Pollution Prevention Educational Materials

Free educational materials for businesses

The Pollution Prevention Program (p2 Program) was created by the City in 1992 to protect the treatment plant and the river from harmful wastes. One of the goals of the P2 program is to educate the public, and assist businesses with ideas and changes that prevent harmful wastes from going down the drain. Another goal is to help businesses find ways to reduce waste through simple changes in housekeeping, maintenance, employee training, and inventory control. The P2 Program develops free educational materials for businesses and offers free non-regulatory assistance.

Businesses find that reducing waste can save money on waste treatment and disposal. Reduced waste can also lead to improved products and safety for workers. Even if your business produces a small amount of waste, collectively, businesses can make a difference.

The P2 Program has helped jewelers, photographers, printers, dentists, auto shops, electroplaters, laboratories and many others find ways to reduce waste. If your business is interested in free educational information or technical assistance, please call us or write to us and we would be happy to help.

Effective July 1, 2010, Dentists Will Be Required to Install Amalgam Separators

In December of 2009 the ABCWUA Governing Board amended the sewer use and wastewater control ordinance relating to water quality, requiring dental offices to remove dental amalgam prior to discharge of their wastewater. Please click on the link below to download the newly amended ordinance.

Amended Sewer Use and Wastewater Control Ordinance [56 KB pdf] 

One of the largest contributors of mercury to waste water treatment plants is mercury amalgam composites from the dental industry. However, the dental industry uses a variety of amalgam separator devices that can remove approximately 90% of the solids that contain mercury waste. The mercury waste is thus removed from the water discharged to the public collection system and greatly minimizes the potential of these pollutants being released into the environment. An article from the Journal of the American Dental Association is referenced below to provide more information regarding amalgam separators.

• http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/133/5/577
   

Congratulations Awardees!

2009 Awardees

2008 P2 Awardees

2008 5PPM Awardees

5 Parts Per Million Per Million Silver (5 PPM) and Pollution Prevention Awards for Businesses

Would you like your business to be positively recognized by the Utility? The Utility’s P2 Program has already recognized over 150 photography, printing and jewelry businesses. Businesses receive a certificate of recognition and free advertising in the Albuquerque Journal. Through the 5 PPM Silver Program, which is cosponsored by the New Mexico Silver Users Association, businesses voluntarily agree to discharge below 5 parts per million of silver. The P2 Program also recognizes other types of businesses for their environmentally conscious efforts with the Pollution Prevention Award