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| Executive Summary |
| The University of
Michigan (U-M) campus community is concerned with preserving a balance between protecting
the health of people and the environment, while accommodating increasingly sophisticated
and productive research operations. The faculty, staff, and students have demonstrated
their commitment to the environment by developing and implementing pollution prevention
(P2) projects in teaching and research laboratories, residence halls, and other functional
areas of the University such as transportation and utilities. P2000: Pollution Prevention
Programs at the University of Michigan is a compilation of the numerous P2 initiatives
implemented on the U-M Ann Arbor campus. The manual was written to facilitate the exchange
of P2 ideas among members of the U-M community, as well as other institutions involved in
similar types of research and teaching activities. A collaborative effort was essential to the planning, development, and successful implementation of all pollution prevention initiatives described in this manual. The U-M community demonstrated its commitment to the success of the projects through teamwork and open communication modeled after M-Quality (U-M's Total Quality Management program). The long-term focus of the P2000 project will be achieved through an emphasis on continuous improvement. This approach is invaluable to the success of any large-scale project of this nature. P2000: Pollution Prevention Programs at the University of Michigan is segregated into the following topic specific sections, detailing a number of individual waste minimization initiatives within each: Section 1 - RCRA Overview: During the developmental stages, it was determined that a summary of the hazardous waste regulations would be helpful to researchers and others on campus generating hazardous waste. Providing a basic understanding of regulatory requirements to those who may generate hazardous waste allows a proactive approach to pollution prevention to be taken during the course of daily research and other activities. For this reason, an overview of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is provided in Section 1. Section 2 - Chemical Waste in Laboratories: Contains numerous examples of hazardous and mixed waste reduction techniques being employed in research and teaching laboratories. Various analytical methods developed by the U-M Occupational Safety and Environmental Health (OSEH) Environmental Laboratory that resulted in P2 and waste minimization are also presented in this section. Section 3 - Mercury Reduction: Details specific mercury-containing equipment substitutions with non-mercury containing environmentally friendly substitutes. Section 4 - Energy Conservation: Contains information detailing proactive energy savings projects including the EPA Green Lights and Energy Star. Section 5 - Grounds and Waste Management: Includes several individual sections on solid waste reduction, recycling efforts, and composting. Section 6 - Pest Management: Details cutting-edge integrated pest management applications that utilize non-hazardous methods of controlling unwanted pests in the workplace. Section 7 - Transportation Services: Includes information on the reuse and recycling of used coolants, engine oils, and spent solvents generated during performance and maintenance activities on U-M vehicles. Section 8 - Recreational Sports and Athletics: Describes strategies and technologies used to provide maximum benefits with minimum environmental impacts from the various recreational and athletic facilities on campus. Information presented includes a computerized irrigation system for the U-M golf course water conservation, an ozonation system to disinfect swimming pool water, and composting of organic golf course debris. Where possible, estimates of expenditures required to implement P2 projects have been provided within individual sections. Budgetary information is representative of actual costs incurred by U-M in calendar years 1996 and 1997. Costs associated with implementing similar projects may vary depending on the current economy and geographic location. As a result of the University of Michigan's commitment supporting pollution prevention, waste minimization, energy conservation, and the efficient use of resources, several proactive P2 programs have been implemented throughout facilities, laboratories, classrooms, and recreational departments on the U-M campuses. In February 1996, the OSEH department focused P2 activities toward the implementation of three Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), which were being performed in settlement of an enforcement action brought by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The scope, schedule, budget, and logistics of implementing the SEPs were developed within a project titled P2000. The focus of the three SEPs contained in P2000 is broad, and includes waste minimization and P2 programs that were implemented throughout the U-M campuses. The main objective of the SEPs has been to develop successful P2 methodologies, and through the development and dissemination of technology transfer materials, enable others to learn and implement successful projects of their own. This manual represents one of the significant technology transfer work products representing P2 activities performed within the SEPs. It also encompasses various waste minimization efforts being performed outside of the P2000 project at the U-M. The manual is a dynamic tool that will grow with time as new P2 projects are implemented throughout the U-M. Updated sections and revisions will be distributed via the U-M OSEH Web site and Pollution Prevention Manual Web site www.p2000.umich.edu. Please direct any questions to: The University of Michigan Acknowledgments We thank the following authors and technical reviewers for their contributions to this manual. Athletics Biology Business Operations Chemistry Grounds and Waste Management Mechanical Engineering
and Applied Mechanics Mental Health Research
Institute Medical School Occupational Safety &
Environmental Health Safety, Building and
Environmental Management Transportation Services Utilities and Maintenance
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