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Cleaner Production
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programs. The tools that governments use regarding their country’s needs
and circumstances fall into:
Adopting regulations: The regulations specify the environmental goals,
methodology of achieving them, and technology used.
Economic instruments: Economic instruments are used to make the costs of
pollution more expensive than the costs of cleaner production. Two forms of
these instruments exist; those that provide rewards and those that penalize.
Provide support measures: Government can provide support in five main
areas:
• Providing information about cleaner production.
• Assisting in the development of management tools in the industry.
• Organizing training workshops.
• Promoting the concept in engineering schools, universities and
research institutes.
• Providing a case study with cost/benefit analysis in different indus-
trial sectors.
Provide external assistance: Assistance can take several forms; financial aid,
development of case studies in different sectors, technology transfer, and
exchange of expertise.
Provide guidelines for implementing CP: Three main steps are required to
initiate cleaner production successfully: (1) structured methodology, (2)
management commitment, (3) operator’s involvement.
2.3 Benefits of Cleaner Production
Cleaner production can reduce operating costs, improve profitability and
worker safety, and reduce the environmental impact of the business. Compa-
nies are frequently surprised at the cost reductions achievable through the
adoption of cleaner production techniques. Frequently, minimal or no capi-
tal expenditure is required to achieve worthwhile gains, with fast payback
periods. Waste handling and charges, raw material usage and insurance pre-
miums can often be cut, along with potential risks. It is obvious that cleaner
production techniques are good business for industry because it will:
• Reduce waste disposal cost.
• Reduce raw material cost.
• Reduce Health Safety Environment (HSE) damage cost.
• Improve public relations/image.
