United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Pollution December 1996 - January 1997
Prevention and Toxics
Washington, DC 20460 EPA 742-N-97-001
&EPA
Pollution
Prevention
News
kjuOlcUi NEW RULES PROPOSED FOR SOOT, SMOG
^ ^ AID AIIAIITV TDK 111% It ATA fUAIAI DDAADCCC DIIT DADTIflll ATCC I AH REIHMI*
AIR QUALITY TREND DATA SHOW PROGRESS, BUT PARTICULATES LAG BEHIND
2 Natural
Past Killers
EPA speeds up pheromone
registrations. Also: WasteWi$e
accomplishments; new guide
to solvents.
jp Profits in Pravantion
Several top performing
environmental services firms
have a P2 orientation.
Lf- Take a Breather
EPA is researching ways to
improve air quality in offices.
S Built to be
O Cleaner
New EPA headquarters;
manmadc wetlands beneath
a stadium.
^ Demanufacturing
What to do with the. old
computer?
EPA proposed new national standards
for particulate matter (soot) and
ground-level ozone (smog) on Novem-
ber 27,1996, based on studies showing that
current standards are not doing enough to
prevent serious health problems.
Because of the proposal's significance, a
new toll-free telephone number and
electronic mail addresses have been set up
to receive public comments. (See page 7).
Most particulate matter (PM) comes from
combustion in installations such as power
plants, large incinerators, and cars and
trucks. Ozone is the haze of chemicals from
car exhaust and smokestack emissions that
shrouds many cities on hot summer days.
The proposed standards, along with clean
air programs already planned, are expected
to reduce premature deaths by 40,000 per
year and reduce serious respiratory prob-
lems in children by 250,000 cases per year.
In addition, implementation of the
standards is expected to spur a host of
pollution prevention efforts. Specific
measures to limit ozone and PM pollution
that cities and states will need to take in
order to meet the new standards will be
proposed in June 1998. Many areas are
expected to achieve attainment through
regional utility efforts, national low emis-
sion vehicle programs currently in develop-
ment, and sulfur dioxide reductions from
power plants. Some cities (e.g., Houston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore-Washington) are
likely to need additional steps to meet the
new standard, such as the installation of
low NOx burners or economic incentive
programs. Finally, a few cities, such as
greater Los Angeles and New York, will
likely need more innovative efforts to
reduce traffic and introduce cleaner
vehicles. In the meantime, an interim
implementation policy of "no backsliding" is
in effect until state implementation plans
are developed, and approved by EPA.
The proposal is computer-accessible
through the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/
airlinks. For technical information, contact
Jeff Clark at 919-541-5557.
In December, EPA released its annual
report on air quality trends, which shows a
brighter side of the overall picture. Over
the past 25 years, major air pollutants have
decreased nationally by almost 30 percent.
Air quality improved for all six criteria
pollutants during the 1990s, compared to
the 1980s. The six are: carbon monoxide,
Continued on HI* 7
GRANTS COMPETITIONS
Three pollution prevention grants competitions are underway:
P2 Network — a national network of pollution prevention information centers.
Deadline: April 21, 1997. Contact: Beth Anderson, 202-260-2602 or
Ajiderson.Beth@epamail.epa.gov.
FY97 Pollution Prevention Incentives for States (PPIS) grants:
Deadline: April 25,1997. Contact: Regional Pollution Prevention Coordinators.
Environmental Justice/Pollution Prevention grants for minority and low-
income communities. Deadline: April 15, 1997. Contact: 703-841-0483.
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2 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
NEWS & NOTES
WASTEWI$E PARTNERS
REPORT RECORD SAVINGS
More than 200 companies participating in
EPA's program WasteWi$e report that
voluntary waste reduction in 1995 was
four times as large as in 1994. The compa-
nies estimate that they avoided generating
344,000 tons of waste material through
prevention and recycled an additional 4.2
million tons.
WasteWi$e partners, a third of whom
are Fortune 500 manufacturing and
service companies, also managed to save
approximately $59 million in 1995 as a
result of efforts to reduce transport
packaging, a key cost-cutting measure for
many companies.
EPA's "Second-Year Progress Report"
contains more information about achieve-
ments of WasteWi$e partners, including
examples of strategies to reduce both
waste and cost. For a copy, call the RCRA/
Superfund Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or
703-412-9810.
EPA SPEEDS UP BIOLOGICAL
PESTICIDE APPROVAL
Regulatory reinvention measures by EPA
are expected to accelerate the registration
of new, safer insect pheromone (biological)
pesticides. Pheromones are naturally
occurring compounds used by insects to
communicate and mate. Their use can
control pests by interfering with normal
insect behavior and preventing reproduc-
tion. Pheromones pose far fewer risks to
human health and environmental pollu-
tion than traditional chemical pesticides.
