Page 399 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 377

individual performance and consequently that of the whole facility. Knowledge of
and compliance with environmental regulations is at an all-time high.
■ As an outgrowth of the EMS program, LP’s laminated veneer lumber and I-joist
plant in Hines, Oregon, began recycling planer shavings in early 1998. The wood
waste material, originally disposed of at a cost to the company, is now being used
in the production of other wood products such as medium density fiberboard. In
February and March 1998, an estimated $12,900 was generated as a result of recy-
cling the material rather than sending it to the local landfill. Total revenue from
planner shavings is estimated at $90,000 for 1998.
■ Soon after becoming a part of LP, Associated Chemists, Inc. (ACI) in Portland,
Oregon, implemented the EMS program and discovered how to save thousands of
dollars by retaining and filtering their wastewater. After a few months with the fil-
tration system, cost savings were estimated in the thousands of dollars. In 1997,
ACI received the Best Practice Award for Water Conservation from the City of
Portland.
■ Significant savings in waste management are being reported company-wide. At
LP’s particleboard plant in Missoula, employees have reduced annual landfill dis-
posal costs by $31,000 by reducing waste, reusing, and recycling. Much of this
savings is the direct result of their pallet rebuild and reuse program. Rather than
dispose of pallets, old or broken ones either are repaired or sold to other companies.
Recycling paper, cardboard, and metal has also resulted in additional plant profits
and/or savings. Overall “scrap sales” led to a $5500 profit in 1998.
■ During the development of a Standard Operating Procedure for wood-burner slag
at one of LP’s facilities, the EMS team discovered that each employee performed
disposal tasks in different, sometimes overly time-consuming, ways. The imple-
mentation of an SOP eliminated the confusion and unnecessary steps by clearly
stating the standard disposal requirements and procedures. Consistent handling of
wood-burner slag reduces environmental risk for local communities and increases
efficiency in company operations.

27.8 Additional Information

1 Associated Builders & Contractors Inc. (ABC).
2 Building Materials Reuse Association (BMRA).
3 Pennsylvania Resources Council.
4 Southeast Recycling Development Council, Inc. (SERDC).
5 The American Wood Council (www.awc.org/helpoutreach/faq/FAQfiles/Recycled
WoodReclaimLumber.html).