Illinois organizations receive Governor's award for achievements in pollution prevention

SPRINGFIELD -The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has named 24 Illinois companies and organizations 2006 Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards winners for their significant achievements in protecting the environment and boosting the economy.  The 20th annual Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards were presented in Bloomington during a luncheon hosted by the Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"We applaud the accomplishments of these award winners in reducing and recycling waste to help us conserve valuable natural resources while keeping our land, air and water clean," said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood.

The Pollution Prevention (P2) projects recognized through the Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards program produced millions of dollars in savings in material and disposal costs.  The award winners worked to prevent hundreds of tons of waste materials from being released into the environment and saved millions of gallons of wastewater from being sent to treatment facilities.  Applicants for the awards were judged in a statewide competition on criteria including technological innovation, environmental significance, economic benefits and commitment to pollution prevention. 

"We were impressed again with the variety and quality of the projects undertaken by the winning companies," said George Vander Velde, WMRC Director.  "These businesses and organizations have proven that pollution prevention makes good sense for the environmental and economic health of Illinois.  They have achieved their pollution prevention goals and saved millions of dollars in pollution control, waste disposal, energy and raw material costs."

Information on the Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards program and technical assistance on pollution prevention and energy efficiency are available from the Waste Management and Research Center, One Hazelwood Drive, Champaign, IL 61820, phone 217/333-8940, www.wmrc.uiuc.edu.

The 2006 award winners are listed below. 

Pollution Prevention Award (first time winners)

Small company

Chem Processing, Inc. (CPI), Rockford - Chem Processing is a comprehensive metal finisher.  CPI worked with the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center and the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center on a waste and water reduction project for CPI's wastewater treatment system.  Out of this collaboration, two project ideas were developed - adding a reverse osmosis wastewater stream to the water softening system, and the segregation of the phosphating process wastewater.  Due to these projects, CPI will save 900,000 gallons of water and 9,000 square feet of hazardous sludge every year.  Together, these projects will save CPI $5,300 a year.

PortionPac Chemical Corporation, Chicago- PortionPac manufactures products to the industrial cleaning market.  Its product design and distribution method are designed to reduce the size of formulations, eliminate overuse of chemicals, provide incentives to use less product, and recycle containers.  In 2005, PortionPac committed to two programs to help track and codify environmental policies.
Through these programs:
• Chemical formulations were modified to reduce harmful materials resulting in a reduction of air and water pollution.
• Modifications were made to packaging.
• A Management program for developing sustainability in all aspects of the business was implemented.

Spraylat Corporation, Chicago - Spraylat is a manufacturer of specialty coatings.  Spraylat implemented programs that saved over $58,000 and reduced emissions by an estimated five tons per year.  Production waste generation was reduced nearly 50% per unit of production.  The projects included:
• Switching from rags to wipes, which allowed for more efficient cleaning and reduced waste.
• Using an Eco-Filter to replace filter bags, which saves time, material, and waste.
• Reusing wash solvent has reduced liquid waste volumes nearly 25%.
• Installing new grinding media in the mills, which significantly reduced processing time, allowed increased production, and reduced chemical use.

Consolidated Printing Co., Chicago - Consolidated Printing was one of the first Illinois Great Printers, a designation awarded for its efforts to reduce wastes.  Some of Consolidated's recent improvements include:
• Switching to chemical free processor-less plate making.
• Switching to zero Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints and varnishes and solvent-free vegetable oil based inks.
• Installing recycled carpeting, ceiling tiles, formaldehyde free insulation, and mercury-free lights and ballasts.
• Using linseed oil press blanket washers.
• Eliminating the use of silver in their processes.

Large company

Farmland Foods, Inc., Monmouth - In 2005, Farmland Foods switched the coolant used to cool facility air compressors from water to ethylene glycol.  A cooling tower allows the reuse of glycol minimizing material use.  This reduction of water usage reduces the demands on the water supply, which helps the City treatment plant stay within its permitted flows during Farmland's expansion.  This project has eliminated a water usage point and has reduced facility wastewater effluent by approximately 86,000 gal per day.  The combined water/wastewater cost reduction saved Farmland Foods $60,112 per year.  The use of glycol for cooling air compressors and reducing water is a first for a Farmland facility. 

