How to Conduct a Waste Assessment

1. Ron PridgeonNC Division of Pollution Prevention & Environmental Assistancewww.p2pays.org919-715-65171-800-763-0136

2. How to Conduct a Waste Assessment

3. “We came to this workshop because we care about…. • safety of our employees • improving bottom-line profits • protecting the environment • compliance with environmental regulations

4. How much do you spend on environmental management?

5. “If we don’t know what our environmental expenses are, it will be very difficult to reduce and eliminate them”

6. Tangible Intangible Environmental Expenses

7. Tangible Environmental Expenses • Off-site hazardous waste transporting • Landfill fees • On-site waste water pretreatment • On-site monitoring and testing

8. Intangible Environmental Expenses • Fines and penalties • Company image • Legal staff • Marketing of byproducts • Training expenses • Labor - in-house and consulting • Environmental supplies - drums, spill kits

9. Intangible Environmental Expenses • Waste storage - dikes, shelters, containers • Recycling equipment - bailers, bins, cartons • Disposal - Out of date raw materials • Control equipment - scrubbers, filter presses • Personal protective equipment - gloves, respirators, boots, and aprons related to waste management

10. Environmental Accounting • Creates a greater awareness about the wastes generated in our processes

11. Objectives of a Waste Assessment • Determine... - General types of waste - Quantity / volumes of each waste type • Identify... - Sources, processes, and procedures that contribute to waste generation

12. Waste Assessment Allows us to take a closer look at exactly how our operations impact the environment

13. Positive Recycling Water Conservation Natural Resource Conservation (less energy use) Negative Landfill Use Air Pollutants Hazardous Waste Generation Environmental Impacts

14. Steps to Conducting a Waste Assessment • Schedule a meeting with key personnel. • Analyze background information & flow diagrams. • Conduct a pre-assessment meeting. • Conduct a facility walk-through. • Identify waste reduction opportunities. • Conduct a follow-up meeting. • Prepare a waste assessment report.

15. Schedule a Meeting with Key Personnel • Establish Commitment • Set the agenda to meet your goals and objectives. • Build a partnership. • Select a waste assessment team.

16. Team Selection • Production • Maintenance • Quality Control • Process Engineering • Purchasing • Human Resources • Environmental

17. Analyze Background Information and Flow Diagrams • Waste types, volumes, and disposal costs • Written procedures for waste handling • Current waste reduction activities • Purchasing records and specifications • Process quality control data • Process flow diagrams

18. Receiving Painting Inspection Packaging Process Flow Diagram

19. Fill in gaps in the background information. Discuss current waste reduction efforts. Get a sound understanding of the process prior to the facility walk-through. Pre-Assessment Meeting

20. Conduct a Facility Walk-Through • Follow the process flow diagram. • Look for sources of waste and opportunities to eliminate, reduce, reuse, or recycle. • Observe both normal operations and sporadic events such as cleanup and product changes. • Ask questions.

21. Key Questions • What type of waste is it? • Where did it come from? • How much of it is there? • How much do you pay to get rid of it? • If it’s raw material, how much did you pay for it? • Is it possible to reduce or eliminate it?

22. Perform a Mass Balance Materials In = Materials Out • Go back to the process flow diagram. • Move from process to process. • Identify all inputs and outputs. • Determine waste volumes and costs. • List waste reduction options.

23. Inputs Paint Unpainted Parts Energy Solvents Rags Air Filters Outputs Painted Parts Empty Drums Air Emissions Waste Solvent Waste Paint Soiled Rags Used Air Filters Perform a Mass Balance Painting Process

24. Conduct a Follow-Up Meeting • Discuss initial findings of the waste assessment. • Review the next steps.

25. Prepare a Waste Assessment Report • Summarize background information. • Review waste generation and existing methods of waste management. • List waste reduction opportunities. • Include an economic assessment of current and proposed activities.

26. Occupational Impacts Initial Cost Operating Cost Savings Environmental Impacts Production Shutdown Requirements Productivity Impact on Quality Energy Requirements Facility Modifications Maintenance Requirements Evaluate Waste Reduction Options

27. Environmental Management Plan Do Act Check

28. NC Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance

29. DPPEA Programs • Industrial Section • Community and Business Assistance • Outreach and Training Section • Recycling Business Assistance Center • Environmental Permit Information Center • Office of the Small Business Ombudsman • Environmental Statistics

30. DPPEA Services • Free • Non-regulatory • Confidential • Multi-media • Available to industry, business, and government agencies

31. How DPPEA Can Help You • Technical Assistance • Outreach and Training • Marketing Assistance for Recyclable Materials • Information Clearinghouse • Financial Assistance • Regulatory Assistance

32. Technical Assistance • On-site pollution prevention assessments • Develop and evaluate waste reduction programs • Provide guidance on compliance with environmental regulations • Phone and e-mail information requests

33. Outreach and Training • Presentations - general to specific • Workshops, e.g. - Commercial and Industrial Waste Reduction - Compliance for Furniture Manufacturers • Training courses, e.g. - Recycling Coordinators Training Course - ISO 14000

34. Marketing Assistance for Recyclable Materials • Locate recycling markets • Work with manufacturers to convert feedstock and expand capacity • Maintain database of markets for recyclable materials • http://www.p2pays.org/DMRM/

35. Over 12,000 technical documents DPPEA publications, e.g. FOCUS, Recycling Works fact sheets Vendor database Web Site: http://www.p2pays.org Information Clearinghouse

36. Financial Assistance • Pollution Prevention Challenge Grants • Solid Waste Reduction Assistance Grants (SWRAGs) • Commodity specific waste reduction and recycling grants • Coordinate NICE3 grants • Information on other funding and tax benefits

37. Governor’s Award Program • Given each year since 1982 • Recognizes excellence in waste elimination or reduction • Six judge review panel • Large and small businesses, industries, and government agencies

38. Any Questions

39. Office of the Small Business Ombudsman (OSBO) • Provides environmental assistance to small businesses (<100 employees) • Advocates for small business in regulatory process • 70% of calls deal with air quality questions • Phone: (800) 829-4841

40. Environmental Permits Information Center (EPIC) • Helps determine environmental permit requirements • Provides guidance on permit process • Provides referrals to individual regulatory agencies • Phone: 1-888-368-2640 • http://www.p2pays.org/EPIC/

41. Recycling BusinessAssistance Center (RBAC) Cooperative effort between DENR and Commerce Provides business development/expansion assistance Promotes buying recycled products Encourages recycling technology R&D