Does providing technical assistance for toxics use reduction really work? A program evaluation utilizing toxics use reduction act data to measure pollution prevention performance

The 1989 Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) instituted a preventive approach to chemical pollution and wastes: reducing toxic chemicals at the source through prevention planning, public reporting of chemical input, and fees for chemical use. The act also created the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance for Toxics Use Reduction (OTA), a voluntary program, to make onsite visits to companies that request assistance. OTA staff review the use of toxic chemicals at the facility, and make recommendations for either using substitutes, or using the chemicals more efficiently. Because TURA requires covered companies (large quantity toxics users) to report chemical input (what they use), output (resulting chemical waste), and a production index, it is possible to measure trends in toxics use relative to production, and waste byproduct per pound of chemical use input. These are uniquely precise measurements of a company's ability to accomplish the form of pollution prevention known as toxics use reduction.From 1993 to 2002, companies used approximately 500 million pounds (227 million kg) less toxic chemicals than they were expected to use, based on past performance. Those companies that received onsite technical assistance visits from OTA made substantially greater improvements in TUR performance than those not visited, and as compared to their own performance after being visited. They reduced an average of 9.4% more toxics use after being visited than before, and the difference was statistically significant. More companies in the visited group made progress than companies not visited, and had greater reductions than those not visited by nearly all measures.The results of two additional studies supported these findings of program effectiveness. One study examined companies that dropped out of the system, and found that those that were visited employed toxics use reduction to achieve below-threshold use amounts more frequently than those that were not visited. The other study, an independent research project using econometric methods to determine the causative relevance of provided assistance, found OTA's service to be an explanatory factor associated with significant toxics use and byproduct reductions.     

A feasibility and cost comparison of perchloroethylene dry cleaning to professional wet cleaning: case study of Silver Hanger Cleaners, Bellingham, Massachusetts

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) has been working with the dry cleaning sector for over 10 years - focusing on the ultimate goal of eliminating the use of perchloroethylene in this sector due to the availability of less toxic, feasible alternatives. Professional wet cleaning has been identified as one of these alternatives and has been a focus of the Institute in recent years. In 2008, the Institute provided a matching grant to Silver Hanger Cleaners in Bellingham, Massachusetts to convert their operations from perchloroethylene-based to water-based processes. Two years of data have been collected from the facility, reflecting one year of solvent use and one year of dedicated professional wet cleaning. The analysis of that data is presented here, including capital costs, performance data and associated costs, operational costs, and resource use and associated costs.     

Awareness and adoption of cleaner production in small to medium-sized businesses in the Geelong region,Victoria, Australia

A survey was undertaken (August through November, 1998) to determine the extent of the awareness and implementation of cleaner production practices within small to medium-sized businesses in the Geelong region of Victoria, Australia. Information was also gleaned on improvements/benefits gained from the adoption of such practices, reasons for adopting or not adopting cleaner production methods and utilization of educational and assistance schemes. We conclude that the adoption of cleaner production by such businesses is still at a very early stage with much work to be done to raise levels of awareness and to convince these businesses of the potential benefits of cleaner production.     

Drivers of landholder participation in tender programs for Australian biodiversity conservation

Conservation tender program have been widely applied to biodiversity conservation in Australia and internationally in recent decades. Increasing participation rates is critical to these schemes, as competition is required for the cost-effectiveness benefits of the tender system to be fully realized. However, knowledge relating to the drivers of landholder participation in tender programs is limited. This study aims to identify the relative importance of different drivers of participation in Victorian conservation tenders. The novel method of maximum entropy ordinal regression is used given the small sample size, and supplemented with qualitative data obtained through face-to-face interviews. The regression analysis reveals that strong relationships between agencies and landholders and a low administrative burden drive increased participation. The provision of education, support, and easily-integrated management practices, however, may drive lower participation, with landholders confident to undertake conservation activities independently of assistance. Some evidence emerges that ten-year contracts may be well-received. A key concern is low additionality in biodiversity benefits, with typical tender participants displaying a strong conservation ethic and high levels of management activity pre-participation. This work has shown that in conservation policies involving self-selection by participants, economic incentives for adoption may be less important than non-monetary drivers.     

