CASE STUDY # 105
1. Headline: A waste reduction programme that got results
from good housekeeping practices in the chemical industry
2. Background: See below.
3. Cleaner Production Principle: Good housekeeping
4. Description of Cleaner Production Application: ICI
Americas Inc.'s research and development laboratory used a
management approach to reduce the quantity of waste
generated. An Environmental Compliance Committee was
formed to develop and implement procedures to minimize the
production of waste materials. New waste handling
practices have been developed to increase the quantity of
waste that can be recovered. Some of these practices
include: segregating spent chlorinated and
non-chlorinated solvents to allow for off-site recovery;
segregating hazardous from non-hazardous waste; and
returning unused agricultural research chemicals for reuse
or reformulation. Since the program was implemented, the
quantity of hazardous waste generated has been reduced by
70 percent even though the research activities have
doubled. This reduction saves the company $37,000 per
year in waste management costs.
Material/Energy Balance and Substitution
FEEDSTOCKS: Various solvents and
research chemicals
WASTES: Spent chlorinated and
non-chlorinated solvents.
MEDIUM: Solvent
5. Economics
DIRECT COST:
$37,000/yr
6. Advantages:
FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION:
Slight
WASTE PRODUCTION:
70% reduction in waste
volume
IMPACT:
Waste generated was reduced
by 70 percent.
7. Constraints: No information provided.
8. Contact and Citation:
Accomplishments of North Carolina Industries - Case
Summaries, Hunt, G., et al., North Carolina Department of
Natural Resources, January 1986, p. 16 A presentation of
this case study can also be found in: "Proven Profit from
Pollution Prevention," D. Huisingh, L. Martin, H. Hilger,
N. Seldman, The Institute for Self-Reliance 2425 18th
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 1985, case study 18, Page
75.
Name and Location of Company:
North Carolina Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 27687
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687
United States
9. Keywords: United States, USA, chemical, good
housekeeping, solvent, chlorine, waste segregation.
10. Reviewer's Comments: This case study was originally
abstracted for the United States Environmental Protection
Agency's Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse.
It underwent a UNEP IE funded technical review in 1994 for
quality and completeness. It was edited for the ICPIC
diskette in July 1995.
( Docno: UNEP02.52 034-010-A-120 )