Their effectiveness at low dosages and
compatibility with integrated pest man-
agement programs reduce the need for
conventional, more toxic insecticides.
The time and cost of bringing phero-
mone pesticides to the market have been
considerably reduced by EPA's new
common sense measures, a series of rules
published between 1993 and 1996. A
record number of safer products have
entered the market, most used in moth
and caterpillar control. Specific measures
include exempting most pheromone
pesticides from restrictions regarding
maximum permissible levels for residues
in food, as no harmful residues result from
pheromone use. EPA has also increased
the acreage of testing ground allowed for
most pheromone products. Because
pheromone pesticide testing requires a
larger area than conventional pesticides,
the increase saves both EPA and phero-
mone developers time and money. Many of
the producers of pheromone pesticides are
small companies with limited resources,
and the savings and exemptions accorded
by EPA will allow them to free up capital
for product development.
For more information, call A1 Heier,
202-260-4374.
SOLVENT GUIDE PREPARED
FOR METAL CLEANERS
"Aqueous and Semi-Aqueous Solvent
Chemicals: Environmentally Preferable
Choices" is a new guide from EPA's Office
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. It was
developed to help companies make respon-
sible environmental choices for chemicals
used in metal cleaning.
The guide includes a wall chart which
rates chemicals by toxicity and persistence
in the environment. The toxicity rating
indicates potential harm to aquatic
organisms, such as fish and algae. The
persistence rating indicates how long the
chemical will remain in the water before it
degrades into stable components and, at
that point, becomes less likely to pose
environmental problems.
Also included are lists of additional
resources that can be used in selecting
solvents.
EPA has sent the guide to about 1,000
companies, including 600 metal finishers.
An Internet version will be available soon.
To order the guide, call the TSCA
Hotline, 202-554-1404.
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3 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
MARKET SOLUTIONS
TOP PERFORMING
ENVIRONMENTAL
COMPANIES FIND PROFITS
IN POLLUTION PREVENTION
An annual ranking of the financial
performance of environmental
service firms finds a number of
companies with pollution prevention
orientation in the top listings. The Environ-
mental Benchmarker, a Colorado business
that follows environmental service compa-
nies, released its list of the top 20 firms in
1996 based on a weighted average of return
on sales and return on equity.
Heading up the list is Millipore
Corporation, with a 43% return on equity
and a 15% return on sales. Millipore
provides a broad array of laboratory
support and purification services for the
environmental analysis, pharmaceuticals,
and microelectronics markets.
Many of the other top performers
are from the water quality services (Nalco
Chemical, Osmonics) and instrumentation
(Dionex, Thermo Instrument) sectors of
the industry. Several of the firms which
made the Top 10 are "reflective of the
rapid growth in businesses which promote
and facilitate pollution prevention, waste
reclamation and re-utilization, or the
extension of infrastructure or product life,"
according to Steve Maxwell, Managing
Editor of the Environmental Benchmarker.
For example:
~ Bandag is an internationally diversi-
fied tire retreader and recycler, extend-
ing the useful life of automotive and
heavy equipment tires, and helping to
mitigate the problem of tire disposal.
Operating through more than 1350
franchised, independent dealers
throughout the world, Bandag has
consistently grown at well above
industry rates while maintaining high
profitability.
^ Giant Cement Holdings, a south-
eastern cement company, has pio-
neered resource recovery techniques
for use in the manufacture of cement,
and is one of the country's largest
users of waste-derived fuels in the
cement industry. The firm gathers and
blends a wide range of toxic wastes and
organic chemical by-products into an
energy source to fuel its cement
production kilns.
~ Thermo Fibertek, a subsidiary
company of Thermo Electron Corpora-
tion, has achieved rapid growth and
financial success by concentrating its
efforts in the manufacture of innovative
paper recycling equipment. With
systems that incorporate the most
advanced de-inking and cleaning
equipment, Fibertek is one of the
leading suppliers to the international
recycling industry.
~ Insituform Technologies is a pro-
vider of trenchless solutions to piping
systems. The company provides an
automated system for rehabilitation of
underground water delivery and sewage
piping systems. By extruding rubber-
based liners through pipelines to seal
cracks and prevent leakage, Insituform
allows a municipality to avoid costly
disruptions of laying new lines, and
minimizes the water losses or sewage
contamination problems that often
result from leaking older cement lines.
Firms that have concentrated in the
areas of recycling, resource recovery and
pollution or waste prevention have enjoyed
greater growth and financial success in
recent years. But despite the good perfor-
mance of these stars, in today's dynamic
market conditions diversification in
industries outside of the environmental
marketplace continues to be a key factor in
maintaining strong financial performance.
For more information, contact the
Environmental Benchmarker, 104 Pine
Tree Lane, Boulder CO 80304. Tel: 303-
442-4800, Fax: 303-442-9004.
