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WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF PROTOTYPE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS
Citation:
Kirsch, F. W. AND G. P. Looby. WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF PROTOTYPE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/M-91/045 (NTIS 92-104355), 1991.
Impact/Purpose:
publish information
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist small- and medium-size manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of hazardous waste but lack the expertise to do so. Waste Minimization Assessment Centers (WMACs) were established at selected universities and procedures were adapted from the EPA Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual (EPA/625/7-88/003 July 1988). The WMAC team at Colorado State University performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing prototype printed circuit boards. Various processes are involved including photographic operations, drilling, scrubbing, laminating, etching, and plating. The majority of the waste generated by this plant comes from the plating process. The team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that the greatest waste reduction and cost savings would result from recovering copper, tin, and lead from the plating wastewater.