About the Authors
Thomas E. Higgins (author), Jayanti A. Sachdev (coauthor), and Stephen A. Engleman
(coauthor) are environmental engineering professionals with a broad range of private
and public sector experience. This book reflects the work, views, and opinions of
the authors. This book does not represent the work, views, or opinions of any of the
authors’ current or past employers, their clients, or their staff.
Thomas E. Higgins, PhD, PE received three
degrees from the University of Notre Dame: a BS in
civil engineering, an MS in environmental engineering, and a PhD in environmental engineering with
minors in law and chemistry. After graduating,
Higgins designed wastewater treatment plants for
nuclear power plants. He, then, was a professor of
civil and environmental engineering at Arizona
State University, where he taught courses in environmental engineering and performed research in treatment of industrial and hazardous waste.
During the past 25 years, Higgins has worked in
the private sector, leading research efforts to develop
processes for treating or eliminating waste, designing
treatment plants, and helping companies and governments set up programs to eliminate
waste before it is produced. One project was a study for the Department of Defense that
evaluated technologies and recommended policy changes that resulted in substantial
reduction in hazardous waste, air emissions, and wastewater; resulting in net savings
of over $100 million per year in avoided costs for waste disposal and operations.
Based on this and subsequent experience with other clients, Higgins developed
waste minimization tools and led teams performing waste minimization assessments,
implementing projects, and providing training to clients in these methods. These experiences and lectures led first to the publication of over 80 articles and two books, The
Hazardous Waste Minimization Handbook and The Pollution Prevention Handbook.
He has assisted companies and governmental agencies in setting up pollution
prevention programs in the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Canada,
Hungary, Poland, Russia, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, mainland China, Australia, and Brazil.
Higgins recently led an effort to set up a program for the state of Sâo Paulo,
Brazil to reduce the impacts of toxic chemicals. The project developed a program
of toxic chemical use reduction, adapting methods used in the United States and
other countries that had resulted in reduction of exposure by workers and the public
to hazardous chemicals. This project resulted in a program tailored to the needs
of Brazil. As a result of this project, Higgins applied these methods to develop a
program for the United States. This book is the result of that evaluation.
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Thomas E. Higgins (author), Jayanti A. Sachdev (coauthor), and Stephen A. Engleman
(coauthor) are environmental engineering professionals with a broad range of private
and public sector experience. This book reflects the work, views, and opinions of
the authors. This book does not represent the work, views, or opinions of any of the
authors’ current or past employers, their clients, or their staff.
Thomas E. Higgins, PhD, PE received three
degrees from the University of Notre Dame: a BS in
civil engineering, an MS in environmental engineering, and a PhD in environmental engineering with
minors in law and chemistry. After graduating,
Higgins designed wastewater treatment plants for
nuclear power plants. He, then, was a professor of
civil and environmental engineering at Arizona
State University, where he taught courses in environmental engineering and performed research in treatment of industrial and hazardous waste.
During the past 25 years, Higgins has worked in
the private sector, leading research efforts to develop
processes for treating or eliminating waste, designing
treatment plants, and helping companies and governments set up programs to eliminate
waste before it is produced. One project was a study for the Department of Defense that
evaluated technologies and recommended policy changes that resulted in substantial
reduction in hazardous waste, air emissions, and wastewater; resulting in net savings
of over $100 million per year in avoided costs for waste disposal and operations.
Based on this and subsequent experience with other clients, Higgins developed
waste minimization tools and led teams performing waste minimization assessments,
implementing projects, and providing training to clients in these methods. These experiences and lectures led first to the publication of over 80 articles and two books, The
Hazardous Waste Minimization Handbook and The Pollution Prevention Handbook.
He has assisted companies and governmental agencies in setting up pollution
prevention programs in the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Canada,
Hungary, Poland, Russia, Uzbekistan, Taiwan, mainland China, Australia, and Brazil.
Higgins recently led an effort to set up a program for the state of Sâo Paulo,
Brazil to reduce the impacts of toxic chemicals. The project developed a program
of toxic chemical use reduction, adapting methods used in the United States and
other countries that had resulted in reduction of exposure by workers and the public
to hazardous chemicals. This project resulted in a program tailored to the needs
of Brazil. As a result of this project, Higgins applied these methods to develop a
program for the United States. This book is the result of that evaluation.
xix