Pollution Prevention Case Studies

The Department of Environmental Management's Office of Customer and Technical Assistance (OCTA) provides assistance to businesses that are seeking to comply with environmental regulations and/or reduce wastes. In helping companies reach these goals, DEM and industry partners have reduced wastes, recycled materials, minimized pollution and, in many instances, increased company profits. The following is a list of 55 specific cases in which DEM was able to assist businesses reach their goals.

No endorsements are implied nor should any be inferred for any products or companies identified within these success stories. The OCTA advises that prior to implementing environmental changes, the company consult with proper federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.

^{Industry Type}	^{Waste/Material}	^{Project Description}
^{Boat Builder}	^Acetone	^{Fiberglass boat builder implements on-site reclamation and reduces virgin acetone purchases.}
^{Boat Builder}	^VOCs	^{Fiberglass boat builder incorporates infusion molding or the Seeman® Composite Infusion Molding Process (SCRIMP) on a 30 foot sailboat hull and cuts laminating resin usage and volatile organic compound (VOC) production.}
^{Boat Builder}	^Acetone	^{Fiberglass boat builder implements on-site solvent reclamation and doubles production without increasing acetone usage.}
^{Boat Builder}	^Acetone	^{Fiberglass boat builder switches solvents from acetone to Shipshape® Resin Cleaner and Thermaclean® Gun Flush and implements solvent reclamation.}
^{Boat Builder}	^VOCs	^{Fiberglass boat-builder uses a pressure fed roller instead of an air atomized spray gun for laminating applications and reduces volatile compound (VOC) emissions while increasing consistency of parts produced.}
^{Sailboat Mfg}	^{Tubbing Solution}	^{Sailboat manufacturer uses ultrafiltration technology to recycle spent tubbing solution.}
^{Coatings Mfg}	^{Oil & Speedi-Dry}	^{Equipment upgrade reduces hazardous waste generation.}
^{Coatings Mfg}	^Xylene	^{Recycling/reuse reduces hazardous waste and makes business sense.}
^{Die Caster}	^{Mineral Spirits}	^{Die caster eliminates use of mineral spirits for parts cleaning.}
^{Die Caster}	^{Vibratory Solution}	^{Die caster utilizes ultrafiltration to close-loop vibratory process.}
^{Die Casting}	^{Tubbing Solution}	^{Die caster eliminates zinc-bearing waste discharge to the sewer through a closed-loop ultrafiltration system.}
^{Drilling Machine Mfg}	^{Machine Coolant}	^{Precision drilling machine manufacturer recycles machine coolant with the aid of ultrafiltration.}
^{Elec. Connector Mfg}	^{1,1,1-Trichloroethane}	^{Electrical connector manufacturer replaces 1,1,1-trichloroethane with aqueous-based cleaner for degreasing purposes.}
^{Electronics Mfg}	^{1,1,1-Trichloroethane}	^{Parts manufacturer switches from 1,1,1-trichloroethane to aqueous cleaning.}
^{Electronics Mfg}	^{Cutting Oil}	^{Parts manufacturer uses chip wringer (centrifuge) to recover cutting oil.}
^{Electronics Mfg}	^{Vibratory Solution}	^{Parts manufacturer uses ultrafiltration to recycle vibratory solution.}
^{Electronics Mfg}	^{Oily-Wastewater}	^{Parts manufacturer uses ultrafiltration to reuse compressor blowdown.}
^{Electroplater}	^{1,1,1-trichloroethane}	^{Electroplater replaces 1,1,1-trichloroethane used in vapor degreasing with an aqueous cleaning system.}
^{Electroplater}	^{Vibratory Solution}	^{Electroplater recycles vibratory solution with ultrafiltration system.}
^{Electroplater}	^Freon	^{Plater eliminates use of Freon for cleaning of plastic parts.}
^{Electroplater}	^Freon	^{Electroplater replaces Freon in a flash drying operation.}
^{Fastener Mfg}	^{1,1,1-trichloroethane}	^{Fastening tool fabricator replaces 1,1,1-trichloroethane with an aqueous-based cleaning system.}
