National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) Bulletin Fall 2006 Welcome to the latest edition of the NPEP Bulletin. The NPEP Bulletin will be delivered to you quarterly to keep you informed of the latest NPEP and Waste Minimization news and events. Each issue will have a different theme. This Issue: NPEP Awards Ceremony and National Meeting. We distribute the Bulletin electronically in order to minimize waste, conserve resources, and promote the "Paperless Office." Join NPEP Today Interested in Waste Min? Want to improve your bottom line while helping the environment? NPEP encourages public and private organizations to form voluntary partnerships with EPA to reduce the use and or release of any of 31 Priority Chemicals (PCs). Enroll today: www.epa.gov/wastemin/partnership.htm Read more about PCs at www.epa.gov/wastemin/chemlist.htm ^'Information Exchange Contact the editors with your questions, events, articles, ideas, comments, and suggestions. We want to hear from you. Send us your thoughts and contributions today via email or our comments and questions form at www.epa.gov/wastemin/contactus.htm Upcoming Events: November 29-30: Byproducts Beneficial Use Summit. www. byproductsummit. com December 4-7 Ecobuild Federal 2006 www. ecobuildfederal com December 5-6: 31s* Annual A&WMA/EPA Info Exchange. www. awma. org/events/confs/InfoExch/i nfoexchg2006. asp December 11-13: 2006 Mercury Control Technology Conference. www.netl.doe.gov/events/06conferences/ mercury Send us your event today. Visit the Waste Min Calendar at www.epa.gov/wastemin/calendar.htm Disclaimer: The mention of any company, product, or process in this publication does not constitute or imply endorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, presents the NPEP Champion Award to Dave Heinlen of Bowling Green State University and the 100th NPEP Partner Award to Cathy Scheirman of Tinker Air Force Base. 2006 NPEP Awards Ceremony On October 19, 2006, 20 NPEP partners were recognized for their successes at the Second Annual NPEP Awards Ceremony in Arlington. Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, presented Achievement Awards to those partners who completed their NPEP goals by reducing or eliminating priority and other toxic chemicals. The ceremony began with the presentation of a special plaque to Tinker Air Force Base, NPEP's 100th partner, and concluded with the presentation of the NPEP Champion Award to Dave Heinlen of Bowling Green State University. In her opening remarks, Ms. Bodine noted, "Our common challenge is to find ways to ensure that these chemicals are properly used, safely contained, and properly disposed of- and kept out of the wastestream as much as possible." She added, "You've gone above and beyond what's required to help protect the environment, and I thank you for it." Our 2006 NPEP Achievement Award recipients have indeed risen to this challenge, reducing 1,280,928 pounds of priority chemicals at their facilities. For more information on this year's awardees, see the articles starting on page 2. Introducing NPEP's New Municipality Program In our continuing effort to encourage innovations and best practices in materials management, NPEP is now reaching out to municipalities. This program is designed to reduce the generation of PC waste by promoting improvements in municipality-run facilities management. When local governments and the public understand how chemicals move through and affect their communities, they can identify opportunities to eliminate PCs. The City of Dallas, Love Field Airport, was the first municipal facility to enroll in NPEP and committed to removing PCB-containing ballasts and replacing them with PCB-free ballasts. Blacksburg, Virginia is our first community enrollee. The Blacksburg priority chemical reduction program focuses on recycling fluorescent lamps, lead tire weights, cadmium and lead acid batteries, and electronic waste. Congratulations to our municipality partners for taking the first step to reduce PCs in their community. Volume 2 NPEP Bulletin page 1 Issue 2 ------- New Partner Spotlight Region 2 Vishay Intertechnology Niagara Falls, New York Chemical: Lead Region 3 Philips Lighting Co. Fairmont, West Virginia Chemicals: Lead and Mercury PolyOne Corporation Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Chemical: Lead Prior Coated Metals, Inc. Allentown, Pennsylvania Chemical: Naphthalene Reeion 5 The Dow Chemical Company Michigan Operations: 298 Bldg. Midland, Michigan Chemicals: Diethyl Ether, Ethanol, Ethyl Chloride, Ethyl ene, Toluene The Dow Chemical Company Michigan Operations: 963 Bldg. Midland, Michigan Chemical: Methanol Parker Hannifin HPD Manitowoc, Wisconsin Chemical: Chromic Acid Reeion 6 Dell Inc. Round Rock, Texas Chemical: Lead DPW Environmental Division Fort Hood, Texas Chemical: Mercury Merisol USA LLC Houston, Texas Chemicals: Dibenzofuran, Mercury, Naphthalene, PAH Schirm USA, Inc. Ennis, Texas Chemical: Mercury