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4 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
IHDOOR AIR POLLUTION
EPA is seeking to
characterize indoor air
emissions from selected
types of office equipment
and evaluate equipment
modifications that may
result in lower emissions.
IN SEARCH OF
PRODUCTS TO LET US
BREATHE MORE EASILY
With Americans spending nearly 90
percent of our time indoors, the
quality of the air we breathe is an
increasing concern. Traditional approaches
to mitigating pollution have
focused on ventilation and air
cleaning, techniques to
transfer pollution rather than
prevent or reduce it at the
source. Pollution prevention
projects currently underway
within EPA's Air Pollution
Prevention and Control
Division focus on the many
sources of indoor air pollution, including
office equipment, aerosol consumer
products, textile products, engineered
wood products, conversion varnishes, and
biocontaminants.
Goals for improving indoor air quality
and preventing pollution include:
~ Encouraging the development of low
emitting materials, products, and
equipment;
~ Evaluating existing data to identify low
emitting materials;
~ Developing appropriate test methods
for use by industry to promote pollution
prevention, such as a test method to
measure office equipment emissions.
TESTING OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Adverse health effects linked to office
equipment emissions, as reported by test
subjects, include headache; mucous
membrane irritation; eye, nose and throat
dryness; and dry and tight facial skin.
Through cooperative research with
Research Triangle Institute, EPA is
seeking to characterize indoor air emis-
sions from selected types of office equip-
ment and evaluate equipment modifica-
tions that may result in lower emissions.
Because no standard test method exists
at present, EPA is also seeking to develop
a test applicable to all types of office
equipment. Such a method would make it
possible to compare results among differ-
ent machines and manufacturers and
encourage the development of lower
emitting equipment.
Equipment emissions include ozone,
volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
inorganic gases, and particulates. Emis-
sions generally result from one of the
following:
~ Equipment operation. Both the
supplies used, such as toner and paper,
and the operation of electronic equip-
ment contribute to emissions. Emis-
sions may either remain fairly constant
or increase between routine mainte-
nance as the equipment ages.
~ Component off-gassing. Residual
organics can off-gas from any type of
office equipment. Sources include
construction materials (e.g., plastic
casings), components (e.g., cards used
for circuit boards), or solvents used in
manufacturing or cleaning the equip-
ment. Off-gassing emissions decrease
over time but increase at higher tem-
peratures.
~ Catastrophic failure. Failure of a
unit can cause episodic releases of
organics due to venting of capacitors
and/or charring of components.
In order to validate the newly-devel-
oped test method, EPA tested dry-process
copy machines, which make up a majority
of the photocopier market, and found that
the copiers can produce emissions of ozone
and VOC that can potentially have a
significant impact on indoor air quality.
Different machines produced different
combinations of individual compounds,
probably due to the different toner formu-
lations. Potential solutions to reduce office
equipment pollution include a charged
roller system to reduce ozone emissions;
improved transfer efficiency to minimize
toner emissions (perhaps with a replace-
able cartridge system); reduced tempera-
ture of fusing operation, improved equip-
ment maintenance, and reformulation of
supplies such as toner. Ozone filters,
commonly used on copiers and laser
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5 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION, CONTINUED
printers, catalytically convert the ozone to
oxygen. They are not 100 percent effective,
however, and must be replaced or cleaned
periodically. A final report on the project
will be available in late 1997.
AEROSOL CONSUMER PRODUCTS
The prevalence of aerosol consumer
products in the indoor environment has
prompted EPA to develop an improved
understanding of personal exposures to
these products as well as pollution preven-
tion techniques to reduce exposures.
Cooperative research with Georgia Tech
and the University of Illinois is focusing on
developing measurement methods and
models for manufacturers to use to develop
a better understanding of aerosol behavior.
Georgia Tech is developing a mass spec-
trometer system which will chemically
characterize aerosol products. Researchers
there are also measuring particle sizes of
^ various spray patterns. The system
eliminates the need for collection and
concentration techniques and is well
suited for real-time, direct analysis of
aerosol consumer products. At the Univer-
sity of Illinois, researchers are developing
techniques and instrumentation, as well
as a model, to measure aerosol transport
and distribution in rooms. By analyzing
spray patterns of representative aerosol
products using particle image velocimetry
techniques, they are determining particle
concentrations at various distances from
the spray nozzle. The research will help in
predicting emissions and personal expo-
sure from using aerosol products indoors.
At Purdue University, an innovative
spray nozzle design is under development
for use with precharged aerosol contain-
ers. The new dispenser design allows
manufacturers of selected products (e.g.,
personal care, hair care, degreasers, and
hard surface cleaners) to replace VOC
solvents and hydrocarbon propellants with
water and air while maintaining accept-
able product delivery characteristics.
