Pollution Prevention & Waste Minimization Flashcards
7 cards from real CEA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Pollution Prevention & Waste Minimization flashcards as text
According to the U.S. Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, what is the preferred approach in the pollution management hierarchy?
Answer: Source reduction at the point of generation
The Pollution Prevention Act establishes source reduction as the most preferred approach, meaning preventing pollution before it is created rather than managing it after the fact.
A facility wants to reduce solvent waste from its degreasing operations. Which pollution prevention technique represents source reduction?
Answer: Switching to aqueous cleaning systems
Switching to aqueous (water-based) cleaning eliminates the use of hazardous solvents entirely, which is source reduction — preventing waste generation at the source.
Which metric is most useful for tracking a facility's waste minimization progress over time?
Answer: Waste generation rate normalized to production output
Normalizing waste generation to production output accounts for changes in production volume, making it the most meaningful indicator of true waste minimization progress.
Under EPA's waste management hierarchy, which option ranks highest after source reduction?
Answer: Environmentally sound recycling
EPA's waste management hierarchy places source reduction first, followed by environmentally sound recycling (including reuse), then treatment, and finally disposal.
A paint manufacturer implements a raw material substitution to replace a volatile organic compound (VOC)-based solvent with a water-based alternative. This change primarily reduces:
Answer: Air emissions from the painting process
Replacing VOC-based solvents with water-based alternatives directly reduces air emissions since VOCs evaporate into the atmosphere during application and drying.
What is the primary goal of a Toxic Use Reduction (TUR) program at a manufacturing facility?
Answer: To reduce quantities of toxic chemicals used in production processes
TUR programs focus on reducing the amount and toxicity of chemicals used in production, addressing the problem upstream rather than managing toxic waste after it is created.
During a P2 (pollution prevention) audit, an auditor identifies that a facility over-orders raw materials, leading to expired product that becomes hazardous waste. The most appropriate P2 recommendation is:
Answer: Implement a just-in-time inventory management system
Just-in-time inventory management reduces over-purchasing, preventing materials from expiring and becoming waste — a direct source reduction strategy.