MATERIALS IN METALLUGY

Figure 2: The Cleaner Production Hierarchy

	Eliminate Reduce Reuse Recycle Treat and Dispose	FOCUS STRATEGY	Waste prevention Waste management Control and disposal
All media Air, Water, Solid	Raw Materials Energy Use	Work Procedures	Impact of Products

WHAT IS CLEANER PRODUCTION & WHAT ARE ITS BENEFITS?

Cleaner Production. Cleaner Production focuses on eliminating waste and inefficiency at their source, rather than finding ‘end-of-pipe’ solutions once the wastes have been generated. It involves rethinking conventional methods to achieve ‘smarter’ production processes and products to achieve sustainable production.

In adopting the Cleaner Production approach, try to consider how wastes can be avoided in the first place rather than focusing on how to manage or treat them once they have been generated.

Waste avoidance and reduction should be considered as the first options. Once all avoidance and reduction options have been eliminated, then options for on-site reuse and recycling can be considered. Only as a last resort should treatment and disposal options be considered. This approach is depicted in the Cleaner Production Hierarchy.

Cleaner Production has been the major environmental initiative for industries in the 1990’s. Thousands of manufacturing companies, including foundries have taken up Cleaner Production approaches to manufacturing.

Saving money

Cleaner Production can save money; money which would have otherwise been spent on wasted resources, waste treatment, disposal and compliance costs.

Cleaner Production strategies typically cost less than treatment and disposal (so called ‘end-of-pipe’) technologies. Complying with the emission limits established by government through on-site treatment can be a significant cost; may require specialist knowledge and attention, and generally provide no profit for the organisation.

Many strategies, such as general housekeeping and process improvements can be implemented at low cost and can have immediate benefits, up to 30% in some cases. Substantial process modifications or technology changes will require capital investment, however numerous case studies demonstrate that pay-back periods can be as little as months to 2 years.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 732