Center for Industrial Services

In this issue ...

1. TP3 Partner DENSO Manufacturing Cuts Cardboard Waste by More Than 60 Percent
2. EPA Announces Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Goals
3. Laser Touch Technology Reduces Paint Over Spray
4. How Green Is Your Supply Chain?
5. EPA Targets Company in a Criminal Investigation
6. Dell Announces Recycling Program Enhancement
7. TP3 Membership Continues To Grow
8. QUALITY, MANAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKSHOPS – July 2003 through September 2003

1. TP3 PARTNER DENSO MANUFACTURING CUTS CARDBOARD WASTE BY MORE THAN 60 PERCENT

DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee, Inc., has found a relatively simple way to significantly reduce its solid waste and save money in the process.

The Athens facility is part of DENSO Corporation’s global network of 74 subsidiaries in 29 nations and employs more than 800 associates. It is one of the world’s largest producers of oxygen sensors, fuel injectors, air-flow meters, ignition coils and spark plugs for all major automakers.

In 2001, prior to the installation of a cardboard compactor, the plant was sending an average of 24.2 tons of solid waste per month to the local landfill. Now, cardboard is segregated from other solid waste and sent for recycling, reducing the amount of solid waste sent to the landfill to only 9.6 tons a month. That’s a 60 percent reduction!

In 2002, 185 tons of cardboard were recycled. In addition, having suppliers switch to using returnable packaging has reduced the amount of cardboard used by 25 tons a year. Another one-third of DENSO’s suppliers are scheduled to switch to returnable packaging within the next year.

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2. EPA ANNOUNCES ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PURCHASING GOALS

In a recent memo to employees, the EPA laid out its pledge to "green" EPA's purchases through environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) for a variety of products and services in accordance with Executive Order 13101. E.O. 13101 requires executive agencies to comply with policies pertaining to the "acquisition and the use of environmentally preferable products and services."

Covered in the memo are EPA's purchase/construction of buildings, janitorial and maintenance services, landscaping products, publications, office supplies, meetings, electronics, fleets, and power. The overarching purpose of the goals is to reduce the EPA's environmental "footprint" by achieving some goals by 2005 and others by 2010.

"We are proud to announce that we have recently taken steps to increase EPA's ability to be a leader for other public and private sector purchasers" said Morris Winn, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Acquisition and Resource Management. "These goals are specific and innovative, and in the words of John Howard, the Federal Environmental Office executive, 'provide a strong vision and a path forward for how everyone at EPA can implement sustainable environmental practices in their daily work.'"

Visit the EPA Web site to find out more about the new EPP goals.

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3. LASER TOUCH TECHNOLOGY REDUCES PAINT OVER SPRAY

A unique tool called Laser Touch has been developed by the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) to reduce spray paint waste. The key to using paint effectively and developing a high quality finish is increasing transfer efficiency (TE): the ratio of paint that leaves the spray gun compared to the amount of paint that ends up on the part being sprayed. Laser Touch increases the TE of any spray gun and has proven beneficial to industrial spray gun applications.

The Laser Touch attaches to any model spray gun and projects two beams to the target surface. The laser beams can be adjusted to form a single dot when the spray gun is at the correct preset distance from the part. If the gun moves too far or too close, the beams separate enabling the painter to maintain the correct distance for consistent coverage.

Benefits of this product include improved paint finish quality, reduced rework, greater consistency among painters, reduced over spray waste and air emissions, and less spray strokes for the painters. Additionally, the Laser Touch reduces hazardous waste and ozone-depleting air pollution from spray painting. To learn more about this technology visit the Laser Touch Web site. The Web site of the Iowa Waste Reduction Center will also allow you to calculate costs savings using this product.

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4. HOW GREEN IS YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN?

Supply Chain Management refers to the process by which “buyer” companies require a certain level of environmental performance from their manufacturing partners and vendors. When a company imposes environmental conditions on the products and processes of its suppliers, it is called “greening the supply chain” (GSC). Many companies undertaking GSC initiatives have found that working with suppliers on environmental issues not only generates significant environmental benefits, but also offers opportunities for cost containment and strategic and competitive advantage.

Often customers and other stakeholders do not differentiate between a company and its suppliers and may hold companies accountable for their suppliers’ environmental and labor practices.

To learn more about GSC, refer to EPA’s guide The Lean and Green Supply Chain: A Practical Guide for Material Managers and Supply Chain Managers to Reduce Cost and Improve Environmental Performance.

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5. EPA TARGETS COMPANY IN A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

McWane Inc., a major foundry firm headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., is the target of a federal criminal investigation that began in January. McWane employs 5,000 workers throughout the U.S. and has recorded more than 4,600 injuries since 1995 while also polluting the air and water in several states where it owns foundries. The company has been cited for more than 400 safety violations and 450 environmental violations since 1995 and has paid roughly $10 million in fines and penalties. In recent months, McWane has invested millions of dollars in new safety and environmental equipment. Senior managers have received more safety training, and the company has hired consultants to help it improve safety programs. Some managers have been reassigned or removed.

Several former McWane employees say they have been contacted by Justice Department prosecutors and by criminal investigators from the Environmental Protection Agency. This investigation, encompassing McWane's safety and health record as well as its failure to protect the environment, is especially significant because it represents an unusual effort by the federal government to build a case against a major corporation that for years has avoided serious criminal sanctions despite a lengthy record of infractions.

