POLLUTION PREVENTION

Pollution prevention (P2) is a term used to describe practices that avoid, eliminate, or reduce the amount of pollutants or waste being generated at the source. P2 activities reduce pollutants at the source by changing the waste generating process instead of handling the pollutants or waste after they are created.

USAG Italy prevents pollution from all practical sources through initiatives that reduce, reuse, and recycle both hazardous and non-hazardous materials. These P2 initiatives lessens our environmental impact, cost, liability, and disruption of mission operations.

The image below represents the waste management hierarchy showing actions that are the most favored to the least favored from left to right.

 

Current goals of the USAG Italy P2 Program

Program ElementGoal
Hazardous WasteContinuous Reduction in HW Disposal
Maintain Downward trend using 2011 as base year
Hazardous MaterialReduce the quantity of toxic and hazardous chemicals and materials acquired, used, or disposed of
Non-Hazardous Solid Waste60% diversion rate by 2018
Energy Intensity2.5% annual reduction of energy intensity per year through 2025 (25% total)
Water Intensity2% annual reduction of water intensity per year (20% total)
Air Emission25% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2025
Renewable/Alternative EnergyIncrease to 25% of total energy renewable/ alternative by 2025, 30% of electricity by 2025.
Promote sustainable acquisition and procurementUse more energy and water efficient products and services, such as ENERGY STAR, Federal Energy  Management Program (FEMP), and BioPreferred and biobased designated products.  
Purchase more sustainable products and services such as Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) chemicals or other alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons
Reduce copier and printing paper use
Acquire uncoated printing and writing paper containing at least 30 percent postconsumer recycled content or higher
Increase the use of power management, duplex printing, and other energy-efficient or environmentally sustainable features on electronic equipment
Dispose of excess or surplus electronic products in an environmentally sound manner