Indirect benefits of P2 technical assistance estimated using fuzzy set theory

Twenty small-to-medium sized business clients who had been previously provided pollution prevention (P2) technical assistance were studied to account for four difficult to quantify indirect benefits. The difficult to quantify benefits studied were reduced operational costs, regulatory burden, future liabilities and time saved from the research or technical assistance provided. Many (70%) clients who implemented new technologies realized operating cost reductions. Frequently (70%) clients who implemented P2 suggestions that reduce the disposal of hazardous waste realized reductions in regulatory burden and future liabilities. Most (90%) clients perceived that the research assistance saved their staff time. On average, clients in this study realized indirect savings of similar magnitude to their direct savings regardless of the scale or type of assistance. This study illustrates the value realized by a business of indirect benefits from pollution prevention implementation, which is particularly important now that publicly traded U.S. companies must disclosure financially significant environmental liabilities.     

微生物处理含油污泥主要影响因素研究

污泥含油量和微生物接种量是影响微生物去除土壤中的石油污染物效果、时间和成本的主要因素。以安塞油田地面污泥为样本,在确定污泥物理化学性质的基础上,通过试验给出了不同污泥含油量和不同微生物接种量对降解速率影响的关系曲线,根据试验结论,综合考虑处理周期和成本,确定待处理污泥的含油量上限为8%,最佳微生物接种量为6%。按此条件进行现场施工,经过100 d的降解,污泥含油量降至1%以下,达到国家环保排放标准。     

环境保护设施竣工验收监测实际工作问题探讨

建设项目环境保护设施竣工验收监测过程大致可分为现场勘察、编写监测方案、现场监测和监测报告的编写等4个阶段。结合工作实际对各阶段经常出现的问题及工作重点展开探讨,为环保治理设施的验收监测提供经验借鉴。     

Utilization of publicly owned treatment works to promote pollution prevention

Industrial production processes contribute the most diverse group of emissions to air, water, and land pollution. These forms of pollution were the initial focus of environmental regulations requiring control efforts. Under optimum conditions, industrial waste streams pass through some type of treatment to minimize toxicity prior to being released into the environment. Business, government, and interest groups have previously assumed that industrial productivity and environmental quality were diametrically opposed. In other words, enhanced industrial productivity resulted in environmental damage and, conversely, environmental protection resulted in costs to business. However, companies that have implemented pollution prevention (P2) strategies to address their environmental problems have usually found that their facility's productivity can improve, while at the same time waste and pollution can be reduced. Where previous environmental strategies focused on end-of-pipe control efforts, P2 strategies are implemented at the design or process phase. While there are many examples of individual companies successfully implementing P2, consensus shows P2 adoption by the business community advancing at a rate far slower than expected. Most government agencies that currently promote P2 are not typically viewed as credible sources of innovation by industry. Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), however, may be able to capitalize on their dual status as respected members of the local community as well as experts in waste management thus serving as credible proponents of P2. The paper discusses how POTWs are working with industrial users to promote P2, as well as their interest in doing so and their requirements for technical assistance. Survey results are provided that describe how POTW personnel in the State of Illinois believe they could best promote P2.     

Native fluorescence of unstained cryo-sections of the cervix uteri compared with histological observations

The excellent technical assistance of H. Führer and I. Leib is appreciated. Part of the work was supported by the Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, and from the Leitz and Hoechst companies. This paper is part of the M. D. thesis of Ch.L.     

Recovery of Cu and Fe from Printed Circuit Board waste sludge by ultrasound: Evaluation of industrial application

The paper presents a novel cleaner process for metal recovery from the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) waste sludge by assistance of ultrasound. The process can effectively recover heavy metals at low cost with high separation and recovery efficiency, produce high quality products and also achieve zero waste discharge with operation at industrial scale. With the PCB waste sludge containing (wet content) 3.14–4.85% copper and 3.71–4.23% iron, copper recovery efficiency of 95.2–97.5% and iron recovery efficiency of 97.1–98.5% were achieved, while the purity of copper sulfate produced by the process was 98.0% and the produced ferric chloride had a satisfied quality for using as a coagulant material for the plant on-site wastewater treatment. The process had been successfully scaled up to the industrial scaled applications in a heavy metal recovery plant in city of Huizhou, China for more than two years. The novel cleaner heavy metal recovery process has a great prospect on the applications of resources recovery and environmental protection practices.     