Illinois Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Springfield - DMA directs and provides support services to the Illinois National Guard.  DMA's Environmental Branch has done P2 assessments at several National Guard facilities and has implemented a pollution prevention program and an Environmental Management System.  DMA has installed aqueous parts washers with ultra filtration membrane systems, which has extended the life of parts cleaning chemicals from three months to several years.  DMA also has developed and installed an automated weapon cleaning system that uses ultrasonic cleaning combined with aqueous cleaners and ultrafiltration to extend the life of the cleaners.  This system has resulted in an annual reduction of 540 gallons of hazardous wastes.  DMA also implemented a scrap metal recycling program, began using a detergent free vehicle washing system, and started using solvent paint gun cleaners that include solvent distillation systems in their vehicle painting operations.

CITGO, Lemont - The CITGO Lemont Refinery implemented a flaring reduction project, which was intended to eliminate sources to the flare system.  The project team successfully identified and eliminated some of the major flare sources, which reduced certain emissions by 76% and produced a large energy savings.  The company also replaced burners on three of its largest process heaters, resulting in an 80% reduction in certain emissions and a five percent improvement in burner efficiency.  The plant also undertook a leak detection and repair project, which reduced estimated annual VOC emissions from 109.0 tons in 2000 to 9.2 tons in 2005. Finally, the plant reduced the amount of benzene in its wastewater by over 75% through an improved in-line sampling plan, source elimination, process improvements, and operator training.

Additional benefits of this change include recycling and reuse of petroleum-based wastes, and reduced load to the wastewater treatment plant.

Vendor/Supplier

Finishes Unlimited Inc., Sugar Grove - Finishes Unlimited is an employee owned industrial paint manufacturer. The company develops and manufactures EPA compliant water reducible bake enamel and air-dry coatings, which it supplies to industrial users.  Users of compliant water reducible coatings significantly lower their volatile organic compound (VOC's) and hazardous air pollutant (HAPs) emissions, and the amount of hazardous waste generated from the coating operation.  In 2005, Finishes Unlimited, Inc. converted three Illinois companies to water reducible VOC compliant coatings.  These companies reduced their VOC emissions by 70%, or 27.87 tons, and HAPs emissions by 100%, or 9.7 tons.  These companies also realized paint and disposal cost savings of over $200,000 per year.  By producing only water reducible coatings, Finishes Unlimited, Inc. has increased the safety in its own plant.

Educational Organization

Pontiac Township High School (PTHS), Pontiac - PTHS implemented a Crayon Recycling Program operated by students.  The PTHS Ecology students developed receptacles made out of reused decorated five gallon buckets, educated the fifth grade students about following the 3 R's (reduce, reuse, recycle), and helped the fifth graders teach the other students in their schools about the crayon recycling project.  For several years, the ecology class also has operated a community storm water pollution education program.  To raise community awareness, they stenciled the message "Dump no waste - Drains into our Vermillion" (the local river) on each of the city's storm drains. The students also created and distributed fliers and submitted articles to local newspapers to educate the community about storm water pollution and the stenciling activity. 

Continuous Improvement
Small company

Lansing Cleaners, Lansing - Lansing Cleaners, in 2005, replaced its last remaining Perc machine with a dry cleaning machine using an environmentally friendly solvent.  This machine eliminated the use of a highly regulated chlorine based solvent, and lowered energy costs.  This resulted in greater efficiency, while producing a superior product for Lansing's clients.  Lansing also has installed LED lighting systems that are 90+ efficient, which has lowered its electrical consumption and demand for secondary lighting for its facility.  The cleaner also installed instantaneous hot water systems to eliminate the typical hot water tank system.  Finally, Lansing increased its fleet of natural gas powered trucks from five to eight.  This allowed the company to lower its use of gasoline and its harmful emissions while increasing the engine life of its trucks. 

R.B. White, Inc., Bloomington - R.B. White is a sheet metal fabrication facility. In 1997, R.B. White began using a new state-of-the-art powder coating system.  Since then, the company has prevented a total of 225 tons of potential Volatile Organic Company (VOC) emissions through this change.  The powder coating conversion also: reduced worker exposure to harmful solvents; improved transfer efficiency, recovery, and reuse of overspray; and provided superior finish with greater durability and improved corrosion resistance.  Another benefit of the powder coating system is reduced energy usage.  The currently used powder curing process uses convection heating at a savings of as much as $15,000 per month.  Implementation of the powder coating system also has enabled R.B. White to expand its business to other companies.