^{Jeweler's Materials Mfg}	^{Methylene Chloride}	^{Manufacturer of jeweler's materials reduces use of methylene chloride for degreasing.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^{Tubbing Solution}	^{Costume jewelry manufacturer uses ultrafiltration technology to recycle tubbing fluid.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Cyanide	^{Jewelry manufacturer replaces cyanide cleaner with aqueous-based cleaner and implements ultrafiltration technology to recycle the cleaning fluid.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^{Trichloroethylene}	^{Jewelry manufacturer replaces trichloroethylene with an aqueous cleaner.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Acetone	^{Costume jewelry manufacturer uses distillation technology to recycle acetone.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Freon	^{Jewelry manufacturer eliminates the use of Freon.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^{1,1,1-trichloroethane}	^{Jewelry manufacturer replaces 1,1,1-trichloroethane with an aqueous-based cleaning system.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Nickel	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinse water and recover plating solution in a nickel plating operation.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Copper	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinse water in a copper plating operation.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Nickel	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinse water, employs electrolytic recovery to capture nickel metal from a nickel plating operation.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Copper	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinse water, employs electrolytic recovery to capture copper metal from an acid copper plating operation.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^Copper	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinse water employs electrolytic recovery to capture copper metal from a copper cyanide plating operation.}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^{Rinse water}	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinsewater following cleaning tanks in a plating operation}
^{Jewelry Mfg}	^{Rinse water & Precious metals}	^{Jewelry manufacturer uses ion-exchange to recycle rinse water and reclaim metal from precious metal plating operations.}
^{Job Shop}	^{Tubbing Solution}	^{Tubbing job shop recycles process water with the aid of an ultrafiltration system.}
^Marina	^VOCs	^{Boatyard switches to High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) spray guns for application of laminating resin, gel coat, and epoxy primers and saves material while reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).}
^Marina	^Shrink-wrap	^{Marina saves money recycling shrink-wrap instead of adding it to solid waste stream.}
^Marina	^{Pump-out facility}	^{Marina installs pump-out system and provides access for both tenant boaters and the boating public. State monetary assistance helps plan go forward.}
^Marina	^Shrink-wrap	^{Marina saves money recycling shrink-wrap instead of adding it to solid waste stream.}
^Marina	^{Pump-out facility}	^{Marina installs pump-out system and operates it free of charge for all boaters. State and municipal monetary assistance allow plan to go forward.}
^{Metal Parts Mfg}	^Oil	^{Metal parts manufacturer saves money by recycling oil.}
^{Metal Parts Mfg}	^{Petroleum naphtha}	^{Metal parts manufacturer saves money by purchasing recycled petroleum naphtha.}
^{Metal Parts Mfg}	^{Vibratory Solution}	^{Metal parts manufacturer utilizes ultrafiltration to recycle vibratory finishing water.}
^{Pump Mfg}	^{Mineral Spirits}	^{Pump manufacturer minimizes dependence on mineral spirits by using aqueous-based cleaning system.}
^{Screw Machine Mfg}	^{Tubbing Solution}	^{Screw machine product manufacturer uses ultrafiltration to recycle tubbing solution.}
^{Textile Engraver}	^{Silver-bearing water}	^{Textile engraver "close-loops" rinsing process, reduces silver discharge and recovers metallic silver.}
^{Textile Preparation}	^Water	^{Textile preparation facility conserves water through counter-current rinsing.}
^{Textile Printer}	^{Color Pigments}	^{Textile printer eliminates concentrated pigment discharge to the sewer through a "waste work-off' color matching system.}
^{Textile Printer}	^{Rinse Water}	^{Textile printer removes aqueous-based pigments through ultrafiltration to reuse 300,000 gallons of rinse water daily.}
^{Textile Printer}	^Naphtha	^{Textile printer eliminates solvent use through replacement with an alkaline aqueous-based cleaner.}
^{Textile Printer}	^Wastewater	^{Silk-screen printer recovers and re-uses screen emulsion rinse water using an ultrafiltration process.}
^{Textile Printer}	^Wastewater	^{Silk-screen printer recovers and re-uses rinse water from print room using ultrafiltration.}
^{Textile Printer}	^{Wastewater \ Pigment Paste}	^{Silk screen printer eliminates potential landfill discharge by reusing pigment paste.}

Pollution Prevention Case Studies

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