Final reports on these projects will be
available in late 1997, including the design
guidelines for the spray nozzle.
IN ANY COLOR, THIS COPIER PAPER IS GREEN
Washington-based Green Seal's Environmental Partners Program
published its annual top-10 list of copier papers on the market with
the least adverse inpact on the environment. Listed in Green Seal's
September Choose Green Report, the comparison is based on post-
consumer recycled content and bleaching processes that do not use
chlorine or its derivatives.
The top three "Green Buys" were led by Arbokem's Downtown
Paper #3, with 43 percent post-consumer recycled content, 45 percent
tree-free fiber content, and a totally chlorine-free bleaching process.
Next were International Paper's Springhill Incentive 100DP paper
and James River's Eureka! 100.
The report also includes ideas on ways to reduce paper consumption in
the office. To obtain a copy, contact Green Seal at 202-331-7337, ext. 31.
On the Internet, go to http://www.greenseal.org.
OTHER PROJECTS
Other research projects underway include:
Textile Products: EPA and NC State/
College of Textiles have combined their
efforts to focus on manufacturing alterna-
tives to reduce latent volatile chemical
emissions in textile products and develop-
ment of low emitting thermoplastic
composite panels.
Fabric and Finish: A low emitting
prototype alternative to plywood and
particleboard has been developed.
Engineered Wood Products: Project
includes identification of low emitting
coatings and fibers.
Conversion Varnishes: Clear varnishes
often used as coatings on wood cabinets
and furniture can produce emissions of
formaldehyde and other VOCs.
For more information,
contact the Indoor Air
Quality Information Clear-
inghouse (IAQ Info) for
information on specific
pollutants, health effects,
testing, measuring and
controlling pollutants,
minimizing indoor air
pollution, and standards of
IAQ. Call 1-800-438-4318 or
fax 202-484-1510.
To receive Inside IAQ,
published twice a year, write
to kleovic@engineer.
aeerl.epa.gov or fax to
919-541-2157.
Biocontaminants: EPA intends to
establish engineering guidelines for the
prevention, mitigation, and control of
biocontaminants.
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6 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
P2 IN CONSTRUCTION
Technologies used in
construction, renovation,
and demolition are
advancing rapidly to
meet clients'demands
for structures that
generate less
construction waste
and are more environ-
mentally benign during
their useful lives. Here
are a few of the diverse
applications.
GREEN LIGHTS, CLEAN AIR
ARE SPECS FOR EPA HQ
T|he new EPA headquarters offices in
Washington, D.C. incorporate state-
of-the-art technologies for assuring
clean indoor air, energy conservation, and
materials reuse. The agency currently
occupies the southern half of the Ariel Kios
Federal Office Building, which the General
Services Administration (GSA) renovated
with EPA's participation during the design
phase. In summer 1997, some EPA offices
will move into a portion of the new Ronald
Reagan Federal Building, which is
Washington's second largest federal
building, exceeded in size only by the
Pentagon.
Indoor air quality is a high priority in
both projects. For the new building, EPA's
planning team developed furniture
selection criteria to ensure minimal
volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-
gassing. The planning team used as a
model a Washington State furniture
procurement in which four elements were
identified for testing: formaldehyde, total
aldehydes, total VOCs, and particulates.
GSA awarded the contract to Haworth Inc.
of Holland, MI. This represents the first
time the government has used target
emissions and environmental assessment
for a major procurement, instead of relying
solely on technical and price consider-
ations. As a result of this acquisition, GSA
plans to make a similar process available
for other federal agencies.
In the Ariel Rios renovation, pollution
prevention measures included:
~ Carpet tile free of the chemical 4-PC
and low in VOCs;
~ Walls painted with low-VOC paint or
finished with low-VOC vinyl or fabric
wall covering; and
~ Removal of old window air conditioning
units so that windows could be refur-
bished and made operable.
EPA's 200,000 square feet in the Reagan
building will reflect the Green Lights
program, using energy-saving luminaires
EPA's new headquarters offices ore located in the Ronald
Roagan Federal Building (white) and the Ariel Rios
Federal Office Building to its left. In this photograph of
the model, the view is southwest toward the Washington
Monument and the iefferson Memorial.
and electronic ballasts, along with task
lighting at each workstation. Pendant
lighting will be used to illuminate ceilings.
Low-flow plumbing devices are specified
in tenant spaces. Recyclable and reusable
materials were specified during construc-
tion—for example, in temporary construction
barriers and packing materials—as well as
in permanent materials, such as recycled
flyash in concrete, metal wall framing,
gypsum board, and linoleum flooring.
EPA staff are planning to move into Ariel
Rios-North and the neighboring Customs
and ICC buildings by the year 2000.
