Bureau of Land

Greener Cleanups

Greener Cleanups are less polluting, more efficient cleanup activities and technologies designed to increase the environmental benefits of remediation. By performing greener cleanups, you can:

• Reduce carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases,
• Conserve natural resources,
• Improve energy efficiencies (and decrease costs), and
• Reduce waste material requiring off-site disposal.

Illinois EPA has developed a series of tools to help site owners, developers and their consultants in incorporating greener cleanup practices. This effort applies to every cleanup program in the Bureau of Land, though specific tools have been created for LUST sites.

Five Guiding Principles for Greener Cleanups in Illinois

1. Ensure every cleanup protects human health and the environment.
2. Integrate site reuse plans into the cleanup strategy.
1. Sequence work to improve efficiency.
2. Make use of engineered barriers and institutional controls that are compatible with future site development.
3. Conserve raw materials such as soil and water; salvage building materials and other resources.
1. Reduce waste disposal.
2. Reduce the need for new materials, including clean fill and potable water.
3. Use existing infrastructure.
4. Conserve energy.
1. Reduce energy consumption.
2. Use renewable energy sources to power cleanup activities where possible.
5. Consider the environmental effects of treatment technologies when choosing a site remedy.
1. Compare options for contaminant disposition (permanent destruction, pollutant transfer or management in place).
2. Evaluate resource demands.
3. Assess long-term stewardship responsibilities.

Illinois' Greener Cleanups Matrix:  How to Maximize the Environmental Benefits of Site Remediation

Illinois EPA has created a simple matrix to guide site owners and consultants in choosing sustainable practices that can be applied to site assessment, planning and design, and cleanup.

An expanded matrix lists individual actions, followed by a qualitative ranking of their level of difficulty and feasibility (sub-categorized by cost, schedule and technical complexity).  The benefits of each action to air, water, land and energy are also identified.

To build the matrix, Illinois EPA evaluated certain cleanups from the Leaking UST, SRP, CERCLA and RCRA programs using site-specific questionnaires, field visits and consultations with green remediation practitioners.

Greener Cleanup Strategies Mind Map: All Sites

This diagram shows greener cleanup concepts for all sites, organized by category onto one page.

Greener Cleanup Strategies Mind Map: LUST Sites

This diagram presents greener cleanup concepts specific to tank sites in a one-page, big picture view.

LUST Decision Trees

This document identifies 17 greener cleanup activities that can be undertaken during early action activities, free product removal, sampling, soil remediation, groundwater remediation, and off-site impacts. It’s essentially a flow chart that shows when green practices can be incorporated during an ordinary tank cleanup.

External Links

U.S. EPA

Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO)

Sustainable Remediation Forum (SURF)