Pollution Prevention
Information Clearinghouse
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pollution Prevention
Office of Environmental Engineering and Technology Demonstration
July 1990
We've Changed Our Name, But Not Our Mission
Welcome to the second issue of the PPIC User Bulletin. This issue follows activities and developments of the PPIC's four components-
Hotline, Repository, PIES, and Outreach functions. EPA's Electronic Information Exchange System has a new name. PIES, as we are now
identified, represents the Pollution Prevention Information Exchange System. Our original name, EIES, is currently being used by the New
Jersey Institute of Technology for their electronic information exchange system.
PPIC Hotline Services
To access PPIC information by phone, call:
RCRA/Superfund Hotline
Small Business Ombudsman (SBO) Hotline
PPIC Technical Assistance
(800) 424-9346
(800) 368-5888
(703) 821-4800
Hotline
Commonly Asked Hotline Questions
Question: What information does the PPIC office
distribute about pollution prevention?
Answer: General inf ormation packets are mailed out
upon request. In addition, technical information
packets are available for certain industries such as
metal finishing and printing. By requesting an infor-
mation packet, you are automatically put on the
mailing list for the Pollution Prevention News and PPIC general
announcements.
Question: Can I access the 800-number to the PIES?
Answer: If you are a State or local government employee, you
qualify for the 800-number. If you are already a PIES user, just leave
a message on the message center for the System Operator asking
for the 800-number. If you have not yet used the PIES, simply call
the Pollution Prevention Technical Assistance line and request the
800-number.
Question: What information can be accessed using PIES?
Answer: The PIES contains an interactive message center; bulle-
tins which highlight pollution prevention news and feature ar-
ticles; a calendar of upcoming events and conferences; literature-
search data bases on case studies and general documents on
pollution prevention; a legislative tracking system; summaries of
State and Federal pollution prevention programs; and a directory
of Pollution Prevention Experts.
Question: How do I download a document from PIES?
Answer: If you are accessing PIES using CrossTalk software,
there are two basic steps. The first step is to select the document
on PIES you wish to download. This is done by typing "d " at the prompt (ex. "d osw.txt" - to download
OSW's program description). The second step is to tell your com-
munications software (CrossTalk) to capture the file to your disk.
This is done by hitting the escape key to get the CrossTalk
command prompt and typing "rx " (ex. "rx osw.txt"
- this will place the OSW program description in your
current directory). Vou have now downloaded a document from
PIES and may print it out in hard-copy form. (Note: Other com-
munication software may require different receiving commands,
check your software's user guide under "download-
ing" for appropriate commands.)
Question: Where can my company purchase re-
cycled paper?
Answer: EPA's Office of Solid Waste (OSW) has
compiled several comprehensive lists of recycled print-
ing and writing paper mills, newspaper mills, tissue
mills, and distributors of recycled paper on a regional
and national basis. These lists have been made
available to the PPIC by the EPA Procurement Guidelines Hotline
and may be obtained by contacting the PPIC or by contacting the
Procurement Guidelines Hotline directly at (70B) 941-4452. ¦
PPIC Calls for Information
Call for Descriptions of Research Programs and
Activities
The PPIC is establishing a mini-exchange and data base that
will contain information on ongoing research projects in
pollution prevention, clciner production, and recycling. The
Agency is soliciting information on the pollution prevention
research projects directed by your organization.
This research data base will allow users to search by research
category and by institution, allowing peers to build on each
others' progress, conduct cooperative efforts, and avoid
duplication of effort.
Call for Corporate Programs Data
The PPIC is calling for information on corporate pollution
prevention programs. This information will be built into a data
base focusing on programs in business and industry that
involve source reduction, waste minimization/clean technolo-
gies, and in-house recycling. The data base will include details
on program goals and results, implementation strategies, and
cost effectiveness.
Please send information on your research projects and/or
corporate programs to: The Pollution Prevention Information
Clearinghouse (PPIC), SAIC, 8400 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA
22102
Printed on Recycled Paper
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Repository
Repository Conversion
The PPIC repository will soon be undergoing a
cataloging conversion using the universally recognized
Library of Congress cataloging system (OCLC). This
method will allow PPIC to expand its collection and
link with the EPA main library's classification scheme.
The PPIC documents will be easier to access and will
allow bibliographic exchange with other clearinghouse
collections such as the Illinois Hazardous Waste
Research and Information Center.
PPIC's holdings will soon become accessible as a part of
OCLC's more than 22-million bibliographic entries.
In addition, the system will notify the more than 10
thousand international OCLC subscribers of the
document's availability and location. Anyone who
has access to a library or institution which subscribes
to OCLC will be able to request a search for a specific
document. OCLC will notify this researcher if it is
available from the EPA/PPIC collection and it will also
note all of the other subscribing institutions which
hold the document. This will enable researchers to
pursue other acquisition options based on the convenience and
proximity of the other locations. ¦
L
New Publications Upcoming PPIC Publications
PPIC Video Collection
Industrial Waste Prevention
Guide to Developing an Effective
Waste Minimization Program
Waste Advantage, Inc.
