Technical assistance resources

The MPCA and its partners have developed a series of print and online resources, as well as web links, to help your organization or business learn how to reduce waste, prevent pollution and make environmentally responsible purchases. Whether your aim is to develop a formal pollution prevention plan, cut your garbage bill or figure out how to responsibly manage items that fall outside the basic recycling services, you'll find something here to help you.

• Minnesota Guide to Pollution Prevention Planning
    The Minnesota Guide to Pollution Prevention Planning was developed to help companies comply with the Minnesota Toxic Pollution Prevention Act. The guide includes background on the concepts and benefits of pollution prevention, as well as systematic guidance for developing a pollution prevention plan.
  
  
• P2 Survey of Manufacturer Needs
    The P2 team commissioned a survey to assess the present needs of manufacturers in Minnesota and learn which P2 assistance activities were most valued. The survey results provide important feedback on P2 in Minnesota and will help guide the continuing process of improving our P2 assistance.
  
  
• Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
    From copy paper to cleaners, automotive fluids to printing services, every product purchased can have an impact on human health and the environment. To reduce the quantity and toxicity of waste in Minnesota, state agencies and other public entities purchase recycled, repairable, and durable goods. We have developed resources that can help your business do the same.
  
  
• Green Building | www.pca.state.mn.us/greenbuilding
  Green building, or "sustainable design," means having a significantly reduced impact on the Earth's resources compared to conventional building. It also means creating a building that is healthier and more comfortable for its occupants, consequently enhancing productivity.
  
  
• Reusable Transport Packaging Directory | www.pca.state.mn.us/oea/transport/
    Transport packaging includes containers used to store, ship, handle, protect and identify goods. Selecting reusable options generally reduces your long-term costs, prevents the creation of unnecessary garbage, and often makes it possible to make your entire supply and distribution chain more efficient.
  
  
• Twin Cities Resourceful Waste Management Guide | www.rethinkrecycling.com/businesses/waste-management-guide
    There are many fine reasons your company should be thinking about waste management. The most important of these is that a good program will save you money. By following the tips outlined in this guide, you can develop a waste management program that can minimize costs and improve profits, while boosting employee morale and productivity and conserving natural resources. A project of the metropolitan Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board.
  
  
• U.S. EPA Industry Sector Notebooks | www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/publications/assistance/sectors/notebooks/
    The U.S. EPA has developed a series of profiles, or "notebooks," containing information on selected major industries. These notebooks, which focus on essential indicators that holistically present air, water and land pollutant release data, have been thoroughly reviewed by experts from both inside and outside the U.S. EPA. Each notebook gathers, for the first time in a single source, comprehensive, well-researched details, including a comprehensive environmental profile, industrial process information and pollution prevention techniques.