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2008 NPEP Award Recipients
Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, and Matt Hale, Director of EPA’s Office of Solid Waste (renamed Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery on January 18, 2009), present NPEP Champion Award to James J. Groome (center) of The Okonite Company.
The NPEP Champion Award recognizes individuals who not only lead their own organization's efforts in waste minimization, but also reach outside their organization to discover and promote other opportunities to achieve NPEP goals.
Since first introduced to NPEP in late 2006, Jim Groome has successfully brought two Okonite facilities to NPEP, the plant in Orangeburg, South Carolina and the facility in Patterson, New Jersey and he is also working to enroll plants in California and Kentucky.
Jim has not only encouraged plant managers across the US to join us in reducing toxic chemicals, but he has also been instrumental in helping NPEP contact Okonite customers, which has led to large lead reductions and helped to shift the market toward lead-free cables in the U.S.
Thanks to the continuing development of this network of stakeholders working to reduce lead cable use in the utility sector, the future looks bright that lead will be phased out of utility cabling. And, certainly much of the current and future success is of these lead reductions is due to the relationship we have with Jim Groome.
2008 NPEP Achievement Award Winners. We congratulate these NPEP Partners on their successes.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Dave Clauss (center) of 3M Nevada.
3M Nevada, Nevada, MO, reduced 6,500 pounds of lead by reducing lead in color film formulation.
For 35 years the 3M Nevada plant of Nevada, Missouri has formulated and produced colored films for use in company identification, like the graphics we see on vehicles, buildings and signs. The Nevada plant goal is to use lead-free pigments that match the performance of current colored films, this effort supported dedicated team effort by the entire organization has lead to 6,500 pounds of lead reductions.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Christopher Johnson (center) of AEP Ohio - Picway Plant.
AEP Ohio – Picway Plant, Lockbourne, OH,
eliminated 4,571 pounds of PCBs by removing and replacing four PCB Transformer/Rectifier sets.
The AEP Ohio – Picway Plant in Lockbourne, Ohio previously relied on PCB-containing electrostatic precipitators to control particulate emissions. The Picway Plant took the proactive step to remove, properly dispose of, and replace them with a PCB-free alternative. While the project had an upfront cost, a key benefit was the elimination of the potential for a PCB spill and resulting remediation/clean-up. The project resulted in the elimination of more than 4.5 thousand pounds of PCBs.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Marie Royce (center) of Alcatel-Lucent.
Alcatel-Lucent, Murray Hill, NJ,
recovered 2,058,700 pounds of lead by collecting and recycling more than 2 million pounds of lead-acid batteries.
Alcatel-Lucent of Murray Hill, New Jersey provides solutions that enable end-users access to voice, data and video communication services. Alcatel-Lucent set a corporate goal to collect and recycle lead-acid batteries from facility operations and U.S. customers. This effort prevented more than 2 million pounds of lead from entering the environment and closed the loop because the lead is remanufactured into new lead-acid batteries.
Matt Hale and Susan Bodine present NPEP Achievement Award to Gregg Kulma (center) of Argonne National Laboratory.
Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL,
reduced 360 pounds of mercury and 23,000 pounds of lead by collecting and recycling mercury-containing equipment and expanding its recycling of lead.
Argonne National Laboratory of Argonne, Illinois became the country's first national laboratory on July 1, 1946, with the mission of finding peaceful uses for atomic energy. Today, Argonne is a multiprogram research and development center. Argonne set a goal to expand its recycling of lead and collected, recycled, and replaced mercury-containing equipment. These efforts have led to 360 pounds of mercury and 23,000 pounds of lead reductions. Argonne notes that one of the lessons learned is that ‘if you look for ways to meet a goal you will find them.’
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Michael Welly (center) of BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC.
BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC, Bloomingdale, IL eliminated over 319,000 lbs of lead by recycling used batteries and lead wheel weights. BFRC is a charter member of the National Lead Free Wheel Weight Initiative.
