commitment for Priority Chemicals offers NPEP partners the benefit of their pledges to reduce priority chemicals as satisfying two of the four goal commitments necessary to join Performance Track. Examples 10% lead reduction goal at 3M Nevada 500 pound mercury reduction goal at Battelle Office of Solid Waste NPEP Partner/Performance Track Members Member Number Member Name A040039 Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC Warren County, Morrison, TN A040083 Lockheed Martin Orlando, FL A050038 Battelle Columbus, OH A060073 Spartech Plastics Arlington, TX A060081 Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant Glen Rose, TX A070010 Rockwell Collins Coralville, IA A070018 3M Nevada Nevada, MO A070019 Pfizer Lincoln, NE A100015 Washington State University Pullman, WA Encourage more joint members Establish partnership with state PBEPs Location Office of Solid Waste The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) Aims to ensure that all schools are free from hazards associated with mismanaged chemicals. 3 goals – Removal of outdated and dangerous chemicals – Reduction of future accumulations and accident prevention – Raise national awareness SC3 partners include American Chemistry Council (ACS) BASF Corporation - Whitestone Facility Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition (CKRC) Office of Solid Waste The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) Available as a Performance Track alternate goal address an important environmental problem either related to the facility's own environmental impacts or to a national, regional, or local issue; include a plan for demonstrating progress by the end of the participation period; and not otherwise fit into the existing Environmental Performance Table. Example – Oilfield Production Chemicals Manufacturer 1) visits local schools and inventory their chemicals and determine the best way to dispose of them (2) assists with disposal of chemicals, and (3) assists in developing chemical management plans Office of Solid Waste Construction and Demolition (C&D) Materials Consists of the debris generated during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings, roads, and bridges. Reducing and recycling C&D materials conserves landfill space, reduces the environmental impact of producing new materials, creates jobs, and can reduce overall building project expenses through avoided purchase/disposal costs. Example – Battelle facility reduced nonhazardous waste generation 64% in large part through recycling C&D waste Office of Solid Waste Other potential partnership opportunities for PBEPs National Lead Free Wheel Weight Initiative (NLFWWI) – 50,000,000 million pounds used annually – Partner with manufacturers, sellers distributors Plug-in to e-cycling – Opportunities to donate or recycle – Potential alternative goals Greenscapes – Partners with private sector and government agencies to apply environmentally friendly solutions to landscaping. Office of Solid Waste Regulatory Incentives Extending Hazardous Waste Accumulation Time – 90 to 180 days Less Frequent Self-Inspections for tanks, containers – Weekly to Monthly Performance Track encourages compliance Urge states to adopt these measures Office of Solid Waste BENEFITS Quantified environmental improvements beyond regulatory standards – Historically, EPA established standards through regulations – Some unregulated impacts best addressed through innovative approaches – Insufficient incentives to reduce pollutants beyond standards Performance Track encourages achievement of voluntary commitments outside of regulated aspects. Office of Solid Waste BENEFITS Enhanced environmental reporting – To public, states and EPA – Annual Report demonstrates level of environmental performance, maintenance of membership criteria Office of Solid Waste BENEFITS Sustained compliance with environmental laws – Tools available Program Annual Applications Performance Report Self Disclosure Site Visits Office of Solid Waste For More information Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign – Cynthia Merse ([email protected]) Construction and Demolition Materials – Kimberly Cochran ([email protected]) NPEP – Christine Guitar ([email protected]) Other – George Faison ([email protected])