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.

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