FIRE BAN IN EFFECT In response to the continued elevated risk of wildfires, DEM has issued a fire ban at all State Parks, campgrounds, and management areas until further notice. The ban is effective as of today (10/28/24) and includes campfires in designated campfire areas, including charcoal fires and cooking fires. This preventative measure applies to all DEM-managed lands and aims to reduce the threat of human-caused wildfires. DEM will continue to monitor and evaluate conditions to determine when the ban can be lifted. Together we can protect our communities and keep first responders safe by reducing the risk of wildfires: 📞 Call 911 if you spot a fire/smoke. Timely information is critical to contain fires before they spread. 🔥 Remember, any outdoor fire is a potential source for a wildfire. Be careful with cigarettes and ashes. When disposing of wood stove ashes, put the ashes in a metal bucket of water. 🚒 Check with your local fire department for any other restrictions and permitting information. 🚨 Stay informed and find resources at dem.ri.gov/wildfirestatus.
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. Additional Resources Why Should You Care About Preventing Waste? Autobody Environmental/ Health & Safety Fact Sheets EPA's Project XL National P2 Week