Pollution prevention (P2) is a comprehensive initiative to reduce and prevent pollution at the source. It focuses on conservation of resources, replacement of hazardous materials with less hazardous materials, waste reduction, recycling, and other preventive means to successfully and cost effectively avoid, prevent, or reduce the generation of pollutants.

USAEC's role in helping achieve environmental compliance for the Army through the application of P2 includes:

- Integrating P2 into compliance and waste management programs (air management, drinking water management, EPCRA implementation, hazardous waste management, integrated solid waste management, storage tank and spill management, and toxics management) as applicable
- Working with Army installations to develop P2 strategies
- Documenting and evaluating performance of P2 initiatives by collecting and sharing success stories and lessons learned
- Tracking the Army's progress in meeting DoD and Army environmental goals
- Reviewing P2-related presidential orders and local, state and federal requirements
- Supporting Army and DoD P2 policy making efforts
- Preparing programmatic and media-specific guidance documents, including P2 options
- Developing tools to assist installations in complying with P2 requirements
- Supporting installations when requested
- Monitoring the EPA to stay abreast of current and future initiatives
- Support Army and DoD environmental technology transition efforts
 

The Army P2 program has three major impacts on the Army. First, it helps installations reduce their environmental compliance burden by minimizing the applicability of requirements imposed by environmental laws and regulations. Second, successful P2 projects help reduce operational costs. Third, the P2 program is fundamental in reducing waste and the generation of pollution. The Army P2 program focuses on implementing changes in chemicals, equipment, and processes in order to achieve a meaningful cost-effective reduction in the generation of pollution without adversely impacting mission readiness.

P2 also plays an essential role in Army efforts to implement installation sustainability programs. In sustainability, P2 provides essential tools to help installations meet their long-term goals. Some typical P2 projects include:

- Polystyrene (styrofoam) densifier/compactor
- Refillable pressurized aerosol sprayer
- Wood waste grinder
- Filter and reuse of fuel
- Sustainable procurement
- Natural gas conversion of boilers
- Recycling non-hazardous waste
- Solvent recycling
- Waste reduction
- Weapons parts cleaning systems
 

P2 is driven by executive orders and local, state, and federal requirements, including:

- The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990
- Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Clean Water Act (CWA)
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
- Clean Air Act (CAA)
- Executive Order (EO) 13834, Efficient Federal Operations (revoked except sections 6. Duties of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, Section 7. Duties of Heads of Agencies, and Section 11. General Provisions)
- EO 13990 Climate Crisis; Efforts to Protect Public Health and Environmental and Restore Science
- EO 14057 Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability