Pollution Prevention: What Is It and How to Promote It

The rapid industrialization in Taiwan in recent years has resulted in the generation of large quantities of hazardous wastes and the subsequent pollution of the environment. In the past, the traditional pollution control techniques were often focused on the "end-of-pipeline" treatment. These types of treatment techniques are very expensive and have often transferred the pollutants to other media, creating a secondary pollution problem. Pollution prevention has been gaining popularity in many developed countries since mid 1970's. Several nations, such as the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands have adopted pollution prevention as a major strategic initiative for pollution control and management. Industries in these countries have demonstrated that use of pollution prevention approaches can significantly enhance utilization of resources and reduce the pollution abatement costs. Government agencies in these countries have established strategies and are implementing programs aimed to promote pollution prevention concept.