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Focus on Profits – Pollution Prevention or Waste Minimization
INTRODUCTION
In these times of economic downturn, many companies only focus on profits by reducing expenses and searching for cheaper raw materials. They often fail to take advantage of a “golden goose” opportunity that incorporates pollution prevention and/or waste minimization.
DISCUSSION
Many businesses do not recognize pollution prevention and waste minimization as an opportunity for increasing profits or as a means to fund other improvement projects. Companies can reinvest savings from one project to implement a second project for pollution prevention and waste minimization. The annual accrual grows as the savings are invested in pollution prevention or health and safety measures.
One company instituted a Proactive Safety and Environmental Management Program, including pollution prevention and waste minimization, in 1988. Since 1988, the company has realized a savings of nearly $3,000,000 and reduced their lost time accident rate from 5.3 days/100 employees to 0.7 days/100 employees. Some of the initiatives that made this possible included reduction of waste paint, changes to operations that minimized training in PPE, and elimination of materials that are deemed hazardous.
As another example, a coating company switched from solvent-based cleanup material to a water-based material that resulted in reduced emissions of 77% and significant hazardous waste reduction. An added benefit was that workers were not exposed to solvent fumes from the cleanup material usage.
Cost savings are not necessarily found in material substitution alone, but in the associated reduction in regulatory reporting, handling and safety costs. For example, in the second case, the facility was not required to have a Title V air permit when they switched to the water-based material due to the significant emissions reduction. In addition, their generator status changed from a large quantity generator to a small quantity generator. Workers were no longer required to wear respiratory protection. Savings came from the reduction in regulatory burden, both in air and hazardous waste, and in worker requirements for personal protective equipment and medical monitoring.
Each company has opportunities for pollution prevention/waste minimization. Some companies that are already eco-efficient will have less, while others can achieve considerable savings.
SUMMARY
Pollution prevention/waste minimization can increase profits. These savings can be applied to additional pollution prevention/waste minimization projects that both improve worker exposure and the company bottom line. The Payne Firm can assist you in evaluating your facility for potential pollution prevention/waste minimization projects. For more information, please contact Tony Domanico or Emily Rynders at (513) 489-2255 or by e-mail at aid@paynefirm.com or ear@paynefirm.com. You may visit us at our web site at www.paynefirm.com.
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