Bridgestone Firestone Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC—BFRC—operates the largest number of company-owned automotive retail generalist stores in the world — more than 2,000 vehicle service and tire locations across the United States. Bridgestone Firestone eliminated more than 319,000 lbs of lead by recycling lead wheel weights. BFRC also has a successful lead-acid auto battery recycling program, which they collect from their retail customers. BFRC’s NPEP goal for the 2008 calendar year is to reduce the amount of lead used in wheel weights used by 76% by substituting lead wheel weights with steel wheel weights.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Stephen Peacock (center) of City of Dallas Love Field Airport.
City of Dallas Love Field Airport, Dallas, TX,
removed 1,548 pounds of PCBs from their facility by removing and recycling PCB ballasts. Love Field also eliminated more than 61 pounds of mercury by removing mercury containing equipment from their facility.
City of Dallas Love Field Airport located in Dallas, Texas serves the Dallas Metroplex and supports both commercial and general aircraft and currently serves more than 6 million passengers per year. Love Field Airport, a second time NPEP Achievement Award winner, eliminated 1,548 pounds of PCBs from their facility by removing and recycling PCB ballasts. Love Field also eliminated more than 61 pounds of mercury by removing mercury containing equipment from their facility.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to David Westman (center) of Con Edison Company of New York.
Con Edison Company of New York (CECONY), New York, NY,
eliminated more than 3.7 million pounds of lead by removing lead-containing primary electric feeder cable and replacing it with a lead-free alternative.
Con Edison Company of New York, New York, delivers utility services—gas, electric, steam—to over 3 million customers throughout New York City and Westchester County. The Con Edison Company eliminated more than 3.7 million pounds of lead by removing Paper Insulated Lead-Clad (PILC) type of primary electric feeder cable from the underground electric distribution system and replacing it with a lead-free alternative. The Con Edison Company strives for environmental excellence and participates in numerous EPA partnership programs including Waste Wise, SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership, and the Natural Gas STAR Program.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Ryan Spicer (center) of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, DFW Airport, TX,
reduced 770 pounds of trifluralin-containing herbicides by substituting them with comparable products that contain no priority chemicals
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas covers more than 29.8 square miles with five terminals, seven runways, and three flight traffic control towers. DFW Airport eliminated 770 pounds of trifluralin-containing herbicide. All trifluralin-containing herbicides were successfully substituted with comparable products that contain no priority chemicals. DFW is a participant in the EPA's National Environmental Performance Track, as well as a Platinum Level Member of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Clean Texas program.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Laura Miller (center) of GE Energy.
GE Energy, Newark, Delaware, recycled 145 pounds of lead from lead-coated tabbing and interconnect, exceeding their goal by 70 percent
GE Energy of Newark, Delaware offers an array of solar products with flexible installation techniques for commercial, industrial and residential applications. By implementing a process change to separately collect the lead-coated tabbing and interconnect, GE reduced 145 pounds of lead – exceeding their goal by 70 percent. This recycling effort spurred the formation of a Green Team to implement more “green” improvements across the site including, working with regulatory agencies for guidance and employee training.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Shawn Glacken (center) of Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant.
Luminant Generation Company LLC, Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant, Glen Rose, Texas,
reduced the total amount of mercury onsite by 50% by replacing mercury-containing thermometers
Luminant Generation Company LLC, Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant in Glen Rose, Texas, an energy provider, reduced the total amount of mercury onsite by 50 percent. The reduction of mercury had been a long time goal at Comanche Peak, but establishing the NPEP goal helped to focus the effort to quantify and reduce this well known pollutant. The goal was accomplished by replacing mercury containing thermometers with environmentally preferable thermometers. A total of 2.5 pounds of mercury was safely recycled through the effort.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Shawn Glacken (center) of Luminant Generation Company.