A process integration approach to industrial water conservation: a case study for an Indian starch industry

A case study for water using network of a Starch industry in the state of Gujarat, India, is undertaken with an aim to reduce demineralised water and freshwater flow rates and consequently the wastewater flow rate. The problem was identified as a multi contaminant, reuse and recycle problem. The freshwater consumption and demineralised water consumption were 100 t/h and 51 t/h respectively before modification and the network was dealing with three major contaminants such as total organic content, total dissolved solids and total suspended solids. A program was developed in MATLAB for analysis using Water Pinch. The improved water using network designed for the present work consumed less demineralised and freshwater. The reductions are of the tune of 28% and 64.38% for demineralised and fresh water respectively. Due to alteration in piping, there will be a saving of 406 026 INR per year, which will be utilized for development of efficient environment policy for the company. The entire concept had been implemented on plant level on 1st February-2009 and the reductions are of the tune of 25% and 60% for demineralised and fresh water respectively.     

Cleaner production in Danish fish processing – experiences,status and possible future strategies

Danish fish processing industry has been one of the pioneers regarding implementation of cleaner production and environmental management systems. This article describes the experiences with cleaner production (CP) among leading Danish industries producing pickled herring and canned mackerel. The article emphasizes two case studies of ‘first mover’ companies, but data from other ‘proactive’ companies are also included.The article provides an overview of different types of CP solutions, improvement potentials, synergistic effects and possible trade-offs. The development of the applied solutions from the late 1980s until today are analysed and recommendations to future strategies at company level and policy level are provided.It is concluded that significant environmental improvements have been obtained for the analysed companies – especially concerning reductions in water consumption, wastewater emissions, and utilisation of fish ‘waste’ for valuable by-products. Still, more focus could be placed on the reduction of energy consumption, change of packaging types, and environmental impacts in other stages of the products life cycle.Authorities and companies have mainly focused on on-site reductions of wastewater emissions, but life cycle assessments show that more attention should be given to the reductions of environmental impacts in other parts of the product chain, e.g. fishing operations and transport as well.     

基于新地方标准的城镇污水处理厂提标调研方案

随着2018年6月DB 32/1072—2018《太湖地区城镇污水处理厂及重点工业行业主要水污染物排放限值》的颁布实施,江苏省启动了新一轮城镇污水处理厂提标改造工作。基于提标改造工作迫切需求,提出了一套全新调研方案,包括全国污水信息系统数据统计分析、调查问卷与日报数据分析、现场座谈咨询和典型污水处理厂现场评估四步调研流程,循序渐进,互为校准,以太湖地区待提标83座城镇污水处理厂为调研对象,开展调研方案应用,识别污水处理厂的共性及个性问题,为太湖地区污水处理厂新一轮提标工作提供技术支撑。     

Helping small businesses implement toxics use reduction techniques: dry cleaners, auto shops, and floor finishers assisted in creating safer and healthier work places

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI), Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (Viet-AID) have worked with small business sectors to reduce their use of toxic chemicals. Three cases, described here, in dry cleaning, auto shops and floor finishing share common approaches for creating successful models of effective dissemination of toxics use reduction in small businesses. These include direct business support, peer-to-peer training and promotion of alternatives, and collaborations with stakeholders to achieve greener businesses. These results were achieved despite predictable barriers of lack of resources, suspicion of safer alternatives, and language and cultural barriers.     

关于国家重点生态功能区县域生态环境质量考核中现场核查的思考

本文就如何开展国家重点生态功能区县域生态环境质量考核工作中的现场核查进行了设计,围绕核查对象、核查对象确立的原则、核查内容、核查形式及核查结果反馈等内容作了阐述。对开展现场核查工作有积极的参考价值。     

Paving the way for the ISO 14006 ecodesign standard: an exploratory study in Spanish companies

A Spanish ecodesign standard (the UNE 150301) is being used as a basic reference point in paving the way for the future ISO 14006 ecodesign standard which may foreseeably be passed in 2011. This article aims to analyze the experience regarding adoption of the UNE 150301 in Spain.Following an analysis of the standard’s structure, its objectives and scope, its real implementation process is then analyzed based on an exploratory qualitative study carried out in four Spanish companies that have been pioneers in adopting this environmental standard. The conclusion is drawn in the article that in all the cases analyzed, the greatest source of impact occurs in the phase in which the product is used and is related to energy consumption. Companies appear to be satisfied with the adoption of this standard and, in particular, point out that they have managed to reduce the environmental impact of their products. However, they draw attention to the fact that, to deal with certain instances of impact that increases in cost entail, administrative bodies need to establish mandatory regulations, as environmentally-friendly companies would otherwise lose competitiveness.     