Large company

GE Healthcare, Arlington Heights- GE Healthcare is a manufacturer of radiopharmaceuticals.  In 2005, GE Healthcare implemented energy conservation, water conservation, and waste reduction projects. By ramping down power to critical manufacturing equipment during scheduled idle times, an estimated total of 938,054 Kilowatt-hours a year will be conserved.  The energy savings is equivalent to the annual electrical consumption of 40 single-family homes ($51,500).  The use of polystyrene packaging material was discontinued in favor of an air filled recyclable material.  This freed up an estimated 18,000 cubic feet of sanitary landfill space and saved GE Healthcare customers an estimated $13,000 per year.  A multifunctional team from the Arlington Heights site also provided guidance and expertise to its satellite facility in New Jersey on a project, which reduced wastewater effluents by 48%. 

Abbott, Abbott Park- Abbott is a health care company that manufactures and markets medical products.  The company undertook the following projects in 2005:
• The use of methanol, a Hazardous Air Pollutant, was eliminated in an antibiotic manufacturing process.  This resulted in a 95% reduction of HAP emissions, the elimination of wastewater generation, and a saving of $108,000.
• Compressed air leaks were fixed throughout the facility resulting in a 2,168,000-kWh/yr energy reduction, a C02 emission reduction of 2.5 million pounds per year, and annual savings of $106,000.
• Disposable apparel was replaced with reusable clothing, resulting in the diversion of
 12,500 lbs of waste from a landfill each year and a savings of $168,600.
• Reducing the frequency of a purified water flush resulted in a reduction of 353,600 gallons of water and a savings of $17,672.

ITT Bell & Gossett, Morton Grove- ITT Bell & Gossett switched from a solvent-based paint to a waterborne paint. It is estimated that this change will save Bell & Gossett $160,000 a year and will eliminate the need for any extensive EPA Title V reporting.  The company has reduced its potential air emissions by over 60%.  By eliminating the used paint waste solvent, paint filters and associated waste are now sent to a landfill, eliminating the need for specialized waste disposal.  The company's status will go from a large quantity waste generator status to a small quantity generator and it will have drastically reduced the fire and explosion risk.  The change also is healthier for employees, as exposure concentrations have also been significantly lowered due to spraying a much less volatile paint that is HAP free.

Gates Corporation, Galesburg- Gates mixes slab rubber stock for five other Gates hose manufacturing facilities. Recent pollution prevention projects include:
• A replacement project in the Carbon Black Handling system that has saved $280,000 per year, reduced waste to the landfill, improved raw material usage, and lowered maintenance costs.
• Certain process cleanout materials are now used once and then incorporated into the finished product - resulting in a $28,000 per year savings.
• Improved controls and automating in the cooling tower have saved an estimated three million gallons of water per year.
• Lowering the boiler steam pressure, using low-melt raw materials bags to reduce landfill waste, selling all pallets to a local metal manufacturing plant, and obtaining incoming raw materials in either bulk or returnable containers.
 
Nestle' USA, Jacksonville- Nestle USA manufactures and packages Coffee-mate®. Environmental projects in 2005 that resulted in a combined estimated savings of $250,000 include:
• A tank farm water use reduction project was initiated to conserve water and reduce effluent.  Timers were installed on all wash stations to reduce the chance of operator error in leaving on water hoses.
• Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) units were installed on two cooling towers and an air compressor to control motor speed and reduce energy use.
• Ultrasonic detection devices were purchased to aid in identifying and repairing steam leaks.
• During plant "shut down" the chilled water temperature is raised for energy conservation
• Tank car condensate was previously dumped into the sewer. All condensate returns are now piped to a recovery tank and reused in the boiler.

Caterpillar-Mossville Engine Center, Mossville - Caterpillar has changed to a greener packaging technology, with a focus on increasing profitability and social responsibility.  The company worked with suppliers to eliminate waste associated with cardboard, plastic and plywood packaging.  These changes range from switching to re-usable plastic tubs from cardboard and metal tubs, to the entire re-design of a gear tray that allows ergonomic assembly and recycling of the plastic tray.  Continual savings were achieved through material price reductions and waste volume reduction.  Total savings for 2005 equaled $1.7 million, while total waste volume reduction equaled nearly 1.2 million pounds.  The project has resulted in environmental benefits of reduced landfill burden, reduced material prices for Caterpillar, increased supplier efficiency, and has significantly impacted employee health and safety through improved assembly line ergonomics. 

Cardinal Health-McGaw Park, Cardinal Health provides health care products and services.  The company instituted a project to reduce its packaging by five percent, or 3.2 million pounds.  This goal was met early, with results that were over the target goal.  Employees throughout Cardinal Health participated by generating ideas, documenting improvements, and helping with experiments that were necessary to implement changes to these medical packages.  

