&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution EPA 745-K-94-006
Prevention and Toxics May 1994
7408
EPA's 33/50 Program
Company Profile
Anchor Fence, Inc.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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THE 33/50 PROGRAM
This Company Profile is part of a series of reports being developed by EPA to highlight the accomplishments
of companies participating in the 33/50 Program. The 33/50 Program is an EPA voluntary pollution reduction
initiative that promotes reductions in direct environmental releases and off-site transfers of 17 high-priority toxic
chemicals. The program derives its name from its overall goals - an interim goal of a 33% reduction by 1992 and
an ultimate goal of a 50% reduction by 1995. The program uses 1988 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) reporting
as a baseline. In February, 1991, EPA began contacting the parent companies of TRI facilities that reported using
33/50 Program chemicals since 1988 to request their participation in the 33/50 Program. As of April, 1994, a total
of 1,216 companies had elected to participate in __^
the Program, pledging to reduce emissions of the
17 target chemicals by more than 355 million
pounds by 1995. Companies are encouraged to
set their own reduction targets, which may vary
from the Program's national 33% and 50%
- reduction goals. Company commitments and
reduction pledges continue to be received by EPA
on a daily basis.
The 1992 TRI data revealed that releases
and transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals de-
clined by 40% between 1988 and 1992, surpass-
ing the Program's 1992 interim reduction goal by
more than 100 million pounds. This accomplish-
ment, together with evidence from analysis of
facilities' projected releases and transfers of the
17 priority chemicals, reported to TRI under the
Pollution Prevention Act, offers strong encourage-
ment that the 33/50 Program's ultimate goal of a
50% reduction by 1995 will be achieved.
17 PRIORITY CHEMICALS TARGETED
BY THE 33/50 PROGRAM
BENZENE
CADMIUM & COMPOUNDS
CARBON TETRACHLORIDE
CHLOROFORM
CHROMIUM & COMPOUNDS
CYANIDES
DICHLOROMETHANE*
LEAD & COMPOUNDS
MERCURY & COMPOUNDS
METHYL ETHYL KETONE
METHYL ISOBUTYL KETONE
NICKEL & COMPOUNDS
TETRACHLOROETHYLENE
TOLUENE
1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE
TRICHLOROETHYLENE
XYLENES
Also referred to as methylene chloride
EPA is committed to recognizing companies
for their participation in the 33/50 Program and
for the emissions reductions they achieve. The
Program issues periodic Progress Reports, in
which participating companies are listed and highlighted. In addition, Company Profiles, such as this one, are being
prepared to provide more detailed information about companies that have written to EPA describing significant
emissions reduction initiatives. Information presented in these profiles is drawn primarily from the company's
written 33/50 Program communications and the annual TRI reports submitted by their facilities (including Pollution
Prevention Act data reported to TRI in Section 8 of Form R). All company communications to EPA regarding
the 33/50 Program are available to the public upon request.
EPA does not endorse the performance, worker safety, or environmental acceptability of any of the technical
options discussed in this Profile. Mention of any product or procedure in this document is for informational
purposes only, and does not constitute a recommendation of any such product or procedure, either express or
implied, by EPA.
For information on the 33/50 Program, contact the TSCA Hotline at (202) 554-1404 or contact 33/50
Program staff directly by phone at (202) 260-6907 or by mail at Mail Code 7408, Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C 20460.
33/50 Program Company Profile: Anchor Fence, Inc.
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Anchor Fence, Inc.
Anchor Fence, Inc. reduced releases of 33/50
Program chemicals by 87% from 1988 to 1992, and
98% by 1993, for a total reduction of over 120,000
founds. This achievement exceeds the company's
goal to the 33/50 Program of 93% by 1995.
I. CORPORATE BACKGROUND
Anchor Fence, Inc. is a manufacturer of high
quality chain link fencing systems, gates, and
specialty fencing products. The company has one
facility located in Baltimore, MD, employing
approximately 85 workers.
One of the company's primary products is
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated components for
fences. The company purchases galvanized steel
pipe, fittings, and wire, applies the coating, and
delivers custom-made components and fencing
systems. Prior to coating, the components are
typically cleaned and covered with a water-based
primer. A PVC powder coating is then bonded to
the base material by heating the powder until its
melts, and allowing it to cool and harden onto the
base material.
Anchor Fence reduced releases of all
33/50 and TRJ chemicals 98% from
1988 to 1993.
Between 1988 and 1991, the plant used only
one 33/50 Program chemical in quantities report-
able to TRI: methyl ethyl ketone. The company
also uses six other 33/50 Program chemicals at
levels below the TRI reporting threshold of 10,000
pounds: dichloromethane, lead and compounds,
methyl isobutyl ketone, nickel and compounds,
toluene, and xylenes. In addition, the company
uses small quantities of zinc and compounds.
Methyl ethyl ketone was used as the primary
solvent in primers used on pipes and fittings.
Dichloromethane was used to strip PVC from off-
quality products so that the pipes can be re-used.
The other solvents primarily are used in routine
cleaning operations and during product color
changes. Metals such as lead, nickel, and zinc are
used as colorants in the PVC coating process, and
are by-products of the galvanized steel cleaning
operations.
