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WASTE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AND OPTIONS AT A PRINTER OF FORMS AND SUPPLIES FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION
Citation:
Watts, D. J. AND P. Eyraud. WASTE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AND OPTIONS AT A PRINTER OF FORMS AND SUPPLIES FOR THE LEGAL PROFESSION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/S-92/003 (NTIS 92-217496), 1992.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded a project with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE) to assist in conducting waste minimization assessments at thirty small-to medium-sized businesses in the state of New Jersey. One of the sites selected was a printer of forms, business cards, and office supplies for the legal profession. A site visit was made in 1990 during which several opportunities for waste minimization were identified. Prior to the site visit, the company had already incorporated several waste minimization activities into its operations. These activities included waste and scrap paper sorting for recycling and reuse, laundering cleaning rags for reuse, and identifying less hazardous process-related materials. The assessment team identified waste minimization opportunities in addition to those the company had already implemented. One opportunity was the off-site recovery of silver from the photographic process waste stream. The team also identified 3 options in the engraving process. The first two involved regeneration of the spent bath solution either by off-site electrolytic process or the use of an electrolytic recirculating cell. The third option was the use of cupric chloride solution as an etchant rather than the more hazardous ferric chloride solution in use. The site team also recommended that the company shift from chemical plate cleaning to a mechanical technique, similar to those adopted in the metal finishing industry. Typically, such techniques include polishing (including abrasion), brushing, and sand blasting. The waste reduction option for ink sludge generated from water-based cleaning of equipment included consideration of whether the residual solids could be used for reincorporation into the ink.