Pollution Prevention: An Emerging Approach

During the first few decades of environmental protection regulation ____ the United States, the focus was on

containing or cleaning _____ pollution after it was generated. Since the 1960s and 1970s, these strategies

have resulted _____ significant improvement ____ many aspects ____ environmental quality. However,

regulations that focus ____ the end ____ the pipe or the top of the stack do little to prevent pollution or avert

future impacts — often, they just cause the pollution to be shifted _____ one environmental medium (air,

water, or land) ____ another. The “command-and-control” nature ____ the regulatory system (in which

government sets prescriptive standards and in some cases dictates methods for compliance) also has

contributed ___ this emphasis ____ after-the-fact pollution control.

Faced _____ the limitations inherent in such pollution management strategies as containment and

remediation, many sectors of government and industry are shifting ____ a more preventive, proactive

approach. This emerging approach, referred ____ as pollution prevention, offers a promising means ____

protecting the environment and achieving more efficient use ____ resources.

But prevention is not something that can be simply added on ____ existing practices and systems. It involves

identifying the root causes ____ waste and figuring ____ ways to minimize its creation, often ___ using

energy and materials more efficiently. Pollution can result ____ virtually all human activities. Therefore,

pollution prevention represents a challenge that is open ____ all members of society, at all levels ____

activity and decision- making. The role of education is crucial: pollution prevention requires having the skills,

creativity, and mindset to holistically identify options ____ improvement and innovation.