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Pollution Prevention

MIT strives to promote a safe and sustainable research environment that aligns research activities with the Institute’s Climate Action Plan.  Hazardous waste minimization is a key component of these efforts and MIT is committed to providing, and utilizing, resources and technology to assist chemical users in selecting the safest among chemical alternatives and in managing their processes so as to minimize the volume and toxicity of chemical wastes generated.

 

It is important that every member of the MIT community be aware of the environmental impacts related to the disposal of hazardous chemical wastes, and be equipped to make decisions and take actions which mitigate these impacts. The plan below outlines some concrete steps which can be taken, and guidelines which can be followed, to minimize hazardous chemical waste management at MIT.

 

There are a few general methods of waste minimization:

 

  • Source reduction involves changing practices and procedures to reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous waste materials.

 

  • Efficient Waste Management techniques involve handing and processing wastes in ways that result in the lowest volumes and toxicities.

 

  • Re-Use/Recycling is when a waste material is used for another purpose, treated and reused in the same process or reclaimed for another process.

MIT strives to promote a safe and sustainable research environment that aligns research activities with the Institute’s Climate Action Plan.  Hazardous waste minimization is a key component of these efforts and MIT is committed to providing, and utilizing, resources and technology to assist chemical users in selecting the safest among chemical alternatives and in managing their processes so as to minimize the volume and toxicity of chemical wastes generated.

 

It is important that every member of the MIT community be aware of the environmental impacts related to the disposal of hazardous chemical wastes, and be equipped to make decisions and take actions which mitigate these impacts. The plan below outlines some concrete steps which can be taken, and guidelines which can be followed, to minimize hazardous chemical waste management at MIT.

 

There are a few general methods of waste minimization:

 

  • Source reduction involves changing practices and procedures to reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous waste materials.

 

  • Efficient Waste Management techniques involve handing and processing wastes in ways that result in the lowest volumes and toxicities.

 

  • Re-Use/Recycling is when a waste material is used for another purpose, treated and reused in the same process or reclaimed for another process.