International Paper substituted a nonhazardous solvent in the parts washers in place of a hazardous solvent. Prior to 1994 International Paper used Safety-Kleen solvents with an ignitable flashpoint. Safety-Kleen designed a solvent with a flashpoint of less than 140 degrees which rendered the solvent nonhazardous according to EPA standards. The solvent was installed on nine washers in the facility.
The project is innovative because it is one component of International Paper's multi-faceted Environmental Impact Reduction and Prevention Program. The goal of International Paper was not to reduce or eliminate just one waste stream but many. International Paper identified the hazardous parts washer solvent for product substitution. International Paper was able to find a suitable nonhazardous parts washer solvent to replace the hazardous parts washer solvent.
The environmental benefit of substituting a nonhazardous solvent for a hazardous solvent is the reduced amount of hazardous waste being released into the environment. International Paper has reduced or eliminated VOC emissions and worker exposure to a hazardous waste by product substitution and source reduction. The amount of solvent that was hazardous prior to changing to a nonhazardous waste was 19,000 lbs. per year. Due to improvements in the washers manufactured by Safety Kleen and product substitution, International Paper has reduced the amount of solvent use to 14,000 lbs. per year, all nonhazardous.
Details of Reductions
Additional Information :
Savings are due to reduced quantity of solvent, which was approximately $8,000 in 1995.
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