This month, members of a Congressional subcommittee overseeing OSHA asked if fines were enough to deter companies like McWane. At a hearing, John L. Henshaw, the agency's administrator, said it had written new policies to crack down on persistent violators.

You can read a recent expose published in the New York Times at its Web site.

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6. DELL ANNOUNCES RECYCLING PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT

The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) got to use its newly developed Framework for Evaluating Product Stewardship Initiatives recently when solicited for advice by Dell Computer Corporation. NRC representatives reviewed Dell’s plans for enhancing its current recycling programs and used that framework to decide that the new program is consistent with criteria established by NRC. NRC is now assisting Dell in promoting this new program.

It was announced recently that Dell will now allow customers to order home pick up for various unwanted computer equipment. Customers can arrange a pick-up of equipment online, and it will be retrieved from their homes within three to five days. The cost is only $15 for up to 50 pounds of material. Dell is using its knowledge and network of the delivery of computer systems to its advantage to allow for such convenient pick up. Customers also can assess their own equipment and suggest whether it should be reused or recycled. Dell has partnered with a variety of vendors, from the National Cristina Foundation to Unicor Federal Prison Industries, which will handle the products.

Read more about this program at the Dell Web site.

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7. TP3 MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW

The Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) was created to recognize Tennessee’s statewide network of households, schools, government agencies, community organizations, businesses and industries who work together to protect our shared environment through pollution prevention. The TP3 mission is to enhance the quality of life of all Tennesseans and to be stewards of our natural environment. By preventing pollution before it occurs, the environment is protected, the consumption of natural resources is slowed, and the amount of waste generated is reduced.

By May 30, 2003, TP3 membership had grown to a total of 221 at all levels:

• The Prospect Level comprises 147 members who show interest in protecting the environment by signing up for TP3.
• The Pledge Level comprises 66 members who advanced from the Prospect Level through commitment to positive environmental action and by taking advantage of simple pollution prevention opportunities.
• To achieve Partner Level, a Pledge Member develops a five-project plan addressing energy conservation, clean air, solid waste reduction, land and water conservation, and hazardous waste. Completion of one successful project from the plan and submission of a success story earns Partner status.
• Members at the Performer Level complete all five projects and submit success stories, involve the community in pollution prevention activities, and mentor other members in the partnership. Additionally the Performer member must have had an environmental management system that conforms to ISO 14001 for a minimum of one year.

TP3 MEMBERSHIP

Of the total TP3 membership, 49, or 22 percent, are industrial firms. The single Performer Level member is a manufacturer, and 15 percent of manufacturing members have attained Partner Level.

This is a significant achievement for a program that is now in only its third year. For information on how your organization can become a TP3 member, contact George Smelcer at (615) 532-4912, Don Stone at (615) 532-4924, or Harding Aslinger at (615) 532-8888.

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8. QUALITY, MANAGEMENT, AND ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY WORKSHOPS – July through September 2003

For more information about the courses listed below, please visit our Web site. Or, call us: (615) 532-8657 or toll-free at (888) 763-7439. You can register for these courses online, or use this registration form.

Certain courses are underwritten by TDEC Division of Community Assistance funding under the Waste Reduction Assistance Program contract. Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership (TP3) Partners and Performer-level members receive a discount on registration fees for these open-enrollment courses. To learn more about TP3, please call George Smelcer at (615) 532-4912, Don Stone at (615) 532-4924 or Harding Aslinger at (615)532-8888. Or, you may visit the TDEC Web site at www.state.tn.us/environment/dca/tp3.htm.

LEAN MANUFACTURING (TP3 member discount available)

Lean 101: Introduction to Lean Manufacturing Principles

Knoxville – August 19

Nashville – August 20

Lean 202: Value Stream Mapping

Knoxville – August 26

Nashville – August 27

Lean 203: Workplace Organization & Visual Controls (5-S System)

Knoxville – September 16

Nashville – September 17

Lean 208: Mistake Proofing your Manufacturing Process

Knoxville – September 23

Nashville – September 24

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

ISO 9001:2000 Internal Auditor

Knoxville– September 9-10

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY REPORTING (TP3 member discount available)

Hazardous And Special Waste

Chattanooga – September 25

Jackson – September 30

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND ISO 14000 (TP3 member discount available)

ISO 14001:1996 Internal Auditor

Nashville – August 20-21

HAZARDOUS WASTE/CHEMICAL SITE WORKER (Government employee discount available)

40-Hour Site Worker

Memphis – September 15-19

8-Hour Site Worker Refresher

Knoxville – July 10

Memphis – August 12

Nashville - September 3

24-Hour Emergency Response Technician

Murfreesboro – September 23-25

8-Hour Emergency Response Refresher

Memphis – August 13

DOT COMPLIANCE (Government employee discount available)

16-Hour DOT

Knoxville – August 6-7

Nashville - September 4-5

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Feedback by e-mail: gsmelcer@tennessee.edu
Feedback by phone: (615) 532-8657 or (888) 763-7439
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The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services
Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Program
226 Capitol Blvd., Suite 606
Nashville, TN 37219-1804
Phone: (615) 532-8657
Fax: (615) 532-4937

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