Businesses are rethinking even basic elements of their industrial processes as they realize the true costs of waste. The P2 approach investigates pollution reduction and waste minimization opportunities that can lead to substantial cost savings, including modifying processes, substituting or reusing materials, optimizing operations and maintenance.

P2 supplements our regulatory compliance efforts, including inspection and enforcement (links), by partnering with area businesses to achieve optimal pollution elimination. We work with businesses to share our expertise and assistance and connect our customers with P2 resources (links), including P2 programs with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality.

Our pollution prevention goals are to:

• Eliminate all sanitary sewer overflows related to excessive greasy waste discharges.
• Go beyond the strictest regulations relating to the beneficial reuse of biosolids and reclaimed water.
• Outperform the already stringent standards for water discharges into the Colorado River.

Our office is currently involved in two different P2 programs:

• Code of Management Practices for Silver Users addresses silver bearing wastes typically generated by photo-processing, printing and x-ray development
• Pretreatment Excellence Award Program recognizes local businesses with excellent compliance records or noteworthy P2 success stories