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POLLUTION PREVENTION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY SEPARATORS (EPA/600/S-95/011)
Citation:
Fleischman, M., P. Schmidt, D. Roberts, AND G. P. Looby. POLLUTION PREVENTION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY SEPARATORS (EPA/600/S-95/011). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1995.
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 waste but who 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). That document has been superseded by the Facility Pollution Prevention (EPA/600/R-92/088, May 1992). The WMAC team at the University of Louisville performed an assessment at a plant that manufactures automotive battery separators. Two types of separators--polyethylene/silica sheet and vinyl rib--are produced. Processes used in polyethylene/silica sheet production include blending, extruding, extraction, drying, and slitting. Mixing, dipping, extrusion, and cutting are required in vinyl rib separator production. The team's report, detailing findings and recommendationis, indicated that waste spill absorbents are generated in large quantities and at a significant waste management cost, and that waste reduction could result from using wringable, reusable absorbents