DOE/ORO/2327 Oak Ridge Reservation Annual Site Environmental ...

Annual Site Environmental Report
• Reduce/Reuse/Recycle/Buy Green—A pollution prevention opportunity assessment was completed
on a key hazardous waste stream, the Y-12 Procurement Handbook was updated to incorporate
requirements of Environmentally Preferable Procurement, and awareness training of new DOE
Acquisition goals was conducted for Y-12 buyers. Section 4.2.6.2 presents additional successes that
support this EMS target area.
4.2.6.2 Sustainability and Stewardship
Numerous efforts at Y-12 have reduced its impact on the environment. Efforts include increased use of
environmentally friendly products and processes and reductions in waste and emissions. During the past few
years, these efforts have been recognized by our customer, our community, and other stakeholders (see
Sect. 4.2.7). Not only have the pollution prevention efforts at Y-12 benefited the environment, they have
also resulted in avoided costs (Fig. 4.7).
Fig. 4.7. Cost avoidance from Y-12 pollution prevention
activities.
In FY 2009, Y-12 implemented 104 pollution prevention initiatives (Fig. 4.8), with a reduction of
more than 16.25 million kilograms (36 million pounds) of waste and a cost savings/avoidance of more
than $2.58 million. The completed projects include the activities presented below.
Fig. 4.8. Y-12 pollution prevention initiatives.
Initiatives with Pollution Prevention Benefits and Source Reduction
Sustainable initiatives have been embraced across the Y-12 Complex to reduce its impact on the
environment and to increase operational efficiency. Many of Y-12’s sustainable initiatives have pollution
The Y-12 National Security Complex 4-11