Auditing Your. Chapter 3. Waste Stream

Transcription

1 45 Chapter 3 Auditing Your Waste Stream A waste audit involves assembling information on how your company s waste materials actually enter the waste stream, and determining the approximate amounts of material that are available. This is a two-step process: the first step is to observe the waste generation patterns; the second step is to quantify the waste at each generating station that could be available for recycling. Worksheet #5 is a waste audit recording sheet. Sections A and B aid you in actually tracking what you see in your audit. Section C summarizes materials and quantities, Section D assists you in converting weights and volumes, and Section E helps you organize the information about quantity and containers by hauler. Sections A and B of Worksheet #5 are designed to be used in the process of a walk-through of your company facilities. It is extremely helpful to have the plant manager present for the audit, so that he or she can explain why things are done in a particular manner, and whether it is possible for them to be altered to make for less waste and/ or more recycling. There are certain themes for a walk-through. At each point, ask what is being done. What type of operation is this? Does this operation generate waste? What types? What is being disposed of at the time of the audit? INFORM, Inc. and Recourse Systems, Inc

2 46 Business Recycling Manual Are other materials usually generated in this location? Is this a normal or abnormal, daily or periodic situation? t What To Look For On the Waste Audit Definitions Container: A receptacle usedforwaste. Divert: Todirectawaste material away from a waste container, to recycling. Duhpster: A 2- or 4-yard container emptied automatically by afront- loading or rear-loading compactor truck. Gaylord: A large pallet-sized cardboard box used to store bulk materials. Generate: To create waste. Generating Station: A work station where waste is generated. Generator: The person who puts a material or item into the waste stream. Point of Generation: The point at which a product, package, or material is first defined as waste, andlorfirst put into a waste container. Recover: To alter the destination of a material so it is recycled or reused, not thrown away. Waste Stream: All of the wastes from your company. (See theglossaryfor acomplete set of definitions.) Look for any material that is generated in quantity, without being mixed with contaminants. It has a potential for recycling. In particular, you are looking for the following types of materials: aluminum cans aluminum, copper, brass, other nonferrous metals batteries brown glass bottles brush cardboard, boxboard type cardboard, corrugated carpet chemicals clean wood clear glass bottles colored newspapers or ad sheets grass clippings green glass bottles leaves magazines/catalogues newspaper obsolete furniture and equipment paint and paint containers plastic bottles plastic shrink-wrap plastic soda bottles plate glass rags scrap iron or steel 0 I991 - INFORM, Inc. and Recourse Systems, Inc.

3 Chapter 3 -Auditing Your Waste Stream 47 skids; pallets steel food cans (magnetic) steel soda cans (magnetic) textiles tree limbs crankcase oil, used hydraulic oil weeds white office paper Where To Look Look wherever something is going on. In particular, look in the following places: in building and facility maintenance operations in grounds and landscaping operations in office and administration areas in production areas in research and development areas in warehousing, receiving, and distribution areas in cafeterias or food preparation areas Conducting the Waste Audit The key to a successful waste audit is to see each operation-no matter how familiar you are with it-through the eyes of a recycler. Think of the different operations as waste generating stations. Chances are, all of the wastes in a particular area are generated and disposed of in a similar manner. Be sure to actually look into waste containers. Classify the materials as to how they are generated and why they are generated in a particular manner. INFORM, Inc. and Recourse Systems, Inc. - 0 I991

