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WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF WATER ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION
Citation:
Kirsch, F. AND J. Maginn. WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF WATER ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/S-92/013.
Description:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has funded a pilot project to assist small- and medium-sized manufacturers who want to minimize their generation of hazardous waste but who lack the expertise to do so. aste 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). he WMAC team at Colorado State University performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing instruments for water analysis -- approximately 50,000 units/yr. Primary operations include production of cabinets and assembly of instruments. heet metal and small metal parts are usually chemically treated for desired finishes. Cabinet fabrication involves forming sheet metal, drilling, surface preparation, and painting. ost manufacturing involves assembly, and many of the electronic and optical components are purchased from external suppliers. he team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, Indicated that most waste is generated as spent reagents and rinse water from metal surface finishing, but greatest savings could be obtained by filtering and pasteurizing metal cutting fluid for recycle and separating its organic and aqueous phases when disposal becomes necessary. his Research Brief was developed by the principal investigators and EPA's Risk Reduction Engineering Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH, to announce key findings of an ongoing research project that is fully documented in a separate report of the same title available rom the authors.