You are here:
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: WASTE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AND OPTIONS FOR A MANUFACTURER OF ELECTROPLATED WIRE.
Citation:
Ulbrecht, A. AND D. J. Watts. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: WASTE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES AND OPTIONS FOR A MANUFACTURER OF ELECTROPLATED WIRE. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/S-92/049 (NTIS 93-123214), 1992.
Impact/Purpose:
information
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 facility that manufacturers electroplated wire for use in the automotive, computer, aerospace, and related industries. The wire is plated with copper, silver, nickel, tin, or tin-lead according to customer specifications. The process involves cleaning of the base wire followed by electroplating using a reel-to-reel technique. Site visit was made in 1990 during which several opportunities for waste minimization were identified. Options identified included reduction of discharge volume, improved rinsing operations, changes in the wire drawing operation, and consideration of a zero-discharge system. Implementation of the identified waste minimization opportunities was not part of the program. Percent waste reduction, net annual savings, implementation costs, and payback periods were established.