STEEL DRIVIN' MEN
DRIVE LESS STEEL
The recent upgrade of the Dartmouth Bridge
across the Mississippi River, on Interstate 94
in Minneapolis, MN, was a sign of the times.
Tbday's lighter, stronger steels and new
design technologies made it possible to use
nearly 20% less steel per square foot of road
surface than when the original structure was
built about 30 years ago.
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7 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
P2 IN CONSTRUCTION, CONTINUED
WETLANDS MADE TO
ORDER FOR COORS FIELD
Wetlands are nature's treatment
plants. Marshes, swamps and
bogs filter and absorb sediments,
nutrients, and chemicals that can pollute
other bodies of water further downstream.
Taking a cue from nature, HOK Sports
Facilities Group, a division of Hellmuth,
Chata + Kassabaum, Inc., the nation's
largest architectural firm, designed Coors
Field in Denver with a vegetated sub-
merged wetlands to treat water from the
stadium and parking lots. Home of the
Colorado Rockies baseball team, Coors
Field is believed to be the only stadium
with this design feature. Here is how HOK
Sport describes it:
"The wetlands emulate natural ecosys-
tems and the physical, chemical, and
biological processes that purify water. At
Coors Field, the symbiotic relationship
between the microbes and vegetation
provides the compact treatment required
in the constricted site in lower downtown
Denver.
"As a ballpark that seats 50,000 people,
Coors Field generates contaminants such
as beer, peanut shells, hot dog pieces,
cleansers, and paper. To treat this stadium
wash water and turf irrigation water,
which is filtered as it percolates through
the field's sand bed, (HOK Sport) designed
a 48,000 square foot underground vault
that has two cells. Water enters the vault
through a system of baffles that remove
larger floatables and sediments. The water
containing dissolved pollutants is held for
40 hours in a sedimentation cell before
being pumped to the constructed wetlands.
Fresh water... enters the other cell, where
it is pumped to the storm sewer system.
Water from the surface parking lots and
storm-water runoff flows directly to the
subsurface wetlands.
"Six sequential ponds of varying sizes
,and different planting sequences treat the
'water. A submerged gravel pack filters
wastewater through the gravel while
maintaining a flow beneath the media.
Wastewater flows through the root sys-
tems of plants-no water appears above the
gravel pack. This prevents exposed areas
of standing water which can become
anaerobic, creating odors and attracting
undesirable insects such as mosquitoes."
The project team predicts that the system
will reduce operational costs associated with
traditional water quality systems and will
require little maintenance.
NEW RULES FOR
SOOT AND SMOG
Continue froM pof« 1
lead, nitrogen dioxide, smog, soot, and
sulfur dioxide. Despite the progress, the
report also shows that 80 million people,
or three in 10, still breathe air that does
not meet existing health standards.
HOW 10 COMMENT ON PROPOSED AIR QUALITY STANDARDS
The toll-free phone number is 1-888-TELL EPA (1-888-835-5372), and it will
receive comments 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Five e-mail boxes are organized by subject:
General comments: general.comments@epamail.epa.gov
Ozone national ambient air quality standards only:
o3naaqs.comments@epamail.epa.gov
Particulate matter national ambient air quality standards only:
pmnaaqs.comments@epamail.epa.gov
Interim implementation policy only: iip.comments@epamail.epa.gov
Particulate matter monitoring regulations only:
monitors.comments@epamail.epa.gov
Comments can also be mailed to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Air Docket (6102)
Attn: Docket # (See below)
Waterside Mall
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Docket numbers: ozone NAAQS proposal A-95-58; particulate matter NAAQS
proposal A-95-54; interim implementation policy A-95-38; particulate matter
monitoring proposal A-96-51.
For further information, contact Jan Kleeman at 919-541-3450 or Ibm
Curnan at 919-541-5559 for e-mail information. For the 1-888 telephone number
contact Pat Vaughan at 919-541-4912. The comment period closes Feb. 18, 1997.
%
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8 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
DEMANUFACTURING
END-OF-LIFE STRATEGIES
FOR ELECTRONICS
ow ironic it is that the computer
technology we love for its ability to
reduce paper consumption and cut
down on car travel now poses an environ-
mental threat all its own.
Think about it. What do you do with an
obsolete computer? Put it out with the
trash? Take it to the landfill? Dismantle it
and dispose of it a piece at a time?
Millions have wondered the same thing-
yes, millions. According to a study conducted
in 1991 at Carnegie Mellon University, the
number of personal computers discarded
globally by the end of 1995 was estimated at
25 million. By the year 2001, the Carnegie
Mellon researchers projected disposal of 150
million personal computers in total.