4 48 Business Recycling Manual Are these materials already mixed when they are disposed of, or are they separately generated and mixed only when they enter the disposal container? A "cluster" of recycling containers can provide an effective indoor and outdoor collection system in areas frequented by employees. And finally, always keep in mind the question: "What if?" What if this material was separated from that one? What ifthere were three disposal cans here instead of one? What if there were no coatings on this paper? What if production or handling procedures could be modified so that there was actually less waste generated at this point? Take into consideration workplace wastes and the reasons for their generation. For example, a soda can on the production floor is clearly not generated as part of the production operation: does the generator dispose of it there because of a short break? What if a container for recyclable soda containers was put on the floor? Consider whether the wastes you see are basic to the operation you are looking at, or whether the operation could be performed in such a way as to have less waste or no waste at all. What if the purchase agent ordered paint in larger containers, so that there were fewer to throw away? What if supplies were ordered in bulk, so there was less packaging in the warehouse to dispose of? Schedule the audit. Take extra copies of Worksheet #5, Sections A and B, with you on a clipboard. Fill them out as you perform the audit. When you are done, analyze and transfer the information to SectionsC, Dand E. What material predominates in the waste stream? What is the second most abundant material you find? What is easy to divert? You will use the data in preparation for talking to haulers and markets. The information you have collected here will be used to design your program. Design information is in Chapter INFORM, Inc. and Recourse Systems, Inc.

5 Chapter 3 -Auditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 1 of 7 Worksheet #5 Waste Audit Take Sections A and B with you on the walk-through audit. Make as many copies of these sections as there are departments. The remaining sections help you analyze information gathered during the audit, and can be completed back in your office. Focus of audit - department, area, building number, etc.: Date: Name of Guide: Title: Phone number: Comments: INFORM, Inc. and Recourse Systems, Inc

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7 ~~ Chapter 3 - Auditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 2 of 7 Section A Internal Collection Describe the movement of waste within the buildings, and how waste is moved fo each external collection location. The list of materials, and percentage of each material recorded, should be based both on observation and on interviews with employees at each generating station. The goal is to produce a record of materials and quantifies that is representative of a typical day s waste. Be careful not to record waste materials more than once if small containers ure emptied into large containers before waste is moved to external collection location. Copy the following page of this worksheet before filling it out so it can be used again for other locations. Write your ideas on the reverse side of the copied sheet. Example - A Location (Waste Generating Station) Notes 6 SizelType of Container C D E # of List of Yo of Eacb Containers Materials Material Typically Disposed Of F # of Tlmes Emptied per Day G H I # of Days Where Total Emptied/ Emptied & Volume pel Wk. by Whom Location per Week (B X C X F X G; J I K Volume of Each Material per Week (1 x E) Conversion to Cubic Yards Example: Second floor computer room, (next to printer) ~ * Use the conversion table in Appendix E to help convert units to cubic yards per week. 1 5 basement 100 gal. garbage rm. by evening custodian 80 gal. paper 20 gal. disposable cups 0.4 cu. yd. paper 0.1 cu. yd. disposable CUPS INFORM, Inc. and Recourse Systems, Inc

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9 Chapter 3 - quditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 3 of 7 A Location (Waste Generating Station) Notes ' Use the conversion table in Appendix E to help convert units to cubic yards per week. INFORM, lnc. and Recourse Systems, lnc

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11 Chapter 3 - Auditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 4 of 7. A B C D E F Location Name of Type and Size Number of Number of % Full when Hauler In Cubic Yards Containers Pulls per Pulled (or Self- Week Hauled) External Collection G I H Waste per Wk. in Cu. Yds. (C X D X EX F) Total Total

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13 Chapter 3 - Auditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 5 of 7 Section C Post-Audit Analysis 1 Qua n t if i cat i o n of Re cy c I a b I e s Using the information in Worksheet 5, Section A, organize your information by material. List only the recyclables. Copy this page to accommodate additional materials. Note that different amounts of materials may be generated in different seasons, particularly if your audit is being held in a low or peak period. (from Section A, Column D) (list down) B Locations & Departments Where Material is Generated (from Section A, Column A) C Total Quantity Generated Per Week (from Section A, Column K) Cu. Yds. D Volume Total per Year ("column C" x "#of weeks per year of operation" = "quantity per year") Cu. Yds. c Subtotals Subtotals I 1. I I I I I Subtotals Total of All Subtotals

