§13101 Findings and policy

Summary

Requires the Environmental Protection Agency to set up a source‑reduction program and give source reduction more attention. The EPA must collect and share information, provide financial help to States, and carry out the other actions listed in this chapter. Congress found that the U.S. makes millions of tons of pollution and spends tens of billions of dollars each year to control it. Many businesses can cut pollution at the source with cost‑effective changes to production, operations, or raw materials, saving money and protecting workers. Current rules often focus on treatment and disposal instead. National policy: prevent or reduce pollution at the source when feasible; if not, recycle when feasible; if not, treat when feasible; and use disposal only as a last resort, done in an environmentally safe way.