So are monitors packed in alongside
disposable diapers in landfills around the
world? No, because approximately 75
percent of all personal computers that
consumers have ceased to use have gone
NATIONAL CONFERENCE PLANNED IN FEBRUARY
EPA is co-sponsoring an Electronic Product Recovery & Recycling
Conference in Washington, D.C., February 25-26. The conference is
being planned by the Environmental Health Center, a division of the
National Safety Council, with the goal of developing an environmen-
tally and economically sound strategy for recovering and recycling
electronic equipment. It is intended for a diverse audience from
industry, environmental groups, government, academia and else-
where. Other sponsors are Business and the Environment newsletter,
Hewlett Packard, Unisys Corporation, Techneglas, BDI and
Envirocycle, Inc. Space is extremely limited. For information, contact
the Environmental Health Center at 202-293-2270, ext. 469.
the way of those National Geographic back
issues. According to industry consultants,
they're stored in the attic... or in the
basement, or the garage, or somewhere.
They're on hold. Waiting. Until one day,
someone or something will come along and
give them the dignified retirement that
they deserve.
The day is at hand.
THE DAWN OF DEMANUFACTURING
Demanufacturing is the new term coined to
describe the process of dismantling and
reusing or disposing of manufactured
products, primarily electronics. When it
comes to addressing electronics waste,
European countries have taken the lead.
European governments are pressuring
industry to adopt "take back" policies for
electronic and computer products. The
European Union (EU) is considering a
broad framework to identify who is respon-
sible for collection, recycling, and disposal
of discarded computers, set pollution
prevention targets, and address cross-
border shipments to specialized treatment
facilities.
In the U.S., most of the electronic
equipment used in business is already part
of recycling programs maintained as a
service to customers by manufacturers
such as IBM, Digital Equipment Corpora-
tion, Hewlett-Packard, and Unisys. It is
the consumer electronics sector that poses
the problem, since a manufacturer's
involvement with the customer ends with
the point of sale and there has been no
incentive to provide recycling-until now.
Increasingly, U.S. companies are contem-
plating voluntary programs in hopes of
averting government regulation.
Digital has one of the most well-
established recycling and reuse programs.
It consists of:
~ Resale of whole units through brokers,
repair houses, or directly to end-users,
in the U.S. and developing countries;
~ Demanufacturing, or dismantling of the
product in order to reuse parts, such as
hard drives or circuit boards, or failing
that, to recover and sell materials such
as steel, aluminum, copper wires, and
precious metals.
WHAT'S INSIDE, EXACTLY?
Television and computer screens are
known, technically, as cathode ray tubes
(CRTs). They have a useful life of around
12 years, far longer than most computers.
Typically, it costs $80 to refurbish a CRT. A
17-inch CRT contains about 18 pounds of
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9 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
DEMANUFACTURING, CONTINUED
glass, which is recyclable, as well as some
lead. Low market demand for recycled
glass has placed limits on the interest in
recycling CRTs. However, a growing
number of small firms in the U.S. and
abroad feel the market potential is large
enough to justify the risks.
One such firm is Envirocycle, of
Hallstead, PA, which processed glass from
250,000 CRTs in 1995. While CRTs are the
company's specialty, it also processes
circuit boards and resells the lead, silver,
gold, and platinum. Circuit boards are
typically the most valuable parts that can
be extracted from computers, although
their value may drop as newer computers
use smaller quantities of precious metals.
The market for used parts is volatile in
other ways. An example is the past year's
drop in the cost of memory chips from
$100 to $10, which destroyed profits for
many chip recyclers.
ON THE CUTTING EDGE
Two county governments are blazing trails
in computer demanufacturing. Hennepin
County, MN, collects and disassembles 200
tons of consumer electronics each year, at
a cost of $190,000. In 1995, better than
half of the 9700-plus units collected were
televisions and computer monitors,
reflecting the county's focus on high lead-
content CRTs. The program also accepts
camcorders, computers, radios, sewing
machines, stereos, tape players, tele-
phones, typewriters, VCRs, and vacuums.
Whatever can be reused, is. The rest is
disassembled, and metals are sold in
existing markets.
In Union County, NJ, a contractor
disassembles televisions, microcomputers,
monitors, printers, keyboards, computer
peripherals, copiers, faxmachines, audio/
stereos, VCR/vjdeo cams, microwaves, and
telephones. The program got under way in
October with a $200,000 state grant, and
hopes to offset costs through sales of parts.
EPA TESTS THE MARKET
As part of the Common Sense Initiative to
find cleaner, cheaper, smarter solutions to
Beling, 617-565-3241,
or beling.christine®
epamail.epa.gov.
In Rhode Island,
EPA and the state's
Department of
Environmental Management are in the
process of awarding an economic develop-
ment grant to an electronic demanufactur-
ing firm. There were five bidders, ranging
from a small local company to Digital. The
firm selected is German and will be
making its first entry into the U.S. mar-
ket. It will open its doors by fall 1997.