Cardinal was able to implement a reduction of over 3.328 million pounds of packaging materials annually with an additional 554,000 lbs of waste reduction identified in pending projects. Projected cost savings are $4.7 million annually and a potential for additional savings that could total to $1.4 million with on going projects.

Continental Tire North America (CTNA), Mount Vernon- Continental Tire manufactures radial tires. The company is ISO 14000 Certified and views pollution prevention as one of its core business practices.  CTNA decreased the volume of its byproducts sent to landfill by 7.3 million pounds in 2005.  CTNA now recycles 71% of all of the waste and by-products that are generated at the plant.  CTNA also conserves resources through re-processing a variety of rubber components. Other project resulted in plant lighting being modified to reduce energy usage by 50%, natural gas consumption was reduced by 3.5%, and water usage was reduced by 5%.

Harris Corporation's Broadcast Communication Division (BCD), Quincy- Harris manufactures radio and television transmitters.  BCD's pollution prevention projects included:
• Designing a closed loop cooling water system to eliminate cooling water discharges.
• Recovering process heat for use to pre-heat incoming city water, to heat two metal finishing rinses and to aid in the heating of the facility and drying of parts.
• Using spray guns to increase material transfer efficiency and reduce annual paint filter disposal costs.
• Reducing the toxicity of materials used in the manufacturing process.
• Replacing a traditional parts washer with a virtually waste-free unit.
• Upgrading a variety of facility lighting applications to reduce energy and improve lighting.

International Truck & Engine Corporation, Melrose Park- IT&E produces diesel engines for midsized trucks and school buses.  This plant is one of the first diesel engine manufacturers in North America to be ISO 14001 certified.  In 2005, the company modified its engine testing system to recover and reuse the fuel flushed out of its test engines.  Because of this process change, International reused 35,510 gallons of fuel, resulting in an annual savings of $168,170 in waste disposal costs.  Last year, International also saved more than $500,000 through its Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle efforts.

Service Organization

St. Joseph's Hospital, Breese- St. Joseph's has over the past decade been preparing medical imaging processes for transition from film to digital viewing.  This has now been accomplished, and with the exception of mammography, medical imaging services are entirely digital.  This eliminates the need for costly film and decreases use of valuable natural resources such as silver. St. Joseph's also has identified a vendor to recycle corrugated cardboard, preventing 50,400 pounds of cardboard from entering the landfill in 2005.  Additionally, 2,000 pounds of "junk mail" and 1,755 pounds of desk paper were recycled.  Medical waste was reduced through acquisition of a special washer for surgical suction canister content disposal, and through employee education and surveillance activities.  Styrofoam utilization was decreased by 83% through replacement with reusable products. 

The hospital donates used or outdated medical equipment to mission programs rather than placing it into the waste stream and has projects for battery, aluminum, and other paper product recycling.  Additionally, in an effort to reduce mercury, the hospital screens new products for mercury content prior to purchase.

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System (SBLHS), Charleston/Mattoon- SBLHS established a committee to examine ways to improve the organization's conservation efforts.  Working with local and state officials, the company identified steps needed to establish long-term and sustainable pollution prevention efforts.  SBLHS conducted a building energy audit and waste audit.  The organization installed upgraded lighting bulbs and fixtures with more efficient models, and recycled cardboard.  These steps resulted in substantial savings, which Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System can direct to healthcare priorities in the community.  SBLHS continue to identify alternative environmentally responsible products for use and is exploring utilizing vermicomposting to eliminate food waste.

Innovate Illinois Award
The Innovate Illinois Award is presented to Caterpillar's Mossville Engine Center, Mossville, for its Advanced Combustion Emissions Reduction Technology (ACERT).  ACERT recovers exhaust energy through series turbo charging and uses the energy to manage airflow into the combustion chamber with an electronically controlled variable intake valve.  The fuel system allows for multiple injections throughout each combustion cycle; small amounts of fuel are injected at precise times to achieve the combined goals of fuel economy and lower emissions. This optimization translates into air pollution prevention, energy resource conservation, and a cost savings for every ACERT engine customer in Illinois and throughout the world.  In future years, ACERT will save businesses and residents over $201 million over the life of the engines sold in Illinois.  The technology also translates into significant pollution prevention to Illinois air, and economic and health benefits to Illinois businesses and residents.