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WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXTERIOR MIRRORS
Citation:
Kirsch, F. AND G. Looby. WASTE MINIMIZATION ASSESSMENT FOR A MANUFACTURER OF MOTOR VEHICLE EXTERIOR MIRRORS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/S-92/020 (NTIS PB92192806), 1992.
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). he WMAC team at the University of Tennessee performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing exterior motor vehicle mirrors -- approximately 3 million mirrors per year. Galvanized steel and stainless steel stock undergo stamping, pressing, and cutting operations followed by degreasing. Stainless steel mirror housings are buffed, assembled, packaged, and shipped. alvanize steel, zinc die-cast, and plastic mirror parts are washed then electrostatically primed and painted. arts are assembled, packaged, and shipped. The team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, Indicated that the majority of the waste was generated in the cleaning and washing areas but that the greatest savings could be obtained by Installing an electrostatic powder coating system to reduce primer/paint overspray (100%) solvent evaporation (55%), cleaning solvent evaporation (80%), and still bottoms (80%). 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 from the authors.
