INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CASE STUDY # 145

1.   Headline:  Employee training, materials inventory system,
     and waste collection system at Ashland Chemicals resins
     manufacturing plant reduces feedstock requirements and
     disposal costs.

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Application:  Process modification

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:  A waste
     collection system was introduced at an Ashland Chemicals
     resins manufacturing plant to prevent reusable resins from
     being wasted.  The system consisted of a clean container,
     lid and identification tags supplied at the site of waste
     generation, and staff training.  The system was
     pilot-tested in the quality control area and was later
     extended to the manufacturing operation and the
     laboratory.  A return system was also installed at the
     blending tanks to pump excess sampling material back into
     the tanks.  The system consisted of a funnel and valve
     placed directly below the tank sampler and connected to
     the inlet side of the pump used for that system.

     Material/Energy Balance and Substitution

     FEEDSTOCKS:  Resin wastes

     WASTES:  Resin wastes

     MEDIUM: Solid

5.   Economics

     CAPITAL COST: Not reported

     OPERATION/MAINTENANCE: Not reported

     MONTHS TO RECOVER: 1 week

     DISPOSAL & FEEDSTOCK: $600,000 in reduced treatment costs
     and improved plant efficiency in 1985.

6.   Advantages

     FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION: All waste collected is reworked.

     WASTE PRODUCTION:  From 1980 to 1983, waste produced was
     reduced from 31,000 lbs to 7,000 lbs.

     IMPACT/PROBLEMS:  Collection and reworking of waste resins
     has significantly reduced the amount of plastic resin
     requiring disposal and is saving the disposal costs, as
     well as reducing the amount of feedstock required.


7.   Constraints:  No information provided,

8.   Contact and Citation: "Catalogue of Successful Hazardous
     Waste Reduction/Recycling Projects", Energy Pathways Inc.
     and Pollution Probe Foundation, prepared for Industrial
     Programs Branch, Conservation & Protection Environment
     Canada,  March, 1987, page 14.

9.   Keywords:  United States, USA, resin, chemical, good
     housekeeping, process modification, ISIC 3700, tank.

10.  Reviewer's Comments:  This case study was originally
     abstracted for the US EPA's Pollution Prevention
     Information Clearinghouse from the Canadian publication
     "Catalogue of Successful Hazardous Waste
     Reduction/Recycling Projects."  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 unep05: 450-003-A-335 )