This 141-page book provides plant
managers with step-by-step instructions for
developing a plan to minimize solid and
hazardous wastes using an integrated team
approach. Sample forms and worksheets are
provided for tracking wastes and calculating
cost information. An interview and follow-up
services are included in the purchase price of
the guide, available from Waste Advantage,
Inc. at(313) 569-8150, orat23077Greenfield
Road, Southfield, Ml 48075.
EPA Pollution Prevention Research
Plan Report To Congress
Office of Research and Development, EPA/
600/9-90/015, March 1990
EPA submitted a 46-page Report To
Congress in response to the Fiscal Year 1989
Appropriations Act. This multi-year, multi-
media pollution prevention research plan
establishes six major program areas: product
research, process research, recycling and reuse
research, socioeconomic and institutional
research, anticipatory research, and
technology transfer. In this report, EPA
establishes priorities for implementation of
this plan, estimated to cost approximately
$14.5 million during EPA's fiscal years 1990
and 1991.
PPIC Vital Statistics
Holdings:
Repository 1,014
Case Studies 400
Video Library 10
State Legislation Summaries 353
(41 States)
Calls:
lanuary 1, 1990 to |une 1, 1990
PIES 1,593
PPIC Technical Support Line 196
RCRA/Superfund Hotline 325
SBO Hotline 57
EPA ORD and PPO Offices 800
Environmental Labeling in the United
States, Background Research, Issues,
and Recommendations
EPA Pollution Prevention Office
This document, now available in draft form
from the repository, explores the status of labeling
programs in the U.S. and Europe that designate
products as being "environmentally compatible."
While U.S. efforts have started at the State and
local levels, such as the California Proposition
65, other countries have moved forward with
national programs. Analysis of the first major
environmental labeling program, the "Blue
Angel" program launched more than ten years
ago by West Germany, is provided. Similar
programs in Canada, japan, and Norway are
also discussed. Other topics addressed include
research on the effectiveness of labeling
programs, such as nutrition labeling, appliance
energy efficiency labeling, automobile fuel
economy labeling, cigarette labeling and third-
party labeling (e.g., the Good Housekeeping
seal).
Waste Reduction Assessment at Fort
Riley, Kansas
EPA Office of Research and Development
This report will document findings of a waste
minimization audit conducted by EPA's Pollution
Prevention Research Branch (PPRB) and its
contractor, Versar, Inc., under the Waste
Reduction Evaluations at Federal Sites (WREAFS)
program. Hazardous wastes generated at this
facility include waste battery acid and waste
detergent solution contaminated with metals
from cleaning auto parts. Recommended
recycling options to be included in this report
are filtration, and restrengthening and recycling
of waste battery acid to replace the need for
virgin battery acid. Purification and reuse of
alkaline detergent solution for auto parts cleaning
will also be discussed. These recommendations,
which could be adopted at other Army
installations, would result in the near elimination
of these wastes for a small expenditure in relation
to the potential savings. Cost information,
including capital outlays, operating costs savings,
and payback periods will be included.
Pollution Prevention Hits the Silver
Screen!
In addition to hard-copy documents for
the Repository, the PPIC collects video tapes
that address source reduction and recycling
issues. This collection is available on a free
loan basis and includes videos produced by
EPA, State agencies, industry, and other private
sector organizations.
If you are interested in borrowing a tape,
you can send a message to the PIES system
operator, call the RCRA/Superfund or Small
Business Ombudsman Hotlines, or leave a
message with the PPIC Technical Support
Office. The videos currently available through
the PPIC are:
Beyond Business As Usual: Meeting
The Challenge of Hazardous Waste
(U.S. EPA Region VIII, 28:30 Min.)
Hazardous Waste Reduction Options
For Oregon Business
(Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality)
Less is More: Pollution Prevention is
Good Business
(U.S. EPA, Office of Solid Waste, 23:13
Min.)
An Introduction to the PPIC
(U.S. EPA, PPIC, 48 Min.)
MNTAP's Train the Trainer Workshop
(Minnesota Technical Assistance Program)
3M's Pollution Prevention Pays
Program (3M Corporation, 9:00 Min.)
Challenge to Innovation
(3M Corporation, 8:30 Min.)
Smart Moves
(Chevron Corporation, 21:26 Min.)
Waste Not...Want Not
(U.S. EPA Region IV, IS Min.)
The 1988 WRAP Awards
(Dow Chemical, 8:36 Min.)
The PPIC also has a list of additional videos
that are not available through the PPIC, but
which focus on pollution prevention. Contact
us for more information.
