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January 2001
Summary
The installation of a new, fully automated drum laundering line
has greatly decreased the company's operating costs by reducing
use and subsequent disposal of solvents, energy use and solid
waste disposal costs while improving productivity. The far more
efficient and safer process is saving the company over $10,000
per annum with a payback of only six and a half months.
Business Profile
CRS Container Reconditioning Services Pty Ltd is one of
South Australia's largest drum reconditioners, holding approximately
50% of the South Australian market and a small portion of the
Victorian, New South Wales and Northern Territory markets. The
company proprietor began trading in used drums in 1991 as a sole
operator before starting reconditioning operations at the present
site in 1996. The company now employs 12 staff.
Financial assistance provided
An interest-free loan of $16,250 for purchase of the new
equipment was provided by the EPA's Pollution Prevention Fund.
Technology implemented
A fully automatic drum laundering line.
Cleaner production motivators
To provide quality products and services to customers while
reducing wastage and associated environmental costs.
Traditional approach
The reconditioning process cleans, and restores where necessary,
205 litre drums and 1000 litre intermediate bulk containers for
re-use by the supplier or new customers. The open-and closed-head
205 litre drums had contained used oil, solvent, paint, surfactant,
detergent, acid and caustic materials.
The previous inefficient method of reconditioning drums for re-use
exposed employees to undesirable levels of solvent fumes and manual
handling. Only 130 drums could be cleaned each day and some drums,
such as those that contained resin, could not be reconditioned.
Solvent disposal, energy, caustic soda and waste costs were extremely
high.
Waste management
Processes generating waste
The used drums were first drained of residues and then
placed on spickets to be washed with a strong caustic soda solution
before a water wash. Solvent was then added to the drum to remove
washing stains and used to wipe the outside of the drum to remove
grease, oil and/ or the label.
Waste stream description
- solvent fumes
- used solvent
- used caustic solution
- wastewater
- solid waste
Cleaner production initiatives
Benefits recommended and implemented
The new automated drum laundering line provides higher
pressure caustic and water washes, improving internal and external
cleanliness. It can launder a larger variety of drums that were
previously disposed to landfill.
A further benefit of the EPA assistance has been that savings
in running costs have allowed the purchase and installation of
a fully automated shot blasting system for the removal of flaky
paint. This equipment further improves productivity and quality
while reducing manual handling.
Benefits
| Environmental |
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| Solvents |
- Solvent usage reduced by 76%.
- Used solvent disposal reduced by 63% but likely to increase
significantly now that old stock has been disposed.
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| Energy |
- Energy consumption reduced by 17% by incorporating the
use of a maxi-therm boiler system rather than heavy-duty
electrical elements.
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| Wastewater |
- Wastewater discharge reduced by 6000 L p.a.
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| Solid waste |
- Solid waste to landfill reduced by 40% as a greater
variety of drums can be reconditioned.
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| Economic |
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| Solvents |
- Solvent purchases reduced by $6000 p.a.
- Solvent disposal costs reduced by $2000 p.a.
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| Energy |
- Electricity cost savings of $1300 p.a.
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| Solid Waste |
- Solid waste charges reduced by $800 p.a.
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| Productivity |
- Drum reconditioning capacity increased from 130 drums/day
to 400 drums/day.
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| Payback Period |
6 months. |
| OHS |
- No wiping down of drums with solvent.
- Reduced fumes in factory from flammable solvent.
- No manual handling of drums full of solvent.
- Fewer repetitive strain injuries.
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Where to find additional information
Eco-efficiency Team
Environment Protection Authority
GPO Box 2607
Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: (+61 8) 8204 2004
www.epa.sa.gov.au
Mr Pat Ryan
Director
CRS Container Reconditioning Services
180a Cavan Rd Dry Creek SA 5094
Phone: (+61 8) 8359 7011
This page was last modified 14-08-2007
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