NPEP Champion Award Dave Heinlen, Bowling Green State University The NPEP Champion Award recognizes individuals who not only lead their own organization's efforts in waste minimization, but also reach outside their organization to discover and promote other opportunities to achieve NPEP goals. This year's recipient is Dave Heinlen of Bowling Green State University (BGSU), in recognition of his outstanding contributions to NPEP. BGSU started the Elemental Mercury Collection and Reclamation Program in 1998. Since then, they have managed a total of 14,400 pounds of mercury through the collection and recycling of mercury- containing equipment such as thermometers and switches as well as individual containers of mercury. This program is available and free to everybody. Through this program, BGSU promotes the goals of NPEP by facilitating mercury recycling. As an NPEP partner, BGSU exceeded its original enrollment goal by collecting and recycling 4,345 pounds of mercury. BGSU then set an additional goal to recycle 3,750 pounds mercury by April, 2008. They are well on the way to meeting that goal, too. BGSU is NPEP's first Mercury Challenge Supporter, supporting the goals of the Mercury Challenge by offering to assist other NPEP partners in recycling mercury. Part of NPEP's growth and success results from the efforts of people like Dave who go above and beyond their responsibilities as partners and champion NPEP to other organizations. The NPEP Team thanks and congratulates Dave Heinlen. We also extend our congratulations and appreciation to Joe Rader of Rader Environmental Services for his assistance in BGSU's efforts. NPEP 100th Partner Enrollment Award Tinker Air Force Base This summer, NPEP welcomed Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, as our 100th partner. Exhibiting leadership among military installations in reducing priority chemicals, Tinker has committed to actively seeking alternatives to products containing naphthalene, pendimethalin, cadmium, mercury, and trifluralin. 2006 NPEP Achievement Award Recipients Region One Osram Sylvania Products, Inc.: Automotive Lighting, for significantly reducing lead in the manufacturing of automotive lighting. Osram Sylvania, Hillsboro, New Hampshire, manufactures automotive lighting. Osram Sylvania eliminated 20,300 pounds of lead by transitioning from the use of leaded to non-leaded glass. Region Two Anderson Instrument Company, for phasing out the production of mercury - in-glass thermometers, thereby setting a new industry standard for producing environmentally-friendly equipment. Anderson, Fultonville, New York, manufactures instruments such as thermometers to measure products in various markets. Anderson is a leader in creating safe and environmentally- friendly equipment for monitoring public health controls. Anderson eliminated 500 pounds of mercury after working with the FDA to change old regulations requiring the use of mercury thermometers. Brookhaven National Laboratory, for reducing mercury as an NPEP Mercury Challenge Partner and for significantly reducing PCBs. Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York, is a Department of Energy facility with a history of outstanding scientific achievements. As an NPEP Mercury Challenge Partner, Brookhaven eliminated 197 pounds of mercury by removing elemental mercury and mercury-containing equipment from their facility. Brookhaven also reduced their onsite inventory of PCB-containing equipment by over 90%, or 4,335 pounds of PCBs. U.S. Postal Service: Northeast Area, for recycling mercury from lamps as part of an ongoing recycling and waste prevention program. The Postal Service, Albany, New York, delivers over 19 billion pieces of mail to 20 million customers every year. Last year, the Postal Service recycled over 66,000 mercury-bearing lamps. NPEP Bulletin page 2 Issue 2 ------- Region Three E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company: Edge Moor, for significantly reducing the generation of dioxin in pigment production. DuPont, Edge Moor, Delaware, is part of DuPont's Titanium Technologies and produces a white pigment used in paper, plastics, and coatings. Titanium Technologies reduced the generation rate of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds by over 60% or 144 pounds. General Electric Consumer Products: Bridgeville Glass Plant, for significantly reducing lead from the manufacturing of specialty glass tubing. GE Bridgeville, Bridgeville Pennsylvania, produces specialty glass tubing for lighting applications. GE Bridgeville eliminated 86,000 pounds of lead from the manufacturing process through material substitution as part of GE's Ecomagination Initiative. General Electric Consumer Products: Winchester Lamp Plant, for source reducing and recycling significant amounts of lead from the manufacturing of incandescent lamps. GE Winchester, Winchester, Virginia, produces incandescent lamps used in domestic lighting fixtures. Through source