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). The WMAC team at the University of Tennessee performed an assessment at a plant manufacturing aluminum extrusions -- over 36 million pounds per year. Primary and scrap aluminum is melted down, cast into logs, then heat treated. Next, the logs are extruded into desired shapes. Extrusions are sheared, heat treated, then either buffed, anodized (colorized), painted, or shipped. The team's report, detailing findings and recommendations, indicated that the majority of waste was generated in the anodizing line but that the greatest savings could be obtained by installing an electrostatic powder coating system to eliminate spent toluene, air filters, plastic sheets, paint ash, and evaporated solvents.

"EPA/600-S-92-018." "April 1992." Shipping list no.: 92-0348-P.