United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution EPA 745-K-94-014
Prevention and Toxics May 1994
SEPA
EPA's 33/50 Program
Company Profile
Printed Circuit Corporation
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 accomplish-
,ments 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 offsite 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
TRJ 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.
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
The 1992 TRJ 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 accom-
plishment, 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 en-
couragement that the 33/50 Program's ultimate
goal of a 50% reduction by 1995 will be
achieved.
EPA is committed to recognizing compa-
nies 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: Printed Circuit Corporation
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Printed Circuit Corporation
Printed Circuit Corporation completely elimi-
nated all use of 33/50 Program chemicals in its
operations by the end of 1993, far surpassing its
initial goal of a 65% reduction in releases of its
33/50 Program chemicals by 1995. The company
achieved these reductions by substituting these
chemicals with water-based cleaning processes.
I. CORPORATE BACKGROUND
Printed Circuit Corporation, located in
Woburn, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of
printed circuit boards. The company provides its
products to companies in the electronics, instru-
mentation, telecommunication, and automotive
industries.
Printed circuit boards are manufactured in a
complex, multi-step process. First, holes are
drilled in a copper-coated plastic substrate board.
Next, copper is deposited on the hole walls
through an electroless chemical process. To apply
the circuit board pattern onto the board, the
copper surface is coated with a photo-sensitive
polymer. The circuit pattern is then transposed
onto the polymer-coated board using high-intensity
ultraviolet (UV) light, then developed, exposing
only the intended circuit pattern for the subse-
quent electroplating chemical process. The poly-
mer then is stripped away and the board is subject-
ed to a chemical etching process, leaving only the
designed pattern.
Printed Circuit completely eliminated its
use of 33/50 Program chemicals by the
end of 1993.
An electroplating process is used to deposit
nickel and gold on the connector contacts of the
board, and a fabrication process is performed
which gives the board its final configuration. After
the circuit board is completed, various electrical
components are attached to the board by Printed
Circuit's customers.
Since 1988, Printed Circuit has used two 33/50
Program chemicals in quantities reportable to TRI:
dichloromethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Print-
ed Circuit used 1,1,1-trichloroethane as a develop-
ing agent to develop the circuit pattern onto the
Releases of TRI Chemicals
by Printed Circuit Corporation
(1000 pounds)
1988 1992
33/50 Chemicals
Dichloromethane
1,1,1-Trichloroethane
33/50 Subtotal*
Other TRI Chemicals
Total*
509
11
521
67
588
0
62
62
128
189
Columns do not sum to totals due to rounding.
sections of polymer exposed to light, and to wash
away the areas of polymer not subjected to light.
Dichloromethane was used to strip away residual
polymer in the subsequent stage of the manufac-
turing process. In addition, both chemicals were
used as final cleaners to remove contaminants from
completed circuit boards.
In 1988, Printed Circuit reported releases of
520,500 pounds of 33/50 Program chemicals. All
of these releases were in the form of air emissions.
Table I, at the end of this profile, presents the
company's 1988-1992 data for releases of all TRI
chemicals. The table includes 1993 data obtained
from company progress reports.
II. 33/50 PROGRAM GOALS AND
POLLUTION REDUCTION ACTIVITIES
Printed Circuit Corporation initially set a goal
of reducing total releases of 33/50 Program chemi-
cals by 35% and 65% by 1992 and 1995, respective-
ly, using 1988 levels as a baseline. The company
indicated that source reduction would account for
about 75% of the pledged reductions. The remain-
ing 25% would be accomplished through a variety
of methods, including process changes, recycling,
in-process recovery, and equipment modifications.
The company later revised its goal to a complete
elimination of releases of 33/50 Program chemicals
by the end of 1993.
In order to meet its program goals, Printed
Circuit adopted a two-step approach. First, the
.7.1/50 Program Company Profile: Printed Circuit Corporation
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Two-step Process for Eliminating
33/50 Program Chemicals
1968
Dichloromethane: 100% reduction in 1991
1,1,1-Trlchloroethane: 100% reduction in 1993
company focused its efforts on eliminating all use
of dichloromethane in its operations. To accom-
plish this goal, the company implemented a pro-
cess that uses a water-based cleaner to strip away
excess polymer from the etched circuit boards. In
addition, Printed Circuit switched all solvent clea-
ning operations to 1,1,1-trichloroethane. These
changes eliminated all use of dichloromethane at
Printed Circuit by the end of 1991. As a result of
the process change, the company also was able to
minimize its use of methanol, a non-33/50 Program
TR1 chemical.
