Lower Colorado River Authority

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Parts cleaning

Industry: Energy Production

Wastes Reduced: Solvent

Substance: Paint

Equipment: Solvent, Non-Haz

Location: La Grange TX

No. of employees: 350

Contact: Gail Byler

Phone: (409) 249-8426

Description:

After painting operations were completed, thinner was commonly used in the clean up of equipment. A nonhazardous product was located and tested to replace the thinner for cleaning. The product was tested and it performed as well as thinner in most situations. The procedure was changed at the facility to use the nonhazardous replacement for thinner to clean painting equipment when possible. A paint gun washer was purchased that would make it possible to recycle the nonhazardous paint equipment solvent.

P2 Application:

The nonhazardous product to replace thinner for cleaning equipment, Safe-Strip, was new on the market when the project was implemented.

Environmental Benefits:

By requiring the purchase of nonhazardous painting equipment cleaner, approximately 1,800 pounds of hazardous waste was reduced annually. In addition, the alternate product, Safe-Strip, is non-toxic to employees and has a flashpoint of 197 degrees Fahrenheit.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The change to a nonhazardous alternative product resulted in an estimated savings of $4,572 per year with a 0.8 year payback.

Source: TCEQ