User Bulletin 2
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Pollution Prevention Information Exchange System (PIES)
WRRC CORE BIBLIOGRAPHY
The PPIC Repository acquired a
^ > separate collection of 150 core
X ^ documents from the Waste
Reduction Resource Center for the
Southeast (WRRC). The WRRC was established in
1 988 to provide multi-media waste reduction support
for eight states in EPA Region IV (Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and Tennessee). Selected from more than 2500 journal
articles, case studies, technical assistance reports and books, the
core library provides economic and technical data, manufacturing
and process information from a number of industries such as the
textile industry, lumber and wood products, printing, leather
products, electronic equipment and supplies, and agricultural
products. Information relating to hazardous waste streams, as
well as water and air discharges from these industries is included.
The PPIC is obtaining copyright approval for the 150 core
documents so they can be distributed nationally. ¦
Pollution Prevention Research Information
Available on PIES
A series of bulletins containing information on all 37 research
projects ongoing at EPA's Pollution Prevention Research Branch
(PPRB) in Cincinnati are available for review and downloading
on the new PIES Research Programs mini-exchange.
PPIC Establishes a Waste
Exchange Forum on PIES
Waste exchanges allow businesses to locate wastes
that could be used as raw materials in their production
processes. EPA has created a waste exchange forum
in a mini-exchange on the PIES to expand the
awareness and use of existing North American waste
exchange services. The mini-exchange will convey an
electronic data base of waste exchange listings for the U.S. and
Canada. This data base is being developed in cooperation with
the U.S. and Canadian waste exchange community.
The Data Base of North American Waste Exchange Listings,
when finalized, will enable any PIES user to search lor materials
that are either available or wanted for exchange. The system is
designed so that the user can set the following search parameters:
Wastes Available or Wanted, Type of Material, Geographic Area,
and Search Date. Users may make an electronic inquiry to the
waste exchange organization that originally carried the listing to
get specifics on ordering the material. By automating the search
and inquiry process, the PIES will expedite the waste exchange
process and spread its availability to a larger audience.
The Waste Exchange Forum on PIES can be accessed by any
user by typing "j 3" at the Main Menu command prompt.
For more information, call the PPIC Technical Assistance Line
at (703) 821-4800. ¦
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PIES Case Study Format
Established
PPIC's networking activities with the Illi-
nois Hazardous Waste Research and Infor-
mation Center (HWRIC) and the United
Nations Environment Programme/Industry
& Environment Office have focused on the
expansion of the industry case study data
base, a component of the PIES system. Both
the integration with the Waste Reduction
Advisory System (WRAS) developed by Illi-
nois and the expansion and use of the data
base internationally through UNEP required
an agreeable standard format for abstracts
to be added to the system. Through the
efforts of UNEP's Data Harmonization
Working Group and the IL HWRIC, a format
was finalized which will now allow case
studies to be added by a number of users.
The format relays information on technol-
ogy options, economics, incentives, and
process impacts. Illinois, Rhode Island,
Washington, Massachusetts, and the UNEP
industry working groups will now begin
adding additional case studies to the data
base using this format. Copies of the case
study format can be obtained from the
PPIC. The PPIC requests that a copy of the
original document being abstracted be
submitted along with the abstract, if pos-
sible. ¦
PPIC Makes Moves to Integrate
with WRAS
As part of a cooperative effort with the
Illinois HWRIC, the PPIC is expanding its
holdings to include literature and case stud-
ies referenced in the WRAS. The primary
objective is to establish one comprehensive
data base of technical reference materials
on pollution prevention. Once integrated,
users will be able to access the same docu-
ment abstracts either through PIES or using
the stand-alone diskette version of WRAS
supplied by the HWRIC for users without
modems. "Full integration with WRAS was
not possible without development of the
standardized abstract format," explained
Myles Morse of EPA who is currently spear-
heading this effort with HWRIC. With the
standardized format now finalized, the
merging of these two systems is fully under-
way and is expected to be completed by
midsummer.
It is expected that the integration with
WRAS will add 250 references to the PIES
data base. New functions added to the PIES
will include a new structured search method
as well as free text searching. Otherfeatures
include viewing selected abstracts by title,
headline, and keyword; and allowing users
to download abstracts. HWRIC"follow-up
activities after the integration include coor-
dination of data base expansion efforts
among State users to avoid duplication of
effort. ¦
ICPIC TRANSPAC Connection
PPIC's sister system, the International
Cleaner Production Information Clearing-
house (ICPIC), is being implemented by the
United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP), Industry and Environment Office,
and the U.S. EPA. The computerized com-
ponent of the clearinghouse shares cleaner
production information with the PPIC/PIES
system. PPIC is arranging to link the ICPIC
system in Paris, France to Transpac, the
French packet switching network. This link
will enable ICPIC users in over 65 countries
to connect to the system through a local
telephone call to the packet switching net-
work operating in their country. This link is
expected to be completed by midsummer.
