POLLUTION PREVENTION IS RECOGNIZED AS THE PREFERRED APPROACH TO MANAGING THE COSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT. IT IS FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT FROM POLLUTION CONTROL, WHICH STRESSES TREATMENT, COLLECTION, AND DISPOSAL OF WASTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASES. INSTEAD, IT CONCENTRATES ON SOURCE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING. POLLUTION PREVENTION CAN BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF A SOCIETAL TREND TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS WITH LESS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. A GROWING NUMBER OF CORPORATIONS AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS ARE ADOPTING THE POLLUTION PREVENTIONAL APPROACH. GOVERNMENTS ARE ACTIVE IN INCORPORATING THE CONCEPT INTO THEIR PROGRAMS, INCLUDING LEGISLATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. FINISHING HAS A VARIETY OF RELATIVELY NEW TECHNOLOGIES WHICH MAY BE USED TO ACHIEVE POLLUTION PREVENTION.