Page 93 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

RELATED RESEARCH 71

Manufacturers are not the only benefactors of the IAC program. Students involved
in the program have a unique opportunity to see a range of manufacturing operations
first hand. This results in more motivated students who more often than not opt for the
energy management field as a career.
The IAC is similar to the WAMRP in that college students conduct waste assess-
ments to aid companies in reducing waste. The primary differences are that the
WAMRP focuses on solid waste assessments and IAC performs energy audits, includ-
ing solid waste. The IAC only audits small- to medium-sized companies (less than 500
employees) and the WAMRP audits all-sized companies. The WAMRP focus also
allow the team to analyze solid waste in more depth.

Industrial waste minimization research project (Youngtown State
University, Ohio) In 1995, the Mahoning County Industrial Waste Minimization
Project, in a cooperative effort between the Mahoning County Solid Waste District and
Youngstown State University began using interns to provide free waste minimization
audits (Covey, 2000). The project team attended a training seminar titled “Integrated
Manufacturing Assessments” to develop their waste audit process. Between 1995 and
1999, the project conducted 22 waste audits. In 1997, the project received the
Governor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention and received
additional grants in 1998 (Ohio EPA, 2004). In 1999, the project was discontinued due
to lack of resources. This project was very similar to the WAMRP at The University of
Toledo. Both projects involved a joint effort between government and academia and
conducted no-cost waste audits. The major difference between the programs was the
college departments involved. The WAMRP used industrial engineering students and
faculty, while this project used environmental science majors. For this type of waste
audits, industrial engineering majors have an advantage over environmental science
majors because the industrial engineering curriculum is based on process analysis,
engineering economics, and systems improvement.

Waste Management Institute (Cornell University) The Cornell Waste
Management Institute (CWMI) was established in 1987 to address environmental and
social issues associated with waste management (Harris, 2000). Researchers and edu-
cators work to develop technical solutions to waste management problems and to
address broader issues of waste generation and composition, waste reduction, risk
management, environmental equity, and public decision-making. Current areas of
research for the CWMI are composting as a component of integrated waste manage-
ment; assessing the benefits and impacts of agricultural application of sewage sludges,
manures and fertilizers; and source reduction.
Major goals of the CWMI outreach program are to improve the ability of local offi-
cials, businesses, and the public to make informed waste management decisions and
to enhance the competency of solid waste professionals through increased training
opportunities. The Cornell Cooperative Extension network, with offices in every New
York State county, provides useful means of reaching these audiences. Outreach activ-
ities are based on research, with a goal of extending up-to-date, objective, research-
based knowledge to a wide range of audiences from state agencies to America’s youth.