Page 415 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES 393

29.4 Potential Technologies

and Strategies

From an equipment standpoint, the purchase of a compactor for paper waste is usually
cost-justified in this sector. The compactor will reduce the number of trips that a recy-
cling vendor must perform to the facility. This will reduce costs and save space within
the facility. Below is a list of general strategies that can be applied by area:

■ Waste and emission reduction opportunities for printers
■ Practice good housekeeping.
■ Cover all solvents.
■ Limit solvent use by using pumps or squeeze bottles, rather than pails, to wet
cleanup cloths.
■ Keep hazardous wastes segregated from nonhazardous and each other.
■ Do not allow personal stockpiles of hazardous materials (e.g., cleanup solvents).
■ Waste accounting
■ Collect accurate data on wastes and emissions to identify key reduction
opportunities.
■ Establish accountability for waste generation and provide incentives for
reduction.
■ Provide feedback on waste reduction performance to employees
■ Order and manage to minimize date expiration of materials.
■ Centralize responsibility for storing and distributing solvents.
■ Use returnable containers.
■ Use returnable plastic or wood pallets.
■ Require that all potentially hazardous samples be preapproved and vendor must
accept unused portion.
■ Alternative materials
■ Use inks that reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, for exam-
ple, vegetable-based; water-based; ultraviolet; and electron-beam drying.
■ For jobs still using inks with heavy metals, find alternatives.
■ Eliminate or reduce alcohol in fountain solution.
■ Consider using waterless offset printing.
■ Use nonhazardous, low- or no-VOC solution to clean equipment.
■ Printing process
■ Use standard sequence on process colors to minimize color changes for presses.
■ Improve quality control to reduce rejects.
■ Improve accuracy of counting methods, reducing excess quantities printed to
accommodate inaccuracy.
■ Use web break detector and automatic splicer.
■ Properly store ink to prevent skin from forming.
■ Use refrigerative cooling to reduce evaporative losses of fountain solution.
■ Run similar jobs simultaneously to reduce cleanup.