Housed at Purdue University, the Institute provides technical advice to Indiana's industries enabling them to reduce or eliminate the production of toxic waste at the point of manufacture. Pollution prevention stands in direct contrast to pollution control which tries to control toxic waste after it has been produced, usually by burying it in landfills or by burning it in incinerators.

In its first two years of operation Institute projects reduced toxic releases in Indiana by millions of pounds while cutting costs associated with the disposal of toxic waste, health care costs due to worker exposure and product liability costs resulting from customers' exposure to products containing toxic materials. The Institute increased the profits of the participating companies which in turn increased state tax revenues.

• 511 Company Contacts and Site Visits Made
• 36 Projects and Activities Implemented Subject to Agreements
• 1.6 Million Pounds of Toxics Reduced
• $2.6 Million Saved by Participating Companies
• $3.3 Million Projected return StateTax Revenues. ($2.04 returned for each $1.00 of state taxpayer support to the Institute.)
• $2.4 Million Projected Investment by Companies in Institute Projects. ($3.78 invested by 36 companies for each $1.00 of state taxpayer support for direct technical assistance.)

Pollution Prevention and Safe Materials Institute accomplished all this on a budget of only $450,000 per year. Now the Institute is asking for $2.3 million for the 1997-1999 biennium, or $1.15 million for each of the next two years, so it can bring even more of the benefits of pollution prevention to the state.

Those making the trip to Indianapolis to speak with Bauer included (left to right): Roger Voelker, Citizens Action Coalition; Chris Friedman, of the Audubon Society; Madelyn Bernauer, H.E.A.L. of Michiana; Paul Goettlich, for the Hoosier Environmental Council; and Pete Meyers (kneeling), of the St. Joe Valley Greens.

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