March 26, 2007—Pacific Northwest National Laboratory announced adoption of a new incentive-based waste management program for high performing facilities under the US Environmental Protection Agency’s National Environmental Performance Track program.
The program establishes a set of waste management procedures designed to create more flexible waste requirements and maximize overall cost savings, which benefits taxpayers.
PNNL is the first Department of Energy facility, and one of only a few facilities nationwide, to implement extended waste accumulation practices, according to the PNNL.
As a prerequisite to joining Performance Track, PNNL established and implemented an environmental management system designed to reduce waste generation and hazards associated with the waste.
PNNL generates small quantities of byproduct wastes resulting from research and maintenance activities conducted at the lab. Under the new EPA incentive program, PNNL may now accumulate wastes at its north Richland campus for up to 180 days, twice the period allowed under standard regulatory requirements.
Complimenting PNNL’s strong waste management performance is the lab’s externally verified conformance to the International Organization for Standardization environmental management system standards, or ISO 14001. For more information, visit the PNNL Web site.
