STABILIZATION

(Environmental) A broad expression used to denote a process that is intended to lessen the damage that a pollutant or discharge causes in the environment; the process of changing an active substance into inert, harmless material, or physical activities at a site that act to limit the further spread of contamination without actual reduction of toxicity. For example, the stabilization of sewage involves allowing microorganisms to degrade those components that can be decomposed.