Pollution Prevention Melody La Bella CCCSD BACWA Annual

Pollution Prevention Melody La. Bella, CCCSD BACWA Annual Members Meeting January 24, 2008

Evolution of Pollution Prevention n Reaction Mode n Didn’t look at the horizon, just responded to problems

Reaction Mode Cuyahoga River, Ohio

Evolution of Pollution Prevention n Reaction Mode n n Didn’t look at the horizon, just responded to problems Anticipation Mode Started looking for emerging contaminants n At one time, pesticides, cyanide and dioxin were emerging contaminants n n Prevention Mode n Working to prevent pollutants rather than waiting for/anticipating them to be a problem

Prevention Mode n EPA Registration for Nanotechnology Products n n Green Chemistry n n Samsung Silver Ion Washing Machines DTSC’s Green Chemistry Initiative Product Stewardship n California Product Stewardship Council

Samsung Silver Ion Washing Machine Releases silver ions during wash & rinse cycles n Leaves a 30 -day residue on clothing that prevents bacteria growth n The Consortium for Energy Efficiency included this model on their rebate list n This rebate list is used by PG&E and Bay Area water agencies to create an incentive for consumers to buy models that are energy and water-efficient n

BACWA’s Efforts n n n At the urging of the BAPPG, BACWA sent a letter to Bay Area water agencies in May 2007 to request removal of this model from rebate lists As of July 2007, Bay Area water agencies stopped offering rebates on these machines Sales on this model have suffered in Bay Area n n This prompted phone calls/emails from Samsung In Sept. 2007, EPA announced that machines that generate silver ions will be regulated as pesticides

Green Chemistry – Why? Every day, the US produces or imports 42 billion pounds of chemicals n Many of these chemicals are unregulated n Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) n n n Does not require chemical producers to generate or disclose information on the health or environmental safety of their chemicals Currently, there is essentially one driving force in the design and manufacture of chemicals

Green Chemistry Initiative (GCI) Policy currently being developed by DTSC n Design, manufacture and use of chemicals that are safer for humans & the environment n Will set standards for products and chemicals BEFORE they are manufactured and released on the market and into the environment n Will include environmental impacts in the initial evaluation phase n

BACWA’s Efforts to Support GCI Michele Pla has been engaged in a dialogue with Clean Water Action about the importance of this policy as it relates to water quality n Jen Jackson (EBMUD) has drafted a letter of support & Michele will raise this issue to the Summit Partners (CASA, CWEA, SCAP, CVCWA) n

Product Stewardship – Why? “Ban without a plan” – unfunded mandates n Example – Feb. 2006 sunset of the temporary exemption on Universal Waste Laws n Illegal to dispose of mercury-containing items in the trash (e. g. batteries, fluorescent bulbs) n CCCSD’s HHW Facility saw about a 3 -fold increase in collection of these mercury-containing items n n Unwanted/expired pharmaceuticals n We don’t want them in the sewer, but they can be diverted from the trash, so where should they go?

In British Columbia, the pharmaceutical industry pays the full cost of a program that allows customers to take unused drugs back to more than 800 pharmacies.

California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) Organization of local CA governments n Mission is to shift CA’s product waste management system from one focused on government-funded and ratepayer-financed waste diversion to one that relies on producer responsibility in order to reduce public costs and drive improvements in product design n Working to help develop the framework for extended producer responsibility (EPR) n

BACWA’s Efforts to Support CPSC The BACWA Board approved a $5, 000 contribution to the CPSC in November 2007 and will continue to budget funding for support n BACWA Board designated the BAPPG Chair to participate in the monthly CPSC Associates’ conference calls to remain engaged n

For More Information www. caproductstewardship. org n www. dtsc. ca. gov/Pollution. Prevention/Gree n. Chemistry. Initiative n

In Conclusion… It’s been a long, slow journey, but we are definitely headed in the right direction in PREVENTING pollution. It’s important for local governments, including POTWs, to support these emerging initiatives in order to halt the stream of emerging pollutants.

Acknowledgements Karin North, Palo Alto n Jen Jackson, EBMUD n

Any Questions?