Luminant Generation Company, Luminant Power Plants LLC, Dallas, TX, eliminated 319 pounds of mercury by removing mercury-containing equipment and liquid mercury not used in processes or equipment
Luminant Generation Company, LLC of Dallas, Texas provides a large part of Texas’s power needs through the generation of electricity from nuclear, coal, and Luminant is the largest purchaser of wind generated electricity in Texas and the fifth largest in the United States. Luminant eliminated 319 pounds of mercury by removing mercury-containing devices including mercury switches, thermometers and free liquid mercury not used in processes or equipment. This project enabled plant personnel to recognize that small steps to remove wastes are critical to the overall environmental and financial success of the company.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Mark Stone and Khoi Nguyen (center) of the Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research.
Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research, Great Lakes, IL
reduced approximately 550 pounds of mercury through the installation of dental amalgam separation equipment in all CONUS Navy dental treatment facilities.
Naval Institute for Dental and Biomedical Research located in Great Lakes, Illinois in partnership with the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia and the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center in Norfolk, Virginia, set and NPEP goal to install amalgam separation equipment in all U.S. Navy dental treatment facilities. The objective of the equipment is to remove mercury-containing amalgam debris from the wastewater. Amalgam separation equipment has been installed in over 121 dental treatment facilities helping the Navy to reduce mercury emissions from these locations by over 96%, an estimated 550 pounds of mercury reduction.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to David Potts (center) of Public Service Enterprise Group.
Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), Gibbstown, NJ,
removed and recycled 464 pounds of mercury and 822 pounds of lead through the removal and recycling of mercury-containing and lead-containing equipment.
Public Service Enterprise Group—PSEG— of Gibbstown, New Jersey is a wholesale energy producer and electric and gas transmission and delivery utility. PSEG removed and recycled 464 pounds of mercury and 822 pounds of lead through the removal and recycling of mercury containing equipment such as thermostats, gas regulators, street and fluorescent lamps, and lead-containing, surplus computers and cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors. PSEG has a long history of strong recycling performance and concern for the environment, and this case is no exception. PSEG exceeded each of its NPEP goals.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Steven Levetan (center) of Pull-A-Part, LLC.
Pull-A-Part, LLC, Atlanta, GA
reduced 104 pounds of mercury by removing every convenience lighting mercury switch found in vehicles purchased by Pull-A-Part.
Pull-A-Part, LLC headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia has 23 locations either open or under construction in the Eastern United States. Each location provides a market for, and ultimately recycles, approximately 10,000 end of life automobiles, and recovers and recycles approximately 50,000 gallons of automotive fluids. Pull-A-Part set a goal to remove every convenience lighting mercury switch found in vehicles purchased by Pull-A-Part. As of August, Pull-a-Part has recovered 47,155 switches, representing a total of 104 pounds of mercury recycled, exceeding their goal by 60%.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Drew Fillingame and Clyde Stephens (center) of Rubicon, LLC.
Rubicon, LLC, Geismar, LA, reduced 500,000 pounds of benzene and 520,000 pounds of aniline by implementing process changes that will reduce waste generation in the Aniline complex.
Rubicon, LLC in Geismar, Louisiana reduced 500,000 pounds of benzene and 520,000 pounds of aniline by implementing a two-phase project involving several process changes that will reduce waste generation in the Aniline complex. These reductions have prevented more than 1.2 million pounds of chemicals from being released to the environment.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to James J. Groome (center) of The Okonite Company, Inc.
The Okonite Company, Inc., Orangeburg, SC and
Paterson, NJ
reduced 147,811 pounds of lead at its Paterson facility
and reduced 2,805 pounds of lead at its Orangeburg facility.
The Okonite Company, Inc. of Orangeburg, South Carolina and Paterson, New Jersey manufactures low, medium, and high voltage electric wire and cable products for electric utilities, railroads, and industrial markets worldwide. Okonite established NPEP goals to reduce the amount of lead processed at its manufacturing facilities. Okonite reduced its lead usage by more than 145,000 pounds at its Paterson facility and reduced its lead usage at its Paterson facility by more than 2,800 pounds. In addition to reducing emissions and waste, Okonite saved a total of about $227,000 as a result of this project.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Virgil Wilbur and Om Chopra
(center) of Thomas & Betts Corporation.
