WASTE DB(TM), and Other Envirogenics Products

Prepared by:
Envirogenics

Prepared for:
Public purchase

Application:
Financial analysis:
Environmental impact analysis: ---
Waste management/P2:
Environmental cost listing/database: ---
Cost estimation: ---
Alternative product/process comparison: ---

Manages hazardous waste from initial disposal to final disposition. Also prints manifests, reports, and container labels. The system has one cost field where manifesting costs can be entered. No other costs are detailed, and custom fields cannot be created. There is no feature for maintaining historical cost records that can be used for estimation purposes. As yet, the system has no components for project management.

Elements of control:
Cost control ---
Resource control ---
Estimating control ---
Schedule control ---
Scope control ---
Risk control ---

Development date and updates:
CHEM Master(R) line of products, including Waste DB(TM) were introduced in1985. The current version of CHEMMaster(R) is version 3.3, released in January,1995. The most current version of Waste DB(TM) was updated in the middle of1994.

Public availability:
Available

Purpose and current use:
Envirogenics has sold their CHEM Master(R) systems to almost 1000 clients with names including DuPont, General Electric, and AT&T.

Cost information:
The cost of the system is $950. It is licensed by SOFT Touch Systems Inc.

System requirements:

The system requirements are:

The system can be upgraded to work on any network that can support DOS.

Software summary

Size and complexity of projects:
Not applicable; the system is not designed for project management. It is meant to manage and control areas of regular company activities, including waste manifesting and tracking. Not meant for very large/complex requirements.

Other compatible systems offered:
CHEMMaster(R), MSDS Generator(TM).

Nonquantifiable information:
Not applicable; the system is not designed for project management. No notes can be entered.

Waste DB(TM) is a system in which users can record and track information related to waste and waste management. Users input information on work area, waste material, processing, waste handlers, waste containers, and waste manifests. Waste DB performs functions that include the following:

The system assists users in complying with State and Federal reporting requirements. Waste DB(TM) has generic Federal templates, and user-designed templates can be used for creating State-specific templates. It prints Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifests in the generic Federal format, or customized to individual state formats. Waste DB(TM) can also generate cost reports. Data is organized with the objective of minimizing entry of information, and for easy retrieval or long-term record keeping.

CHEM Master(R), a separate product containing a regulatory database, is not included as part of Waste DB(TM). It contains hazard information on all regulated chemicals that can be used for waste analysis and hazard evaluation.

Life-cycle stages covered

Raw material acquisition ---
Manufacturing stage ---
Use/reuse/maintenance ---
Recycle/waste management

The system only considers the life-cycle stages in which waste is created and finally disposed of. It covers only the waste management stage of the life-cycle and does not consider recycling waste. Chemical and material use in a facility is not inventoried or tracked. The system has the ability to track costs of waste by business group or department. Users can assign a process number or work area to each waste container generated, which can provide useful information for pollution prevention initiatives. However, the program itself does not assist in evaluating options for waste minimization or for recording them.

There is no quantitative linkage between the quantities and types of material used or type of production process and waste generated. Thus, users cannot simulate changes in waste quantities and costs as a result of process changes or source reduction.

Type of costs considered

Conventional ---
Potentially hidden
Contingent ---
External ---

Cost information can be recorded by manifest and/or waste container. This is a hidden cost associated with regulatory compliance. This information can be entered as a single figure and cannot be broken down to show cost details. Costs can be tracked and reported by manifest line items, work area codes, range of dates, manifest document numbers, TSDF, and transporter.

All conventional and hidden costs associated with waste management are not tracked and entered into the system. Users cannot estimate or record any other costs, including usual operating costs, contingent, or external costs. Thus, the full costs of using a material or product in a facility, including all these cost categories, cannot be estimated using this system. The costs that are entered cannot be collated to form a historical cost library.

Method of cost estimation

The system does not do any cost estimation.

Generation of financial indicators

Net present value (NPV) ---
Payback period ---
Internal rate of return (IRR) ---
Benefits cost ratio ---
Other ---

Ability to include environmental costs

User friendliness and flexibility

Waste DB(TM) only allows a limited amount of customization in printing reports, etc. It does not have many of the advanced functions of other, more integrated software systems, but it may be less expensive than them as well. Fields cannot be added or deleted. However, the company does add customized functions (for custom screens and specific functions) upon specific request from clients. It has pop-up windows and an online help system that provides information on every menu and input field, but it does not have a graphical user interface.

User support

The company offers services in the areas of environmental and industrial hygiene consulting, implementation, programming, data entry, data analysis, and training. The system's price includes one year of toll-free user support. However, the program and documentation are provided only with a warranty of 90days and the licensee assumes all further costs related to any required servicing, repair, or correction. Demonstration disks can be purchased at a cost of $24.95. The accompanying manual provides a detailed description of the software system and its capabilities. Envirogenics also offers services to industry in the areas of hazardous waste management, indoor air quality, environmental consulting, regulatory compliance, and health and safety training.

Limitations

Waste DB(TM) is not available in modular form and serves very specific functions. This can be a limitation to those who wish to expand the system or integrate it with other environmental management activities (e.g., health and safety) in the firm. The program cannot be modified without written consent from the licenser. Users can do only a limited amount of customization. There is no mouse support and users will have to familiarize themselves with various key commands to use the system.

The system considers only manifest and waste container costs, and users have no options for adding additional fields. They cannot be detail cost components. Thus, other conventional, contingent, or less-tangible costs cannot be estimated or detailed. It has no feature for separately maintaining historical cost records, as related to different activities, quantities, and types of materials managed, for the specific purpose of use in future project cost estimation (although the Waste DB(TM) data records can be maintained). The system cannot integrate with company accounting systems, which can result in managing these costs separately, rather than integrating them with other company costs. The system is not designed for, and has no modules for, project management. Like most other waste management and tracking tools, the primary objective is to facilitate compliance, not to manage and minimize costs. However, if this area were developed, pollution prevention and other environmental initiatives would be encouraged as a result of better cost information.

Basis for evaluation:
Based on telephone communication with Envirogenics representative and information package including a demonstration disk, received in February 1995. Additional information obtained from Rich (1995).

Contact information:
Commercially available

Envirogenics
3812 B Quakerbridge Road, Suite 208
Mercerville, NJ 08619

800-437-7990
609-586-4426 (FAX)


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