INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 107

1. Headline: Material substitution in the manufacturing of

home appliances.

2. Background: See below.

3. Cleaner Production Principle: material substitution

4. Description of Cleaner Production Application: Scovill

reduced the quantity of waste generated and the amount of

raw materials it purchases. The quantity of 1,1,1

trichloroethane used for degreasing was reduced by

substituting a water soluble synthetic cleaner for the

solvent in many of the degreasing operations. The 1,1,1

trichloroethane that is recovered off-site is reused at

the facility. To further reduce operating costs and waste

generation, Scovill has instituted an employee-incentive

cost-saving program. Teams of employees are formed to

make recommendations and the team responsible for the

greatest annual cost savings receives a bonus check.

The use of water-soluble synthetic cleaner resulted in an

annual cost savings of $12,000 in reduced raw material

costs. Recycling and reusing 1,1,1 trichloroethane

degreasing solvent reduced raw material costs by 34

percent and provided an annual savings of over $5,000.

Additionally, waste disposal costs have been reduced by

over $3,000 per year.

Material/Energy Balance and Substitution

FEEDSTOCKS: Spent solvent (1,1,1-trichloroethylene)

WASTES: Spent water soluble cleaner, 1,1,1

trichloroethylene

MEDIUM: Liquid

5. Economics

CAPITAL COST: $3,250

OPERATION/MAINTENANCE: $100/year

SAVINGS: (1986 dollars)

6. Advantages

FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION: $17,320/year

WASTE PRODUCTION: $3,040/year saved, 38,000 lb/year

reduction in waste

IMPACT: After substituting a water-based synthetic

cleaner for a solvent-based one, introducing solvent

recycling, and initiating an employee incentive cost

saving program, the volume of hazardous waste generated

was reduced as were raw materials costs and waste disposal

costs.

7. Constraints: No information provided.

8. Contacts and Citation:

Accomplishments of North Carolina Industries - Case

Summaries, Hunt, G. et al., North Carolina Department of

Natural Resources and Community Development, January 1986,

p. 25 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 29, Page 115.

Name and Location of Company

North Carolina Department of Natural

Resources and Community Development

P.O. Box 27687

Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687

United States

TEL:1 (919) 733-7015

9. Keywords: United States, USA, home appliance, material

substitution, good housekeeping, trichloroethane,

degreasing, solvent, synthetic cleaner, trichloroethylene,

ISIC 3634.

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-170 )