283
Costs and Benefits
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program: 2007 Progress Report (October 31, 2007), from
2000 to 2005, the 3M Company (Menomonie site) reduced TRI releases per pound
of good output by 54 percent, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per pound of good
output by 26 percent, waste per pound of good output by 18 percent, and reduced
hazardous waste levels per pound by good output by 10 percent. They also implemented 14 Pollution Prevention Pays projects, resulting in savings of $2.67 million,
and prevented 2,603 tons of pollution. Separately, they also prevented 24 tons of
pollution (includes recycling, reuse, reformulation, and replacement), resulting in a
total savings of $26,516 and energy savings of 19.32 million BTUs, among other
beneficial outcomes.
Reichhold Chemical Incorporated manufactures polyester resin in Oxnard,
California. The company installed equipment to condense, recover, and reduce leakages of methylene chloride. This reduced annual usage and emissions of this toxic
chemical by over 49,000 lb from 1991 levels. Reichhold reported savings on raw
materials and anticipates saving on long-term waste disposal.
In a survey of participating facilities conducted by the Massachusetts Toxic Use
Reduction Program, 67 percent of the respondents saw some cost savings from the
toxics use planning and reduction program in the state.
HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING
One additional market consequence of implementing a toxic chemical usage reduction program could be the development or growth of industries that support projects
related to toxic chemical reduction. These industries include toxic chemical usage
reduction consulting services and nonprofit technical assistance (as described in
Chapter 16) as well as equipment providers that would have the potential to provide their services to businesses in need, thereby further fueling economic growth.
The development or growth of these support industries could further encourage
participation in the toxic chemical usage reduction program because these companies
would have a market incentive to promote the use of their products and services.
As part of the state of Michigan governor’s economic plan, the Cool Cities
Program helps revitalize Michigan cities by retaining and attracting the jobs
and people critical to emerging economies while reducing pollution (Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality 2005). Communities across the state create
vibrant, attractive places for people to live, work, and play. P2 opportunities for Cool
Cities include (but are not limited to) recycling, “green” building development, and
landscaping for water quality. Additional P2 tools that Cool Cities can make use of
are the Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP), RETAP Student
Internship Program, and the Small Business P2 Loan Program. As of 2005, the first
year participants in the program reported, the designation helped create 400 new
jobs and retain 500 existing jobs and enabled 19 projects to have priority access to
more than $100 million in existing grants, loans, and other resources.
In addition, the chloralkali industry is the largest user (and has the largest inventory
of) mercury. This industry has moved away from mercury cells and into a membrane
Costs and Benefits
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Environmental Cooperation Pilot Program: 2007 Progress Report (October 31, 2007), from
2000 to 2005, the 3M Company (Menomonie site) reduced TRI releases per pound
of good output by 54 percent, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) per pound of good
output by 26 percent, waste per pound of good output by 18 percent, and reduced
hazardous waste levels per pound by good output by 10 percent. They also implemented 14 Pollution Prevention Pays projects, resulting in savings of $2.67 million,
and prevented 2,603 tons of pollution. Separately, they also prevented 24 tons of
pollution (includes recycling, reuse, reformulation, and replacement), resulting in a
total savings of $26,516 and energy savings of 19.32 million BTUs, among other
beneficial outcomes.
Reichhold Chemical Incorporated manufactures polyester resin in Oxnard,
California. The company installed equipment to condense, recover, and reduce leakages of methylene chloride. This reduced annual usage and emissions of this toxic
chemical by over 49,000 lb from 1991 levels. Reichhold reported savings on raw
materials and anticipates saving on long-term waste disposal.
In a survey of participating facilities conducted by the Massachusetts Toxic Use
Reduction Program, 67 percent of the respondents saw some cost savings from the
toxics use planning and reduction program in the state.
HUMAN CAPACITY BUILDING
One additional market consequence of implementing a toxic chemical usage reduction program could be the development or growth of industries that support projects
related to toxic chemical reduction. These industries include toxic chemical usage
reduction consulting services and nonprofit technical assistance (as described in
Chapter 16) as well as equipment providers that would have the potential to provide their services to businesses in need, thereby further fueling economic growth.
The development or growth of these support industries could further encourage
participation in the toxic chemical usage reduction program because these companies
would have a market incentive to promote the use of their products and services.
As part of the state of Michigan governor’s economic plan, the Cool Cities
Program helps revitalize Michigan cities by retaining and attracting the jobs
and people critical to emerging economies while reducing pollution (Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality 2005). Communities across the state create
vibrant, attractive places for people to live, work, and play. P2 opportunities for Cool
Cities include (but are not limited to) recycling, “green” building development, and
landscaping for water quality. Additional P2 tools that Cool Cities can make use of
are the Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP), RETAP Student
Internship Program, and the Small Business P2 Loan Program. As of 2005, the first
year participants in the program reported, the designation helped create 400 new
jobs and retain 500 existing jobs and enabled 19 projects to have priority access to
more than $100 million in existing grants, loans, and other resources.
In addition, the chloralkali industry is the largest user (and has the largest inventory
of) mercury. This industry has moved away from mercury cells and into a membrane