Preventing Industrial Pollution at its Source


	Cities & Green Living: Cleaner Manufacturing: In Depth: Report

Preventing Industrial Pollution at its Source
A Final Report of the Michigan Source Reduction Initiative

This report details a project undertaken by NRDC, Dow Chemical, and a group of five community activists to reduce waste and emissions at Dow's Midland, Michigan, chemical manufacturing plant. The project, begun in late 1996 and completed in April 1999, aimed to achieve its 35 percent reduction goal through pollution prevention -- manufacturing process improvements that decrease waste before it is generated. The project exceeded that goal, achieving emission reductions of 43 percent.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
Chapter 1: Results
Chapter 2: How the Project Was Accomplished
Chapter 3: Conclusions and Insights

Tables
Table 1: Public Reporting of Dow Midland, Michigan 1996 TRI Wastes and Releases
Table 2: Comparison of Dow Midland, Michigan Wastes and Releases to State and National Totals
Table 3: MSRI Reductions
Table 4: Individual MSRI Projects: Reductions, Costs, and Savings
Table 5: MSRI Projects Still in Design and Construction
Table 6: MSRI Projects in Development
Table 7: Additional Reductions at Midland Using Pollution Prevention
Table 8: Additional Reductions at Midland that Did Not Rely on Pollution Prevention
Table 9: MSRI Goals and Deadlines
Table 10: Baseline Comparison of MSRI to Publicly Reported Data
Table 11: Dow Chemical Global 10-year Reduction Goals
Table 12: Indicators of Institutional Change

Figures
Figure 1: MSRI Definition of Pollution Prevention
Figure 2: Pollution Prevention Techniques

Appendices
1. List of Participants
2. Detailed Descriptions of MSRI Reduction Projects
3. Selection of MSRI Priority Chemicals

This report is a joint publication of NRDC; Dow Chemical; Midland, Michigan, resident Diane Hebert; Midland resident Mary Sinclair; Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination; the Ecology Center; and the Lone Tree Council. To order a print copy of this report, contact the Meridian Institute at (970) 513-8340. Permission to repost received 7/30/01.