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15 ~ ~~ Chapter 3 -Auditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 6 of 7 Section D Post- Au d it Analysis 2 Volume- Weig h t Convers i o n This table assists you in converting weights and volumes of materials. It is important because waste disposal costs are figured by weight, but waste collection costs are calculated based on volume. Also, recycling markets calculate by weight, but the containers used for recyclables are measured by volume. In the table below, using the conversion factors provided in Appendix E or using conversion factors from other sources, you can calculate weight from volume figures (or vice versa) for a few common materials. Enter subtotals from Section C. Cardboard A Material B Subtotal by Material Cu. Yd. per Year [from Section C. Col. D) Loose I Flattened. ~~ Compacted Baled I Conversion Factor E Total Quantity in Tons per Year Office I I Loose I I I PaDer I I Baled I I I Other: Other: I I I I I Other: Total U Total U I INFORM, lnc. and Recourse Systems, lnc

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17 Chapter 3 - Auditing Your Waste Stream Date Worksheet #5 Filled out by Page 7 of 7 Section E Post-Audit Analysis 3 Hauler Service Organize the qiiantity information and containers by hauler, using the information in Worksheet 5, Section B. If all service is with the same hauler, this sheet is merely a summary. If you want to add in self-haul, treat it as another hauler. Hauler (from Section 8, Column B) (list down) B External Location (from Section 6, Column A) C Waste Volume per Week (from Section B, Column G) Cu. Yds. D Number of Containers (from Section B, Column D) Subtotals Subtotals 1. I Subtotals Total of All Subtotals INFOKM, Iirc. ririd Recorrrsc Systems, Inc

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19 Resource List for Further Information Planning Tools Waste Minimization Opportunity Assessment Manual, EPA/ /003, July 1988, EPA Publication Dist;ibution Center, Cincinnati, OH 45268; detailed description of the audit process with assessment worksheets. Waste Audit Studies. Aerospace Waste Minimization. Automotive Paint Shop, Automotive Repairs Building Construction & Trade. Commercial Printing. e Drug Manufacturing t Processing. Fabricated Metal Products. Fiberglass-reinforced and Composite. Products Manufacturing. General Medical & Surgical Hospitals.. Metal Finishing Industry Mechanical Equipment Repair Paint Manufacturing Industry Pesticide Applicators Pesticide Formulators Photoprocessing Industry Precious Metal Products Printed Circuit Board Manuf'rs Research & Educational Instit'n Thermal Metal Working Marine Maintenance & Repair DHSkTSCP, Alternative Technology Division, Technology Clearinghouse, P.O. Box , Sacramento, CA , (916) , (New condensed versions with worksheets will also be available from EPA under the Guides to Pollution Prevention Series for each of the industries; contact EPA Publication Distribution Center, Cincinnati, OH 45268, (513) ) On-Line Database EPA Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse, Pollution Prevention Information Exchange System (PIES): Accessible through personal computer and contains case studies, calendar of events, directory of experts, a bibliography and description of federal & state programs; for user guide, contact PPIC Technical Support Hotline, (703) , FAX (703) Reference Libraries with Special Shelves on Pollution Prevention Countv Sanitation Districts. L.A. County, Technical Library, 1955 Workman&Mill Road, Whittier, CA , Beverly Yoshida, Librarian, (213) or , extension 2504, 7:30 a.m. to 4:OO p.m. US EPA, Pollution Prevention Resource Center, Region IX Library, S.F., Bernadette Adams, ; collections, on-line info, PIES system. State Department of Health Services, Region 3, 1405 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank, CA , (818) , Duty Officer; Region 4, 245 W. Broadway, Long Beach, CA , (213) , Duty Officer. Assistance for Small Businesses for Pollution Prevention California Hazardous Waste Reduction Loan Program, $20K-$150K low interest loans; Merrill Stevenson, Dept. of Commerce, Office of Small Business, 1121 L Street, Suite 501, Sacramento, CA , (916) Other State and EPA grants also available for research projects. Business Environmental Assistance Center, (800) , Further Information County Sanitation Districts, L.A. County, (213) / , X-2933, Theresa Dodge, or x-2914, Philip Lo. (ICCF, pp-sourc, 7/91, Lo) e *-

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