87    WASTE ELIMINATION: CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO?
Stephen J. Evans, Environmental Engineer
Modine Manufacturing Company
Racine, Wisconsin 53403
INTRODUCTION
Waste management today requires a new strategy —a strategy that focuses on avoiding process
waste. This strategy, eliminating or reducing the amount of waste produced at the source of generation, is in direct contrast to the usual past practice of treating and managing wastes after they are
created. Although the concept of achieving near zero wastewater discharge and near zero solid waste
generation appears rather Utopian or even impossible, it's not that far from what you are required to
accomplish based on current regulations —many treatment and effluent standards are set at or below
detection limits! When you consider for a moment the abundant and still growing body of regulations
governing solid waste, wastewater and air emissions, only one logical conclusion can be drawn —if
you want to continue manufacturing products in this country and to do it economically, you must
adopt the strategy of generating very little or no waste.
It can be shown that waste elimination is cost reduction and it is therefore a good business practice.
Waste elimination is a win/win waste management strategy —cost reduction can be achieved and the
environment can be protected at the same time. There are immediate and long-term benefits that
result from waste elimination. The immediate benefits are fairly obvious —they are: conservation of
resources (chemicals, oils, solvents, water, etc.); increased manufacturing efficiency; and decreased
waste management costs. The long-term benefits are perhaps less obvious, but include: reduced future
liability from waste generation and disposal; reduced worker/public exposure to hazardous chemicals; and reduced regulatory burden due to the reduction in use and disposal of regulated materials.
BACKGROUND
Modine Manufacturing Company is the worlds' largest independent manufacturer of heat transfer
products. Modine manufactures a wide diversity of products, which include radiators, oil coolers,
unit space heaters and air conditioning components. Modine operates many manufacturing facilities
throughout the United States. Modine also owns subsidiaries or is involved in joint ventures with
companies located in Canada, Mexico, Europe and other countries. Modine's Corporate headquarters
is located in Racine, Wisconsin and provides among other functions accounting, sales, engineering,
quality, laboratory and R&D support to all of the manufacturing locations.
It is Modine's corporate policy to eliminate or reduce the quantity of the hazardous as well as the
nonhazardous waste generated at each Modine facility to the maximum extent possible. To accomplish this objective and to encourage employee participation, a waste minimization program was
established and is in the process of being implemented. This program emphasizes prevention rather
than the control of waste materials after they are generated. Figure I summarizes the various program
elements contained in Modine's Waste Minimization Program.
The primary objective of the waste minimization program is to implement projects that eliminate or
reduce the amount of waste generated. The program requires each Modine facility to establish a waste
reduction plan with specific waste minimization goals. Each facility will do everything practical to
achieve these goals. The program provides the necessary guidelines for each facility to follow in order
to establish a waste reduction plan and set and accomplish the goals contained in their plans. In
addition, a waste tracking system and recognition program was created. The entire program is a
coordinated effort among many individuals. The program is a continuous improvement process that
continues until all sources of waste that can be practically eliminated are eliminated.
46lh Purdue Industrial Waste Conference Proceedings, 1992 Lewis Publishers, Inc., Chelsea, Michigan 48118.
Printed in U.S.A.
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