Printed Circuit focused first on elimi-
nating all use of dichloromethane, then
concentrated on eliminating 1,1,1-tri-
chloroethane from its operations.
Although the switch to 1,1,1-trichloroethane
for all solvent cleaning operations caused releases
of the chemical to increase between 1990 and 1991,
Printed Circuit showed an overall reduction in
releases of 33/50 Program chemicals between the
two years. The company believed that by focusing
its efforts on one chemical at a time, it would be
able to make more rapid progress toward reducing
emissions than if it were addressing several chemi-
cals simultaneously.
To eliminate the use of 1,1,1-trichloroethane,
the company undertook an evaluation of potential
replacements. Printed Circuit worked with six
vendors nationwide over a two-year period to
identify replacements that would:
• be compatible with other chemicals and mate-
rials used in production;
• comply with environmental standards; and
• be economically feasible.
Printed Circuit's Progress
Toward Meeting 33/50 Goals
600
(A
O 500
V)
£
400
•o
(5 300
$
IB
200
i
o
o
in
100
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
33/50 Goal: 100% reduction in releases and
transfers of 33/50 chemicals by 1995
As a result of the study, the company has
replaced its use of 1,1,1-trichloroethane as a
developing agent with a water-based sodium
carbonate solution. In addition, Printed Circuit
now uses a mild detergent with water for the final
cleaning of completed circuit boards, in place of
dichloromethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane.
33/50 Program Company Profile: Printed Circuit Corporation
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III. PROGRESS TOWARDS 33/50
REDUCTION GOALS
As a result of these efforts, Printed Circuit
Corporation reduced total releases of 33/50 Pro-
gram chemicals by 87% from 1988 to 1991 after
the elimination of dichloromethane. Further-
more.the company completely eliminated releases
of all 33/50 Program chemicals by 1993 after the
elimination of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, far surpassing
its Program goals.
IV. SUMMARY OF PRINTED CIRCUIT
CORPORATION'S EXPERIENCE
Printed Circuit Corporation has had outstand-
ing accomplishments in reducing releases and
transfers of 33/50 Program chemicals. The compa-
ny completely eliminated all use of its two 33/50
Program chemicals -- dichloromethane and 1,1,1-
trichloroethane - exceeding its Program goals two
years ahead of schedule. These goals were accom-
plished using a two-step approach, in which the
company focused its efforts on one chemical at a
time. This focused approach allowed a more rapid
reduction than might have been possible otherwise.
33/50 Program Company Profile: Printed Circuit Corporation
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Table I
Printed Circuit Corporation
Releases and Transfers of TRI Chemicals, 1988-1992 (1)
(All data from TRI unless otherwise noted)
Chemical
Dichloromethane
1,1,1 -Trichloroethnne
33/50 Program Chemicals
Non 33/50 Program Chemicals
All TRI Chemicals
Percent Change. 1988-1992(1)
33/50 Program Chemicals
Non-33/50 Program Chemicals
All TRI Chemicals
Year
1988
1989
1990
1991
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1988
J989
1990
1991
1992
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
Transfers
Off-site
Total Air Transfers for Treatment/ Total Releases Percent
Emissions to POTW Disposal/Other and Transfers (2) Change
(pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) 1988-1992
509,300
266,300
96,000
0
11,200
10,650
11,925
68,500
61,530
0
520,500
276,950
107,925
68,500
61,530
0
66,300
59,200
40,780
32,400
69,690
586,800
336,150
148,705
100,900
131,220
-100%
5%
-78%
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
790
408
236
63
130
790
408
236
63
130
-
-84%
-84%
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
58,140
0
0
0
0
58,140
--
-
-
509,300
266,300
96,000
0 (3)
11,200
10,650
1 1 ,925
68,500
61,530
0 (3)
520,500
276,950
107,925
68,500
61,530
0 (3)
67,090
59,608
41,016
32,463
127,960
587,590
336,558
148,941
100,963
189,490
-100%
91%
-68%
-100%
449%
-100%
-88%
-100%
91%
-68%
Notes: (1) Includes 1993 data for 1,1,1-trichloroethane.
(2) 1991 and 1992 Total Releases and Transfers do not include on- or off-site recycling or energy recovery.
(3) Based on company progress reports. Company stopped using dichloromethane in 1991 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane
in 1993.
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