The following article appeared in the December, 1995 edition (Volume 50, Number 3, pages 27 and 28 of the New York State Conservationist. It is reproduced by permission.)
Like many industries, the IBM East Fishkill semiconductor facility continually looks for ways to reduce waste and improve efficiency. Pollution prevention measures at the plant in Dutchess County have resulted in not only a cleaner environment but have also yielded economic benefits to the company.
For its efforts, IBM East Fishkill is one of 15 New York State companies over the past two years honored with the Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention Applications for awards this year will be accepted through March 1. The program is open to small businesses and major industries, to local governments and nonprofit organizations. The awards will be presented at the Annual Pollution Prevention Conference in May sponsored jointly by DEC, the Business Council of New York State and the Environmental Business Association of New York State.
DEC Commissioner Michael D. Zagata said: "Pollution prevention is a key element of today's environmental management approach. It is a win-win approach that helps the environment, protects the public health and serves business interests by Fishkill developed a closed-loop waste solvent process that eliminated the need for the costly off-site disposal of hazardous materials. Today, more than 2.2 million gallons of chemicals are reprocessed and reused. The process also eliminates nearly all of the toxic emissions that formerly were released to the atmosphere.
Other pollution prevention measures at IBM East Fishkill resulted in the reduction in the amount of chemicals used in etching baths used to clean semiconductors and the development of a recyclable commercial stripper that is less toxic than previously used chemicals.
Other recent winners of the Governor's Awards recorded similar success stories.
JRLON Inc., Palmyra, Ontario County, a custom fabricator of plastic and metal products, recycled packaging materials, scraps and used paint solvents, and eliminated air contaminants in its coating process.
Strathmore Products Inc., Syracuse, a manufacturer of industrial and architectural coatings, worked with the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency to recycle waste household paints that were redistributed free to local governments and nonprofit organizations.
Crosman Corp., East Bloomfield, Ontario County, a manufacturer of rifles, pistols and ammunition, reduced the generation of hazardous waste by 92 percent while increasing production by 130 percent.
DuPont Yerkes, Tonawanda, Erie County, a manufacturer of raw materials for counter tops and sinks, over a five-year period reduced by 97 percent the amount of toxics released to the air.
The U.S. Postal Service over the past two years reduced by 74 percent the amount of hazardous petroleum waste solvents generated at its vehicle maintenance facilities at various locations across New York State.
Anheuser Busch Brewery, Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, installed a bioenergy recovery system to capture 460 million cubic feet of methane gas fuel the brewery boilers. That's the equivalent of the amount of natural gas needed to heat 750 homes for a year. The brewery also cut by 70 percent the amount of solid waste it sends to landfills by operating a compost system for waste sludge.
Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems, Lockport, Niagara County, a manufacturer of automotive heating and air conditioning systems and engine cooling systems reduced the amount of toxic solvents released into the environment by 87 percent and cut the amount of hazardous wastes generated by 65 percent.
Loral Federal Systems, Owego, Tioga County, an advanced technology company, cut its overall waste by 94 percent in one year by switching to less hazardous materials, modifying manufacturing equipment and processes, and improving waste- handling practices.
Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, a maker of photographic films, papers and chemicals, increased production while reducing hazardous waste at its synthetic chemical division by four million pounds.
KEM Plastic Playing Cards, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, switched to a solid, non-evaporating coating process to reduce from 60,000 pounds to zero the amount of toxic air pollutants released to the air.
Dowcraft Corp., Falconer, Chautauqua County, cut air pollutants by 47 percent and hazardous wastes by 38 percent, by switching to less polluting paints and by scheduling different products of the same color at the same time to reduce the amount of toxic solvents used to clean paint lines.
Alcan Rolled Products, Oswego, Oswego County, a producer of aluminum products, in one year saved $434,000 in reduced use of chlorine while reducing chlorine and hydrogen chloride emissions by 94 percent.
Weber Knapp, Jamestown, Chautauqua County, a manufacturer of metal hardware for computers, office equipment and furniture eliminated 37,000 pounds of hazardous wastes a year by switching to a non-hazardous cleaning agent.
Xerox Corp., Webster Monroe County, estimates it will save $500,000 per year by installing a carbon dioxide cleaning system in place of more toxic solvents.
The organizations that have embraced pollution prevention as a way of doing business are recognized each year through the Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention.
For more information about the Governor's Awards and pollution prevention programs, call (518) 457-6072 or write to:
Pollution Prevention
NYS DEC
50 Wolf Road, Room 202
Albany, NY 12233-8010
Last Updated: March 13, 1997