STARTING EARLY
Digital, AT&T, and other manufacturers
are seeking to facilitate eventual demanu-
facturing by simplifying and standardizing
components in the earliest stages of the
design process. For example, new products
are being designed using materials that
are already recycled, or that can be
recycled easily. Some hazardous materials
and difficult to recycle materials can be
easily separated or snapped off.
"In new product evaluation, we do a
mock disassembly of the product," ex-
plained Bob Butler, account manager for
Digital's computer asset recovery business.
This helps designers determine, among
other things, how to reduce the number of
different types of plastics and fasteners
used.
Continued an pa|* 10
Pari of the disassembly linn al
Electronic Processing Associate!, Inc.
in Lowell, MA,
Ki
environmental problems, EPA Region I has
funded the Northeast Resource Recovery
Association to conduct four pilot projects
in Binghamton, NY, and Somerville, MA.
Consumer electronics are collected at
dropoff points, for a charge of $1 in New
York and for free in
Massachusetts. In
November, when the
first pilots took place,
the New York site got
140 responses and the
Massachusetts site
got 180. For more
information, get in
touch with Chris
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10 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
DEMANUFACTURING, CONTINUED
AT LEAST THE PACKAGING
IS BIODEGRADABLE
Scientists at the National Starch and Chemical
Research Center, while working on projects to
increase cereal tolerance to milk, stumbled on a
new material considered to be a breakthrough in the
packaging industry. Known as Eco-Foam® loose fill, this
environmentally safe packaging material is being used
by an increasing number of companies.
Made almost entirely of starch, Eco-Foam looks and
feels like polystyrene, which makes up most of today's
loose fill, but offers more disposal options than reusing,
recycling, or dumping in a landfill.
Eco-Foam is produced in an extruder, the same
machine producing many breakfast cereals in an
environmentally safe process.
The annually renewable source of corn starch used in
Eco-Foam is a special hybrid grown in the Midwest
mainly for industrial uses.
As concern over the solid waste problem increases,
Eco-Foam provides another solution in addition to
reduction and recycling. Loose fill is difficult to collect
for reuse and recycling due to its wide distribution and
low weight. A natural product that breaks down won't
end up in a landfill or littering land and sea.
Eco-Foam, because it is naturally based, can be:
~ Reused;
~ Composted, where the naturally occurring bacteria
will break it down into carbon dioxide and water;
~ Flushed down the toilet;
~ Washed down the sink;
~ Washed away by the rain; or
~ Watered into the lawn, where it will break down
naturally. Although it does not have any value as a
fertilizer, it also appears to pose no risk to hu-
mans, animals, the lawn, or even the water table.
More information about Eco-Foam and how to replace
existing loose fill with an environmentally safer alterna-
tive can be obtained by contacting American Excelsior
Company at 817-649-7816 or 1-800-ECO-FOAM.
CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS
The demanufacturing trend is likely to
continue, according to the Microelectronics
and Computer Technology Corporation
(MCC), a research and development
consortium in Austin, TX, that has pre-
pared several studies of environmental
issues in the electronics industry. An
"Environmental Roadmap" published this
year notes that planning for and managing
end-of-life disposition of electronic products
is becoming increasingly important because
of regulatory pressure and the increasing
costs of traditional disposal alternatives. In
the report, MCC recommends continuing to
treat end-of-life products as products, not
as waste, and explores alternatives to
releasing them into the waste stream.
MCC and the University of Texas, with
funding from the Texas State Energy
Conservation Office, are studying the
technological and economic viability of an
integrated recycling center in Austin that
would conduct triage on electronic prod-
ucts ("Is it still working? Can it be refur-
bished? Is it recyclable?") and separate
recyclables into metals, plastic, and glass
for their respective markets. For more
information on the study, which will be
completed in early 1997, contact Colleen
Mizuki at 512-338-3391.
°4i
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11 Pollution Prevention News
December 1996-January 1997
RESOURCES
NPPC Resource Lists On-line. The
National Pollution Prevention Center
for Higher Education is now making the
full text of its Resource Lists available
through the NPPC's homepage. The
Resource Lists include citations to
articles, books, reports, case studies,
problem sets, and multimedia resources
for classroom use. Currently, the Lists
cover pollution prevention in account-
ing, business law, chemical engineering,
chemistry, environmental studies,
industrial ecology, and industrial
engineering and operations manage-
ment. Go to http://www.umich.edu/
-nppcpub/ and click on Resource Lists.
Printed listings can also be obtained
from the Center at NPPC, University of
Michigan, 430 E. University, Ann Arbor,
MI 48109-1115. 313-764-1412.
nppc@umich.edu
[I Water-wise Gardener Program and
Handbook focuses on proper landscape
management as a way to reduce home-
owner contributions to nonpoint source
pollution. The Extension program is a
valuable model for those who work in
public education. The 52-page handbook
covers planning, implementation, data
evaluation, and reporting as well as
examples of surveys, impact sheets and
marketing materials that have been
successfully used in public education.
