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ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: WASTE MINIMIZATION FOR A MANUFACTURER OF FELT TIP MARKERS, STAMP PADS, AND RUBBER CEMENT
Citation:
Jendrucko, R., T. Coleman, AND G. Looby. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH BRIEF: WASTE MINIMIZATION FOR A MANUFACTURER OF FELT TIP MARKERS, STAMP PADS, AND RUBBER CEMENT. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/S-94/013.
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. n an effort to assist these manufacturers 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). hat document has been superseded by the Facility Pollution Prevention Guide (EPA/600/R-92/088, May 1992). he WMAC team at the University of Tennessee performed an assessment at a plant that manufactures felt tip markers, stamp pads, and rubber cement. lastic components for the markers are formed in injection molding machines. orous filler is inserted into the marker case and ink is injected into it. he endplug, nib, and cap are added to the marker, which is then labeled and packaged. he first step in stamp pad production is the injection molding of plastic double-hinged stamp pad cases. hree types of stamp pads are manufactured: felt, foam, and self-inking. he pads are prepared and inserted into the cases. ubber cement is manufactured by mixing synthetic rubber strips and solvent. he team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that a large quantity of scrap plastic is generated by the injection molding of markers and stamp pad cases, and that significant cost savings could be achieved by segregating scrap plastic and reusing it in subsequent production runs. 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 some title available from University City Science Center.