"You can state corporate positions, write detailed mission statements, outline ambitious goals and prepare detailed plans, but the way you reduce waste is by installing projects that reduce waste."
Ken Nelson, Dow Chemical
Once the pollution prevention team selects the projects to be implemented, management approval must be obtained. If management support was obtained as described in Chapter 7, the approval process should not be difficult (providing the project benefits, profitability, and feasibility are acceptable). The pollution prevention coordinator (or whoever will be in charge of the project) should present to management the details of the project along with the budget and project justification (particularly economics). Individual companies will have their own procedures to be followed for project endorsement.
When approval has been obtained, the necessary funding for the project should be acquired. Again, this procedure will vary with the company. It may be worthwhile to contact the Ohio Department of Development, the Federal Small Business Administration, and other governmental offices. These organizations may provide loans or grants for pollution prevention projects. A joint project of U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA, the National Industrial Competitiveness Through Efficiency: Energy, Environment, and Economics (NICE3) provides one-time grant funds for research and demonstration projects (see Appendix B).
When funding is in place, project implementation can begin. The phases of implementation will be the same as for most other projects in the company. Personnel that will be directly affected by the project (line workers, engineers) should be involved from the start. Those personnel indirectly affected (e.g., controllers, purchasing agents) should also be involved as project implementation proceeds. Any additional training requirements should be identified and arrangements made for instruction. All employees should be periodically informed of the project status and should be educated as to the benefits of the project to them and to the company. Encourage employees to comment on the plan and to suggest additional reduction options. This may ease the natural resistance to change.