Oregon DEQ: Sustainability-Best Management Practices for Preventative Housekeeping

Running a clean shop is essential for preventing the possibility of hazardous spills. Managing your supplies and inventory closely can also help reduce waste and overspending, while revealing opportunities for recycling. Here are some tips to help your business maintain best housekeeping practices.

Keep storage and work areas clean.
Conduct regular (e.g., daily, weekly) walk-through inspections, including equipment, tanks and containers containing hazardous materials and wastes.
Tightly cover and label containers clearly.
Keep wastes separate to increase opportunity to reuse and recycle.
Reuse or recycle extra containers regularly while minimizing the total number of empty containers on site.
Place hazardous material and waste containers in secondary containment.
Place products and other useable materials under cover.
Reduce storage of excess inventory.
Track inventory to implement just-in-time ordering.
Perform preventative maintenance for equipment.
Eliminate vehicle, equipment and container washing areas that discharge to the ground or leave the site. If using a wash rack, cover and install an oil-water separator. Check with local sewer agency or Department of Environmental Quality for other requirements and possible permit.
Dye test floor drains, and cap, cover or carefully monitor them.

Keeping work areas clean, performing regular equipment maintenance, maintaining proper storage, and undertaking just-in-time ordering are some the ways businesses can maintain clean operations.