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Toxic Chemicals
in water and energy usage because potential efficiency opportunities were identified
while the manufacturing processes were reviewed.
In addition, there may be opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples of links between toxic substance reduction with environmental
quality improvement include the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) ban on
pelican/large-bird populations as well as the reduction of airborne lead with the
implementation of lead-free gasoline in countries. DDT is the best known of a number of chlorine-containing pesticides used in the 1940s and 1950s. Among many
other adverse effects, it became known to cause eggshell thinning in large-bird
populations, including pelicans. After the ban of DDT in the early 1970s in the
United States, brown pelican populations started to recover almost immediately in
the southeast as residues and eggshell thinning declined and productivity increased
(Blus 2007).
DIRECT BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES
Companies that have reduced or eliminated their use of toxic chemicals have noticed
reduced operating costs associated with their purchase, handling, disposal, and
cleanup. The most frequent reason given by attendees of the 1997 EPA Region III TRI
workshop to undertake waste reduction activities was cost reduction (98 percent of
respondents). Although results varied at each facility, most of the case studies showed
substantial reductions in chemical use and chemical emissions, with a payback period
of 2 yrs or less. Some other examples are also noted here.
The Haartz Corporation, located in Acton, Massachusetts, makes coated fabrics
used in automobiles and estimated a savings of $200,000 annually by reducing its
methyl ethyl ketone releases.
Recommendations provided by the state of Washington Technical Resources for
Engineering Efficiency (TREE) program typically involve a capital investment that
provides a payback within a few years. For example, the program has been in existence since 1998, and as of 2007, the program had identified potential savings representing over $1 million per year for Washington businesses. The estimated savings of
past analyses have shown up to a sevenfold return of investment within the first year.
In the Lean and the Environment Program, as of September 2006, the cabinet
manufacturing facility was expected to save $1,090,947 annually in cost, time,
material, and environmental savings from actions implemented during the pilot
project (May to August 2006) and was expected to save an additional $465,618
annually from actions pending implementation.
Also, as noted in the 2005 Indiana Pollution Prevention Annual Report (Office
of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance 2005), Ryobi Die Casting
Incorporated, a company that makes transmission castings for automobile manufacturers, voluntarily implemented various pollution prevention (P2) projects, including
reduction of aluminum waste (dross) production. This in turn reduced the natural gas
use of the company by 27 percent, or 34,440 million British thermal units (BTUs)
per year, and reduced the dross production by 759,600 lb annually. Annual energy
and material cost savings of this project amounted to nearly $900,000. The company
received a loan to begin this project.
Toxic Chemicals
in water and energy usage because potential efficiency opportunities were identified
while the manufacturing processes were reviewed.
In addition, there may be opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Examples of links between toxic substance reduction with environmental
quality improvement include the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) ban on
pelican/large-bird populations as well as the reduction of airborne lead with the
implementation of lead-free gasoline in countries. DDT is the best known of a number of chlorine-containing pesticides used in the 1940s and 1950s. Among many
other adverse effects, it became known to cause eggshell thinning in large-bird
populations, including pelicans. After the ban of DDT in the early 1970s in the
United States, brown pelican populations started to recover almost immediately in
the southeast as residues and eggshell thinning declined and productivity increased
(Blus 2007).
DIRECT BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES
Companies that have reduced or eliminated their use of toxic chemicals have noticed
reduced operating costs associated with their purchase, handling, disposal, and
cleanup. The most frequent reason given by attendees of the 1997 EPA Region III TRI
workshop to undertake waste reduction activities was cost reduction (98 percent of
respondents). Although results varied at each facility, most of the case studies showed
substantial reductions in chemical use and chemical emissions, with a payback period
of 2 yrs or less. Some other examples are also noted here.
The Haartz Corporation, located in Acton, Massachusetts, makes coated fabrics
used in automobiles and estimated a savings of $200,000 annually by reducing its
methyl ethyl ketone releases.
Recommendations provided by the state of Washington Technical Resources for
Engineering Efficiency (TREE) program typically involve a capital investment that
provides a payback within a few years. For example, the program has been in existence since 1998, and as of 2007, the program had identified potential savings representing over $1 million per year for Washington businesses. The estimated savings of
past analyses have shown up to a sevenfold return of investment within the first year.
In the Lean and the Environment Program, as of September 2006, the cabinet
manufacturing facility was expected to save $1,090,947 annually in cost, time,
material, and environmental savings from actions implemented during the pilot
project (May to August 2006) and was expected to save an additional $465,618
annually from actions pending implementation.
Also, as noted in the 2005 Indiana Pollution Prevention Annual Report (Office
of Pollution Prevention and Technical Assistance 2005), Ryobi Die Casting
Incorporated, a company that makes transmission castings for automobile manufacturers, voluntarily implemented various pollution prevention (P2) projects, including
reduction of aluminum waste (dross) production. This in turn reduced the natural gas
use of the company by 27 percent, or 34,440 million British thermal units (BTUs)
per year, and reduced the dross production by 759,600 lb annually. Annual energy
and material cost savings of this project amounted to nearly $900,000. The company
received a loan to begin this project.