reduction and recycling, GE Winchester reduced 796,148 pounds of lead from the manufacturing process as part of GE's Ecomagination Initiative. K&L Microwave, for significantly reducing lead in the manufacturing of filters and filter assemblies. K&L Microwave, Salisbury, Maryland, produces RF and microwave filters and integrated filter assemblies for defense systems and commercial wireless communication systems. By eliminating the need for leaded solder, K&L reduced 309 pounds of lead from the manufacturing process as part of an Environmental Management System. Kalas Manufacturing: Plant #2, for significantly reducing lead in manufacturing wire and cable products. Kalas Plant #2, Denver, Pennsylvania, produces and distributes electrical wire and cable products for various markets. Kalas reduced 80,000 pounds of lead by switching to the use of lead-free materials in the production of copper wire. Kalas Manufacturing: Plant #3, for significantly reducing lead in manufacturing wire and cable products. Kalas Plant #3, Denver, Pennsylvania, produces and distributes electrical wire and cable products for various markets. Kalas reduced 21,000 pounds of lead by switching to the use of solderless terminals in the production of engineered cable. Sentara: Williamsburg Community Hospital, for replacing mercury- containing equipment as an NPEP Mercury Challenge Partner. Williamsburg Community Hospital, Williamsburg, Virginia, is a 110 bed facility offering a full range of medical services. As an NPEP Mercury Challenge Partner, Williamsburg eliminated 32 pounds of mercury by replacing over 160 blood-pressure cuffs with electronic devices. Sony Electronics, Inc., for significantly reducing lead in the manufacturing of cathode ray tubes. The Sony Technology Center - Pittsburgh manufactures large screen color televisions. This year, Sony recycled 34,465 pounds of lead by separating lead waste at the source of generation and using it as a material in the glass manufacturing process. Southern Graphic Systems Inc., for eliminating lead in the manufacturing of printing plates and cylinders. Southern Graphic, Richmond, Virginia, supplies digital graphic images and print media to the consumer packaging industry and manufactures plates and cylinders for the printing industry. Southern Graphic has eliminated 4,800 pounds of lead through material substitution and no longer uses lead in the manufacturing process. Sylvin Technologies, Inc., for becoming a lead-free facility by eliminating lead from the manufacturing of PVC compounds. Sylvin, Denver, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures custom PVC compounds for wire and cable markets. Last year, Sylvin received an NPEP Achievement Award for reducing 125,244 pounds of lead from the manufacturing process. This year, we recognize Sylvin for eliminating an additional 99,508 pounds of lead and becoming a lead-free facility. Region Four E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company: DeLisle, for significantly reducing the generation of dioxin in pigment production. DuPont, DeLisle, Mississippi, is part of DuPont's Titanium Technologies and produces a white pigment used in paper, plastics, and coatings. Titanium Technologies reduced the generation rate of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds by over 60% or 144 pounds. E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company: New Johnsonville, for significantly reducing the generation of dioxin in pigment production. DuPont, New Johnsonville, Tennessee, is part of DuPont's Titanium Technologies and produces a white pigment used in paper, plastics, and coatings. Titanium Technologies reduced the generation rate of dioxin and dioxin-like compounds by over 60% or 144 pounds. Region Five Consumers Energy, for significantly reducing elemental mercury and mercury-containing equipment as an NPEP Mercury Challenge Partner. Consumers Energy, Jackson, Michigan, is a combination natural gas and electric utility providing service to over six million residents. As an NPEP Mercury Challenge Partner, Consumers eliminated 103 pounds of mercury. Federal-Mogul: Driveline Products, for becoming lead-free by eliminating lead from the manufacturing of automotive components. Federal-Mogul: Driveline, Chicago, manufactures automotive components, modules, and systems. Federal-Mogul became lead- free this year after eliminating lead (24,903 pounds) as a component in bearing cups used to manufacture universal joints for motor vehicles. General Electric Consumer Products: Circleville Lamp Plant, for recovering and recycling significant amounts of lead and mercury from the manufacturing of fluorescent lamps. GE's Circleville Lamp Plant, Circleville, Ohio, manufactures specialty fluorescent lamps. GE Circleville recovered 570 pounds of mercury and 76,000 pounds of lead from the manufacturing process as part of GE's Ecomagination Initiative. Volume 2 NPEP Bulletin page 3 Issue 2 ------- Honeywell