Thomas & Betts Corporation, Horseheads, NY
eliminated over 30,000 pounds of cadmium and hexavalent chromium by replacing cadmium and hexavalent chromium plating with NiTin alloy.
Thomas & Betts Corporation located in Horseheads, New York is a supplier of electrical systems and HVAC components. Thomas and Betts eliminated over 30,000 pounds of cadmium and hexavalent chromium by replacing cadmium and hexavalent chromium plating with NiTin alloy. Thomas & Betts saved more than $125,000 in transportation, disposal and energy costs and completion of this project helped sway the company to form a “Green Initiatives” program in which internal waste, water and electricity reduction goals have been set.
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Morris Carter (center) of Valero Energy Corporation.
Valero Energy Corporation, Port Arthur Refinery, Port Arthur, TX, recovered and recycled over 95,000 pounds of naphthalene by recycling oil bearing refinery residuals that were previously being transported off-site for disposal.
Valero Energy Corporation, Port Arthur Refinery of Port Arthur, Texas converts a wide range of crude oil types into products ranging from conventional gasoline and diesel to petroleum coke and sulfur. Valero recovered and recycled over 95,000 pounds of naphthalene by recycling certain oil bearing refinery residuals that were previously being transported off-site for disposal. As a result, Valero saved $891,000 in off-site disposal costs. Valero is also a member of the TCEQ Clean Texas program
Susan Bodine and Matt Hale present NPEP Achievement Award to Michael Lewis (center) of Xerox Corporation.
Xerox Office Group—Wilsonville, Wilsonville, OR, eliminated 118 pounds of lead by discontinuing the use of lead-based solder in prototype circuit boards.
Xerox Webster, Webster, NY,
reduced 35,000 pounds of tetrahydrofuran by improving reclamation efficiency, which resulted in a reduction in material use.
Xerox Office Group of Wilsonville, Oregon has been transitioning to no-lead solder paste and the use of lead-free solder in the wave solder flow machine. This effort has eliminated 118 pounds of lead from the production of prototype circuit boards.
Xerox Webster of Webster, New York reduced 35,000 pounds of tetrahydrofuran by improving the reclamation efficiency for tetrahydrofuran by an average of 6 percent; this resulted in a reduction in material use. This effort will save an estimated $65,000 annually by reducing procurement and disposal costs.
Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
collected and recycled 3750 pounds of mercury through BGSU’s Elemental Mercury Collection and Reclamation Program.
Bowling Green State University of Bowling Green, Ohio’s Elemental Mercury Collection and Reclamation Program, a three time NPEP Achievement Award winner, collects and recycles uncontaminated elemental mercury that is present in devices including thermometers, thermostats, and mercury switches, as well as individual containers of mercury. This program is available and free to everybody, including individuals, academic institutions, dental facilities, emergency response and other government agencies. This year’s achievement award is for 3,750 pounds of mercury collected and reclaimed.
City of Los Angeles LA World Airports (LAX), Los Angeles, CA
removed 2550 pounds of mercury by removing and recycling mercury-containing instruments.
City of Los Angeles, LA World Airports, in Los Angeles, California consists of four airports, including LAX which is the world’s busiest origin and destination airport, owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles. LA World Airports removed 2,550 pounds of mercury by removing and recycling 51 instruments, including flow meters, calibration instruments, and switches and manometers from their central utility plant. By raising awareness, LAX has found more mercury-containing equipment and anticipate that the efforts of the Construction and Maintenance staff will motivate all Los Angeles World Airports divisions to find ways to reduce the amounts of hazardous substances and make LAX one of the nation’s greenest airports.
Continuous Coating Corporation, Orange, CA, reduced the use of 70,000 pounds of lead per year by eliminating all lead from their plating tanks.
