History of P²AD

P²AD is the result of a new philosophy of environmental management in Georgia. During the 1980’s, hazardous waste was generally managed through treatment and disposal methods using pollution control technology. The Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Authority (the Authority) proposed construction of an incinerator facility to manage the state’s hazardous waste. However, because of significant public opposition to this plan, in 1991 the Authority restructured and expanded its mission to include the reduction of hazardous waste at its source. To serve this goal of pollution prevention, the Georgia General Assembly created the Pollution Prevention Assistance Division as a non-regulatory division of the Department of Natural Resources, beginning operation on October 1, 1993.

P²AD was created as a one-stop service to provide technical assistance to Georgia businesses and other groups interested in voluntarily finding ways to reduce generation of solid and hazardous waste, usage of water and energy, and releases of pollutants into the air, water, and land. Building on this foundation of technical assistance to the manufacturing sector, the Division has expanded its pollution prevention programs to reach a wider audience, including commercial businesses, agriculture, horticulture, and defense. The Division has also accepted new responsibilities to serve Georgia’s citizens, including household hazardous waste reduction and the state’s radon awareness program.