International, for ending production of mercury switches, thereby eliminating significant amounts of mercury and lead. Honeywell, Freeport, Illinois, manufactures sensors, switches, and control devices. Last year, Honeywell decided to stop making mercury switches and eliminated 25,346 pounds of mercury and 6,266 pounds of lead. Honeywell also reduced their use of chromic acid by 99% or 3,385 pounds by switching to the use of a less toxic chrome coating for component parts. Congratulations to all of our 2006 Achievement Award recipients. Visit www. epa.gov/wastemin/success.htm to read more about the successes of our awardees. ^^_ ^^L^H LCV ^HHHIB| B^7j|8 ^L- "'CJIlJ ^^H HBrff^^PB H^H Kcl B^l ^%H ^^r National Vehicle Mercury Switch Removal Program The National Vehicle Mercury Switch Removal Program (NVMSRP) is a new voluntary program designed to reduce the presence of mercury switches in the scrap metal supply chain. Mercury switches are primarily found in automobile lighting and anti-lock braking systems. Removing these switches before automobiles are crushed and sent to electric arc furnaces will prevent up to 15 tons of mercury emissions over the next 15 years. Visit www.epa.gov/mercury/switch. htm to learn more about the NVMSRP. Take the NPEP Mercury Challenge The NPEP Mercury Challenge website has been updated: www.epa.gov/wastemin/mercchalLhtm 2006 WasteWise and NPEP Conference: Partnering for Success in Sustainability The 2006 WasteWise and NPEP Conference: Partnering for Success in Sustainability was held October 19-20, in conjunction with the achievement award ceremonies. This year, NPEP teamed up with WasteWise to offer informational sessions for partners, including the following. Partnering for the Environment: An Overview of NPEP and WasteWise. A discussion of the benefits, structure, and resources of each program. Priority Chemical Strategies: Chemicals as a Product and as a Constituent. A presentation of the two roles of chemicals, as potentially hazardous constituents and as necessary components in products or processes, including best practices and successes and innovations in chemical management. Financial Impacts of Climate Change. How global climate change impacts insurance rates, stock values, and other financial areas of concern. Industrial Materials Recycling. How using industrial materials can benefit NPEP and WasteWise partners. Sustainability. Corporate Sustainability efforts that help reduce waste and increase profits. Through these engaging sessions, NPEP and WasteWise partners were able to expand their knowledge of waste issues and share their waste minimization experiences with each other. WasteWise: Preserving Resources, Preventing Waste WasteWise is a voluntary EPA program through which organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste and selected industrial wastes, benefiting their bottom line and the environment. Visit www.epa.gov/wastewise to learn more about WasteWise. Director's Corner <&&3f^ National for Environ menial Priorities Jim Berlow, Director, Hazardous Waste Minimization and Management Division This year's Awards Ceremony and National Meeting were a big success. I would like to thank everybody for all their hard work. I would also like to thank our NPEP awardees for attending. This year's award winners reduced 1,280,928 pounds of priority chemicals at their facilities. This was almost twice as much as they had committed to reducing and we are very pleased with that increase. In my opinion, this shows that the NPEP program is even more successful than we had thought previously. Most of our partners end up with greater reductions than they originally planned to achieve and that is big news and great incentive for all of us. I am proud to report that NPEP membership has grown to 1 12 partners. That's almost twice as many partners as we reported last year at this time. Our partners have already achieved reductions of over 5.2 million pounds of priority and other toxic chemicals. This achievement was over 1.2 million pounds greater than they had committed to reducing. Our partners have pledged to reduce over 6. 1 million more pounds of priority chemicals and about 3.5 million more pounds of a number of other chemicals of interest to EPA. These are significant reductions in the use and/or disposal of chemicals that, if released, could harm the environment. NPEP partners should be proud of their achievements. I congratulate everybody involved in making NPEP a success our NPEP awardees, all of our partners, and our headquarters, regional, and state staff. Thank you for all of the hard work you have put in to making NPEP a success. Contact Us to Subscribe: www.epa.gov/wastemin/contactus.htm Visit the National Waste Minimization website today. www. epa.gov/wastemin Contact the Editors: Linda Malcolm, 301-865-1454 malcolm.linda@epa.gov Christine Guitar, 703-308-0017 guitar.christine@epa.gov EPA530-N-06-006 Volume 2 NPEP Bulletin page 4 Issue 2 ------- |