For startup craft breweries and existing small breweries focusing on sustainability & environmental issues is not only good for the planet and natural resources, but it creates a bond and goodwill with your customer base. 

But perhaps even more importantly, operating an efficient and environmentally sound brewery means less waste, less overhead, and more money back in your pocket to make beer, reinvest in equipment upgrades, and be more profitable. 

Air Quality

Until breweries reach a certain size there are not a whole lot of air quality issues that may require a Pennsylvania DEP air quality permit.  But there may be odor issues that may bother some neighbors (yes, not everyone may like the smell of wort or hops) and grain milling can create some indoor airborne particulate matter issues for your employees. 

Waste

Have you reached out to a local Pennsylvania farmer to help take a whole lot of spent grain off of your hands?  Have you considered limiting or reducing waste from product packaging, spent hops, trub, and other residual wastes?  Remember, wasted resources are a drain to your bottom line.

Wastewater

Most startup breweries in Pennsylvania have issues of industrial wastewater and where that wastewater will end up going to.  Reaching out to the local Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) is a smart first move when opening a brewery to understand local requirements and regulations. 

Thinking of discharging to a backyard septic system?  Think again. Most, if not all, local townships will not allow this.