Reducing Your Facility's Hazardous Waste (Part 5 of 6)

Put the Waste Back into the Process

Many materials that facilities consider to be “wastes” may have value that is not being realized. These materials can often be reclaimed and worked back into the original process, or into another process on-site, rather than being shipped out for disposal. Managing your waste in this manner will not only reduce hazardous waste, but it will also reduce the cost of purchasing new chemicals. Below are a few examples of practices that have been implemented by New York State facilities to reduce waste at the source:

• Using treatment technologies like ion exchange or diffusion dialysis to regenerate acids and allow re-use;
• Re-using spent acids and bases in on-site neutralization processes;
• Distilling (opens as a PDF) and recycling spent solvents back into the process, eliminating the need to purchase “fresh” solvent; and
• capturing heat output from combustion and using it in other applications.

Closed-Loop Rinsing
The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) conducted an on-site assessment at a central New York manufacturing facility and found opportunities for closed-loop rinsing and water re-use, which could result in significant wastewater reductions. This case study (opens as a PDF) provides details on the potential savings.

Research and Development
NYSP2I’s Research and Development program has completed dozens of projects in test beds located at four different universities. The work conducted so far has led to the development of innovative technologies and processes that will make New York companies more sustainable and competitive.

Be a Winner!

Is your organization, business, school, municipality or agency taking innovative approaches, advancing sustainable practices, generating economic growth or harnessing the power of creative partnerships?  You could be one of New York State’s next Environmental Excellence Award winners!

Learn more about the Environmental Excellence Awards. Register today for our webinar: Lead by Example! How to Become A NYS Environmental Excellence Award Winner on Wednesday March 7, 2018 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM.

Submit applications no later than Friday, April 13, 2018.

Application materials and a “Tips for Applicants” guide are posted on DEC's website.

Stay up to date on pollution prevention techniques and look for Part 6: Recycle Your Waste

In case you missed them:

Part 1: Start with Less Hazardous Inputs

Part 2: Product Re-Design

Part 3: Update the Process

Part 4: Changing Your Operating Practices

We would like to know what you think. Please send your questions or comments regarding Hazardous Waste Reduction to us at HW.ReductionPlanning@dec.ny.gov.