Continuous Coating Corporation located in Orange, California, electro galvanizes steel coils for many end uses, such as computer parts, screen doors, refrigerators, and rain gutters and mainly serves the housing industries and steel warehouses. Continuous Coating Corporation reduced the use of 70,000 pounds of lead per year by eliminating all lead from their plating tanks, while improving the quality of our products and increasing process efficiency. Continuous Coating Corporation learned through the process that ‘the old way is not always the best way.’
Embraer, Nashville, TN, recovered and recycled 950 pounds of cadmium by removing cadmium particles from rinse water used during the plating process. Embraer recycled spent fluorescent bulbs and replaced them with lower-mercury content bulbs.
Embraer of Nashville, Tennessee is an aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility. Embraer recycled spent fluorescent bulbs and replaced them with lower-mercury content bulbs. Embraer also recovered and recycled 950 pounds of cadmium by removing cadmium particles from rinse water used during the plating process. Embrear is environmentally conscientious and makes every effort to protect the environment including recycling nickel cadmium batteries used in Aircraft and smaller batteries used in flashlights.
Epson Portland, Inc, Portland, Oregon,
removed 1 pound of mercury by removing and replacing mercury-containing thermostats with electronic ones.
Epson Portland, Inc. located in Portland, Oregon manufactures ink and ink cartridges. Epson made a commitment to remove all mercury from their plant by the end of September 2008. After auditing for mercury-containing items, it was discovered that EPI had six thermostats that utilized the metal. By the end of August, a full month earlier than planned, all mercury-containing thermostats had been removed and were replaced with electronic ones. The total amount of mercury removed from the plant was 1 pound.
Exide Technologies, Los Angeles, CA
minimized more than 200,000 pounds of lead in waste shipments even though the production output of the plant grew by 34%.
Exide Technologies, Vernon located in Los Angeles, California recycles lead-acid batteries. Exide set an NPEP goal to reduce 120,000 pounds of lead waste in its blast furnace slag prior to disposal. Exide successfully minimized lead in waste shipments by over 200,000 pounds even though the production output of the plant grew by 34%. By improving the efficiency of their operation, Exide saved approximately $350,000 in waste disposal and transportation costs.
Lansing Board of Water and Light, Lansing, MI
eliminated over 76,000 pounds of lead by removing lead service pipes from water services.
Lansing Board of Water and Light located in Lansing, MI is a utility founded in 1885 to provide a drinking water system and fire protection to the people of the municipality. The Lansing Board of Water and Light eliminated more than 76,000 pounds of lead by removing lead service pipes from water services. Replacements are undertaken based on associated risk, with schools and day care centers and residences with children taking precedence. The Lansing Board of Water and Light has participated in EPA’s WasteWise program and the Michigan Business Pollution Prevention Partnership.
Merisol USA LLC,
reduced 518,982 pounds of PAHs, 1,073,995 pounds of naphthalene, 61,055 pounds of dibenzofuran, and 578 pounds of mercury through a process changes, which no longer produce these priority chemicals as byproducts.
Merisol USA LLC of Houston, Texas produces a high quality phenolic product commonly referred to as Cresylic Acid. Merisol made process changes that lead to no longer producing priority chemicals as byproducts. Merisol reduced more than 500,000 pounds of PAHs, more than 1 million pounds of naphthalene, more than 60,000 pounds of dibenzofuran, and 578 pounds of mercury. Merisol’s efforts have lead to a total reduction of more than 1.6 million pounds.
Wyandotte High School, Kansas City, KS
removed and recycled 5 pounds of mercury by inventorying and removing 155 mercury-containing thermometers and equipment.
Wyandotte High School located in Kansas City, Kansas set an NPEP goal to remove and recycle 5 pounds of mercury from mercury-containing equipment. Wyandotte completed its inventory and collection of all thermometers and barometers in late October, 2007. The school then worked with EPA's Region 7 office to remove 155 mercury thermometers and one barometer, resulting in a reduction of 5 pounds of mercury.