Contact: The Water-Wise Gardener,
Office of Consumer Horticulture, 407
Saunders Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061-
0327, tel. 540-231-6254.
EPA's Stratospheric Protection
Division is releasing a book in January
summarizing voluntary industry efforts
in eliminating the use of ozone deplet-
ing substances. Contact Steve
Andersen, Office of Stratospheric
Protection, 202-233-9069.
Ozone Layer Protection, a non-govern-
mental organization of multinational
companies and affiliate members whose
goal is the resolution of environmental
problems through the exchange of
technical information, has been reorga-
nized as the International Cooperative
for Environmental Leadership (ICEL).
A five-year review of ICOLP and its
success as an industry and government
partnership is now available free of
charge. Contact: ICEL at 202-986-5656.
Pollution Prevention for Process
Engineers. This group of 34 papers
from the American Institute of Chemi-
cal Engineers (AIChE) 1995 winter
conference focuses on the integration of
the best conventional and emerging
waste reduction and pollution preven-
tion technologies for minerals recovery
processing. Topics include acid mine
drainage, water treatment, recycling,
and pollution prevention technologies in
energy minerals, precious metal miner-
als, and fertilizer minerals processing.
Contact: AIChExpress Service Center at
1-800-AIChemE (1-800-242-4363).
Outside the US and Canada, 212-705-
8100; or fax 212-705-8400.
Greening Your Property helps hotels
and motels make their operations more
environmentally responsible. Released
by Green Seal, the guide lists environ-
mentally preferable products and
advises hotels on ways to reduce waste,
save energy, and encourage recycling.
Worksheets and audit forms are in-
cluded to help hotels estimate the costs
and savings associated with implement-
ing the environmentally friendly
changes. Contact: Educational Institute
of the American Hotel and Motel
Association at 517-353-5500.
£s ICOLP (1990-1995): A New Spirit of
Industry and Government Coopera-
tion. The International Cooperation for
Editorial Staff:
Tom Tillman, Editor
Suzanne Harris
Gil ah Langner
Laura Sturges
Free Hand Press, Layout
To be added to our mailing
list, please write:
Pollution Prevention News
U.S. EPA (MC7409)
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460
or fax to:
Pollution Prevention News,
202-260-2219
Printed with vegetable oil-based
m inks on 100% recycled paper
w (50% post-consumer).
-------
12 Pollution Prevention News
CALENDAR
DATE/SITE
March 3-5
Houston, TX
March 12-15
Cromwell, CT
April 10-11
Lexington, VA
May 4-6
East Rutherford, Ni
May 17-24
Woterbury, CT to
Portland, ME
June 8-13
Toronto, Ontario
July 8-H
Saratoga Springs, NY
Sept.-Oct
Hyannis, MA
EVENT
De Lange Woodlands Conference
on Sustainable Development
Building Energy 1997-lnsuring
a Sustainable Future
Environment Virginia 97:
Public and Private Partnership for
Environmental Progress Conference
Workshop: "Pollution Prevention:
Tools to Make It Really Happen"
American Tour de Sol: U.S. Electric
Vehicle Road Rally Championship
Science and Technology:
the International language
Summer Study on Energy
Efficiency in Industry
Sustainable Transportation &
S/EV97 Symposium and Trade Shaw
SPONSOR
Energy and Environmental Systems
Institute at Rice University, Center for
Global Studies, National Academy
of Sciences, and the James A.
Baker III Institute for Public Policy
Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association
Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality and
VMI Research Laboratories, Inc.
American Institute of
Chemical Engineers and
Center for Waste Reduction
Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association
Air & Waste
Management Association
American Council for an Energy-
Efficient Economy, NY State Energy
Research and Development Authority
Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association
CONTACT
Judy Howell
Tel: 713-737-5674
Fax:713-285-5948
Tel: 413-774-6051
Fax:413-774-6053
Fax: 540-464-7618
Dr. Joseph J. Cramer
Tel: 212-705-7950
Fax: 212-752-3297
Tel: 413-774-6051
Fax: 413-774-6053
E-MAIL/WWW
jmhowell@rice.edu
http://solstice.crest.
org/nesea
nesea@nesea.org
http://solstice.crest.
org/nesea
Maureen Brown mbrown@awma.org
Tel: 412-232-3444x3122 http://www.awma.org/
Tel: 202-429-8873
Fax:202-429-2248
Tel: 413-774-6051
Fax: 413-774-6053
ace3-conf@ccmail.pnl.gov
http://crest.org/aceee
htlp://solstice .crest,
org/nesea
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