Releases of TRI Chemicals Reported by
Anchor Fence, Inc.
(1000 pounds)
1988 1992
33/50 Program Chemicals
Dichloromethane*
Lead & Compounds*
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone*
Nickel & Compounds*
Toluene*
Xylenes*
33/50 Subtotal
**
7
tr
115
<1
tr
123
7
tr
*8
<1
tr
16
Other TRI Chemicals < 1 <
(Zinc and Zinc Compounds)
* Data from company progress reports
** Columns do not sum to totals due to rounding.
tr = trace, less than one pound
Table I at the end of this profile shows the
company's releases and transfers of chemicals
reported to TRI between 1988 and 1992. Because
most of the chemicals are used below TRI report-
ing thresholds, most of the data used in this profile
were provided by the company in progress reports
to the 33/50 Program. Anchor Fence reported a
total of 122,987 pounds of 33/50 Program chemical
releases in 1988. All of the releases were air emis-
sions.
II. 33/50 PROGRAM GOALS AND
POLLUTION REDUCTION ACTIVITIES
The company joined the 33/50 Program in
February of 1992 and committed to achieve a 93%
reduction in total releases of all TRI chemicals by
1995 using 1988 TRI data as a baseline. Anchor
Fence's 33/50 Program commitment translates to
a reduction of 114,378 pounds of air releases from
the 1988 baseline.
The company has undertaken the following
activities to reduce releases of TRI chemicals:
• Releases of methyl ethyl ketone have been
reduced 93% (113,000 pounds) through substi-
33/50 Program Profile: Anchor Fence, Inc.
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tution of water based formulations of primers
for pipes and fittings. This action accounts for
all of the observed decrease in releases of this
chemical. In addition, all solvent based paint
applications are being strictly monitored to
determine which can be converted to water
based products in the future.
Improvements in the operation of the compa-
ny's waste water treatment system have re-
sulted in a 50% reduction in releases of lead,
nickel, and zinc compounds between 1988 and
1992. These improvements consist primarily
of adjusting the pH of the system to increase
efficiency of metals removal.
Anchor Fence relies primarily on source
reduction in its pollution reduction ef-
forts. If prevention is not feasible, recy-
cling and waste water treatment are
also used.
• Eliminating the use of dichloromethane at the
plant by shifting the PVC stripping process for
off-quality products to an off-site cleaning
company that uses a hot salt bath PVC remov-
al process. This change resulted in cost sav-
ings for the company.
• Examination of solvent based cleaning process-
es using toluene and methyl ethyl ketone to
determine where solvent evaporation can be
reduced. The company intends to install a
water-cooled component cleaning tank to
further reduce releases of the solvents.
III. PROGRESS TOWARDS 33/50
REDUCTION GOALS
By 1992, Anchor Fence had reduced release of
33/50 Program chemicals by 87% from 1988 levels.
Virtually all of this reduction was a result of
substitution of methyl ethyl ketone-based primers
with a water-based formulation.
According to company progress reports to the
33/50 Program, Anchor Fence has continued to
reduce releases of all 33/50 chemicals. Total
releases of TRI chemicals were approximately
2,800 pounds in 1993. This represents a reduction
of over 120,000 pounds or 98%, exceeding the
Anchor Fence's Progress Towards
Meeting 33/50 Goals
140 r
33/50
Goal
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
33/60 Goal: 93% reduction in releases and
transfers of 33/60 chemicals by 1996
company's 33/50 Program goal of 93% by 1995.
While most of the reductions were achieved prior
to the company's commitment to the 33/50 Pro-
gram, they have continued to significantly reduce
releases since enrolling in the program, and are
planning even further reductions by 1995.
TV. SUMMARY OF ANCHOR FENCE'S
EXPERIENCE
Anchor Fence's participation in the 33/50
Program has been outstanding. The company has
reduced its releases of TRI chemicals by 98% by
1993 from 1988 levels through a variety of pollu-
tion prevention methods and activities. As a
result, a reduction of over 120,000 pounds in TRI
chemical releases has been achieved, and the
company has exceeded its 1995 33/50 Program goal
of a 93% reduction. As use of TRI chemicals has
dropped below reporting thresholds, the company
no longer reports to TRI.
33/50 Program Profile: Anchor Fence, Inc.
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Table I
Anchor Fence Company
TR1 Releases and Transfers, 1988-1992
(All data from TRI unless otherwise noted)
Chemical
Methyl ethyl ketone
(only chemical reported to TRI)
Percent Change, 1988-1992
Year
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992(2)
1993(2)
Total Air
Emissions
(pounds)
115,000
36,000
24,000
10,159
8,000
2,000
-93%
Transfers
Off-site
for Treatment/
Disposal/Other
(pounds)
6,000
0
2,200
0
NR
NR
Total Releases
and Transfers (1)
(pounds)
121,000
36,000
26,200
10,159
8,000
2,000
-93%
Notes: (1) 1991 and 1992 Total Releases and Transfers do not include on- or
off-site recycling or energy recovery.
(2) Data from company progress report to the 33/50 Program.
NR = not reported
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