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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 02261991 - H.A TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Hazardous Materials Commission Contra Costa DATE: February 11, 1991 County SUBJECT: Supervisors' Awards for Achievement in Hazardous Waste Minimization SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) a BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION Recommended Action To present award plaques and certificates to the following businesses in Contra Costa County which have successfully minimized their hazardous waste: Outstanding Achievement Dow Chemical, U.S.A. Western Division Significant Achievement Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Richmond Refinery Shell Oil Company Martinez Manufacturing Complex Honorable Mention E.I . DuPont de Nemours & Company Antioch Works Pacific Gas and Electric Company Concord Service Center Background On July 26, 1990, the Board of Supervisors established an awards program to recognize businesses in the County which have successfully minimized their hazardous waste. After careful review and evaluation of the applications which were submitted, the judges panel ( see Attachment B) recommends that the Board confer five awards. The criteria used for evaluation is found in Attachment C. Each of the companies to be honored has made significant progress in hazardous waste minimization. A short description of each company' s achievements is included in Attachment A. Fiscal Impact None CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _,_ YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE __ OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON February 26 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER _ VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT — ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES. AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: health Services ATTESTED _ `T aG,.._/99/ ___._.,_ County Administrator PHIL BATCHEL CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY � DEPUTY M382/7_83 Attachment A Description of Awards Recipients' Hazardous Waste Minimization Efforts OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMffiQT Dow Chemical U.S.A. , Western Division Dow Chemical, Western Division reduced its hazardous waste by 96 % from 1984 to 1990. The chlorinated pyridines waste per unit of product ratio was reduced from . 22 lb/lb to .12 lb/lb, which is a 45 % reduction in waste. Ninety percent (90 %) of the acid gases generated from scrubber waste are now being recovered. In one plant, contamination of rainwater was avoided by constructing a roof . At this same plant, changes in process chemistry will produce 40 % less waste. Dow has been proactive in its involvement with the larger chemical industry and with its employees. It' s hazardous waste reduction program, WRAP (Waste Reduction Always Pays) , emphasizes employee involvement and a strong management commitment. The WRAP program includes an awards program to recognize divisions and departments which have reduced their hazardous waste. As a result of these efforts, return on investment has been as high as 200 %. Dow' s program has been exemplary and has made the company more competitive as well. SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT Chevron U.S.A. , Richmond Refinery Chevron' s Richmond Refinery has reduced its hazardous waste generation by 82 % from 1984 ( 47,700 tons) to 1989 (8,700 tons) . Their efforts have saved them over $ 1,000,000 since 1984. Their largest hazardous waste reductions came from non-leaded hydrocarbon tank bottoms. A large portion of this waste stream was eliminated through process equipment redesign. By substituting one chemical for another, FCC Fines were rendered nonhazardous and are now being used as a substitute raw material in asphalt manufacturing. Other waste streams experiencing reduction were DEA, industrial debris, sandblast grit, API sludge, settling waste and spent hydro- processing catalyst. . Chevron' s SMART (Save Money And Reduce Toxics) program has been the driving force behind much of the Refinery' s hazardous waste reduction. Chevron' s management has shown commitment to waste reduction by incorporating it into the management strategy. 1 Shell Oil Company, Martinez Manufacturing Complex, Martinez, CA. At Shell' s Martinez Complex, hazardous waste minimization has been integrated with solid waste minimization to encourage the conservation of valuable resources. Shell' s program includes: characterization of waste generation," periodic waste minimization assessments, cost allocation back to generating departments and technology transfer and corporate support. One waste stream which has been reduced is wet petroleum coke fines. These were previously landfilled and are now sold as a product on the market. A market was also developed for wet rerun waste which was previously treated and landfilled. Through a number of process modifications, FXU petroleum coke waste was reduced by 10,000 tons per year. Drums at one plant are now reused rather than being disposed of after one use. This modification reduced disposal to a landfill by 5,000 drums per year. A number of other hazardous waste streams were also significantly reduced resulting in a 20% reduction of hazardous wastes from 1988 to 1989. HONORABLE MENTION E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Antioch Works, Antioch, CA. Since 1985, the Antioch facility of DuPont has reduced its hazardous waste by 95%. In 1984, 41,649 tons of hazardous waste were disposed of and the predicted volume of hazardous waste at the end of 1990 is less than 200 tons. Hazardous waste reduction has resulted in an annual savings of over $5. 8 million in disposal costs. Two waste streams have been significantly affected by waste minimization efforts. Iron chloride waste was previously shipped off-site to a disposal facility at a rate of 3 million gallons per year ( 1986 figure) . An in-house team tackled the problem and came up with a method to neutralize the waste stream, render it nonhazardous and convert it to a product now used in the construction industry. A second waste stream that has been significantly reduced is fluoride waste. A new scrubbing system was put into operation which reduced the waste stream from 2400 tons ( 1986) to 50 tons ( 1990) . The scrubber produces a clean mixed acid stream which is sold to the oil field industry to increase oil well production. Hazardous waste was minimized and a need was filled in another industrial sector. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Concord: Service Center The Concord Service Center is a small quantity generator of hazardous waste. One of its major activities is the servicing of vehicles. In addition of a very aggressive solid waste management and reduction program, the Service Center reduced its hazardous waste. Overall, hazardous waste was reduced from 48 drums in 1989 to 12 drums in 1990 . The Fleet Services Department changed its procurement habits to purchase oil in bulk rather than the 2 traditional 1-quart plastic containers. These containers were being disposed of as hazardous waste. Antifreeze is now purchased in bulk and containers are reused whenever possible. Oil filters are not only drained to eliminate excess oil but are also washed in a special machine and then discarded as nonhazardous trash. The Service Center eliminated a solvent parts cleaner in favor of a new cleaning unit which uses hot water and biodegradable soap. Overall savings to the Service Center from hazardous and solid waste minimization were in excess of $20,000 in 1990. 3 Attachment B Judges Panel Bart .Brandenburg is an Associate Engineer with the Contra Costa Central Sanitary District in source control and is an alternate member of the Hazardous Materials Commission. Henry Clark is the Director of the West County Toxics Coalition, a citizens ' environmental action group. Vicki Dvorak works as an enforcement specialist with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Greg Lawler is Program Manager for Contra Costa County' s Hazardous Waste Minimization Program. Tom Lindemuth is a senior engineer with Kleinfelder, an environmental consulting firm, and an alternate member of the Hazardous Materials Commission. Jim Payne is the secretary-treasurer of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union (Local 1-5) , a labor union which represents workers in several Contra Costa refineries. Attachment C Criteria for Evaluating Applicants 1. Reduced risk to public health and the environment: ( 50 %) A. Reduction in volume and toxicity of waste. B. Level on waste minimization hierarchy: source reduction is preferable to recycling/reuse which is preferable to treatment. 2. Multi-media nature of waste minimization: ( 25 %) The extent to which waste minimization efforts do not transfer pollution to other media, such as air and water. 3 . Management commitment: ( 25 %) A. The extent to which top management in the company/business supports waste minimization and has pursued it vigorously within the company. B. The extent to which the company has taken a leadership role in promoting waste minimization in the business and industrial community.