How coffee-making can help one understand cleaner production

Cleaner production works. This has been proved by numerous case studies over the last few years in Austria^1–4, as well as in the USA, Sweden, the UK and The Netherlands. Programs such as PREPARE in Austria, the US-American EPAs program, the Landskrona Project in Sweden, the Aire and Calder Project in the UK and PRISMA in The Netherlands have demonstrated that in all sectors of industry it is possible to increase efficiency in the use of materials and energy in industrial processes and at the same time avoid waste and emissions at their source and save companies—sometimes enormous amounts of—money.The cities of Graz and Stenum have developed the program Ökoprofit (Ecoprofit)³, which aims to provide a cost-effective way of involving regional enterprises in a Cleaner Production Project. The approach consists basically of two arms: (1) nine 1-day workshops to give feedback on the progress of the companies, to teach basics of emission prevention, project management and law; (2) consultations with individual companies to help them with specific problems, between the workshops.The teaching sessions during the workshops consist of a short lecture followed by active work in small groups on examples, presentation of the results, a discussion of the findings and the possibilities of applying them to the actual companies of the participants. In one workshop, participants analyse the coffee-making process for its potential to minimize emissions; in another, they analyse it for its energy-saving potential. This article describes how these two interactive training modules for mass-flow analysis and energy analysis are conducted.     

白酒酿造固体废弃物资源化利用新进展

白酒酿造产生的酒糟固体废弃物产量大、富含有机质、储存易腐,处理处置成本高,导致资源化利用效率仍较低。聚焦于2017—2021年关于白酒糟资源化利用的文献,从资源化应用途径及处理技术2个角度综述了研究新进展。研究发现:利用白酒糟制取动物饲料是当前资源化应用的主要方向;处理技术方面,混菌发酵技术对纤维素的降解率为24%~42%,对粗蛋白增率在21%~60%,能有效均衡酒糟饲料制品的养分,应用广泛。近年来白酒糟炭化热解制取生物炭研究进展迅速,生物炭产率在33%~43%。构建白酒酿造、白酒糟制生物炭与作物种植的综合处理体系,可为规模化处理酒糟固废建立新模式。     

北京市典型城区餐饮业VOCs和PM2.5排放量估算

以北京市餐饮企业分布密度最大的西城区为案例区,通过对研究区域内餐饮企业进行实地污染物检测及排放活动水平调查,计算得到基于就餐人数、就餐时间、烹饪油用量和灶头数4种核算基准的餐饮业VOCs和PM_2.5排放因子,并利用排放因子法分别估算该区域在餐饮废气净化设备升级改造前后餐饮企业VOCs和PM_2.5年排放量.结果表明：本研究区域餐饮业废气净化设备升级改造前VOCs排放量范围为319.03~506.38t/a,改造后为92.14~109.89t/a;改造前PM_2.5排放量范围为166.55~211.09t/a,改造后为30.22~36.05t/a,排放量明显减少.餐饮业废气净化设备改造后VOCs和PM_2.5减排率分别为71%~82%和80%~86%,餐饮业废气净化设备升级改造减排效果良好.计算得到以街道为单元的餐饮源VOCs和PM_2.5排放强度范围分别为1.45~4.32t/km²和0.47~1.42t/km².通过PM_2.5实测浓度（小时值）数据分析,餐饮业废气净化设备升级改造前、后PM_2.5浓度平均减少了28.9%,最接近于用油量为核算基准的排放因子降低比例.     

中国石化绿色油库评价指标体系研究

针对中国石化销售企业所属油库特点,以专业性、先进性、定性与定量相结合、可操作性为原则,对照国家、中国石化相关标准规范,兼顾基层特色,深入调查研究,经现场测试、多次专家研讨,构建了以落实绿色行动要求、完善污染治理设施管理、节约资源能源等13项要求为重点考核内容,由55项具体指标组成的绿色油库评价指标体系,现已正式在中国石化销售板块发布实施,为纵深推进企业绿色发展提供了科学合理的标准支撑。