Contact the Director, UNEP, Industry and
Environment Office, 39-43 quai Andre
Citroen, 75739 Paris CEDEX 15 France, for
a list of packet switching networks that can
access Transpac from your country. ¦
User Bulletin 3
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Networking and Outreach Efforts
Training Sessions Held In Several
New England States
In association with the New England Waste
Management Officials Organization (NEWMOA), PPIC
traveled to State offices in Vermont, Maine, New
Hampshire, and Rhode Island for onsite PIES training
sessions. Terri Goldberg of NEWMOA assisted PPIC in
training the new users and solicited ideas for the
Region I mini-exchange being developed as part of
PIES. Using their own computers, trainees logged
onto PIES and learned how use the data base functions.
Participants also learned how to interact with other
users of the system through the upload and download
functionsand the message center. During the training
sessions, PPIC staff encouraged the participants to
update and add information to the PIES data bases
based on theirpollution prevention projects. Through
PIES, State officials may send information relevant to
any of the data bases, particularly the state program
summaries, calendar of events, legislation, and case
studies. The PIES system operator then reviews all
updates for accuracy and content before adding
them to the system.
Flyers Assisting
Regional Access
to PIES
Instructional flyers
are currently being
developed for EPA
Regions and labs that
employ a port selec-
tor system for data
communications.
These flyers identify
step-by-step log-on
procedures to PIES.
ICPIC Flyer Developed
A flyer describing the goals, components, and
activities of the International Cleaner Production
Information Clearinghouse has been jointly prepared
by UNEP and EPA. The flyer will assist UNEP in
marketing the clearinghouse internationally. It
identifies the Cleaner Production Programme
components of UNEP/IEO which include the
clearinghouse; multi-national working groups on
chlorinated solvents, textiles, electroplating, tanning,
pulp and paper, governmental policies, and data
harmonization; a newsletter; and other cleaner
production information materials including an
international program directory, industrial technical
reviews and guidelines, a bibliography, and cleaner
production seminars.
In Vermont and Maine, PPIC staff ironed out their
LAN system access problems caused by the length of
time required to place a long distance telephone call through the
modem. This experience highlighted the need for PPIC to further
investigate the possibility of linking PIES with TELENET or similar
communications network services. While such access is not yet
available, six telephone lines have been reserved on the PIES
network for this purpose. ¦
PPIC on the Road
PPIC poster sessions and demonstrations will be on display
at the following events:
The flyer is a first step in UNEP/IEO's information
transfer activities to promote the use of safe, low, and
nonwaste technologies and stimulate information
exchange. IEO will use this and other outreach
materials to assist in demonstrating the ICPIC system
at a seminar in Canterbury, England in September.
The seminar will review UNEP's Cleaner Production
Programme progress, identify future needs, and define
approaches to convey ICPIC information to developing
nations. The ICPIC flyer can be obtained through UNEP/IEO or
directly through the PPIC. ¦
Message Center Communicates Experience
The PIES Message Center was designed to convey the experience
of technical assistance professionals in response to questions from
their peers. Technical questions and answers are now being
posted on the Message Center providing an information exchange
resource to PPIC users. A few recent examples of message center
use are shown below. Please note that anyone can post questions
and answers on the Message Center. To reply to a question,
simply type "RE" at the end of the message command prompt.
ASTSWMO 1990 National Solid Waste Forum on
Integrated Municipal Waste Management
July 16to|uly 17, 1990
Milwaukee, Wl
Nebraska Pollution Prevention and RCRA Training
Sessions
|uly 24, 1990 Grand Island, NE
July 25, 1990 Ogallala, NE
Purdue University Waste Reduction Assessment and
Technology Transfer Teleconference
August 7, 1990
HazTech International '90
September 12 to September 14, 1990
Santa Clara, CA
Cleaner Production Conference
September 1 7 to September 20, 1990
Canterbury, England
Q. Does anyone know of good references on tire recycling or
reuse?
A. The New York State Department of Economic Development
publishes a list of "Tire Recycling Firms in the Northeastern
United States." This publication is available from Energy
Conservation Services, One Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY
12245. phone (518) 486-6291.
Q. A manufacturer of UV-sensitiveplatestor lithographic printing
needs assistance in finding substitutes for ethylene glycol
ethyl ether and ethylene glycol methyl ether in his coating
formula. I would like to talk with anyone with specific
expertise in that field.
A. Mark Monique ot Sovogran, Colorado has had excellent
success replacing Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether with
ARCO PTB. Call Dick Murray of ARC0 Chemical Company for
info on Propylene Glycol-based ethers. His phone number is
1-800-354-1550.
User Bulletin 4
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