INTERNATIONAL CLEANER PRODUCTION INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

Case Study # 94

1.   Headline:  Internal recycling in telephone equipment
     manufacture.

2.   Background:  See below.

3.   Cleaner Production Principle:  internal recycling

4.   Description of Cleaner Production Application:  GTE
     recovers copper through the use of an electrolytic
     recovery cell.  The cell is part of a closed-loop system
     that follows the etching operation on an electrolyze
     copper plating line.  The copperless rinsewater is
     recirculated to the rinse tank.  The recovered copper is
     periodically removed from the cells cathode and is sold as
     number 1 scrap.  For more information see "Case History:
     Wastewater Treatment", PC FAB, May, 1984.

     Material/Energy Balance and Substitutions

                              FEEDSTOCKS:           Copper
                              etching rinse stream.

                              WASTES:
                              Electroplating wastewater, copper

                              MEDIUM:              Water

5.   Economics:  No information provided.

6.   Advantages:

                              FEEDSTOCK REDUCTION:    3,900
                              lb/yr copper ($2,000)

                              WASTE PRODUCTION:      CuOH
                              sludge reduced by 2,860 lb/year
                              ($4,000)

                              IMPACT:              Reduce
                              waste disposal volume, reduce
                              water usage, and recover copper
                              for reuse.

7.   Constraints:  No information provided.

8.   Contact and Citation:

     "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 30, Page 118.

                                        Name and Location of
                                        Company:

     GTE Sylvania
     Chicago, IL
     United States
     Lancy International
     c/o William McLay
     TEL: 1 (412) 452-9360

9.   Keywords:  United States, USA, telephone equipment,
     telecommunication, recycling, copper, electrolysis,
     rinsing, ISIC 3661.

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 by UNEP IE in July 1995.

(DOCNO: UNEP01.52  306-001-A-028)