Hazardous Waste > Governor's Award > 1993 Winners

Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices

1993 Winners

Johnson Matthey Electronics, Spokane

• JME is a leading manufacturer of electronics, and fabricator of rare metals. For the electronics and semi-conductor industry. Approximately 390 employees.
• Switched from using freon to a totally aqueous cleaning system and terpene and alcohol wash. Parts are at least as clean as they before.

John Fluke Manufacturing, Incorporated, Everett

• Fluke is a designer and manufacturer of compact electronic test tools, multi-layer test boards, semiconductors, sheet metal finishing, and machining. Employs approximately 1800 people in Everett, WA.
• From 1988 to the end of 1992, Fluke’s emissions of CFC-113 (a potent ozone destroyer) were reduced by 76%.
• The use of trichloroethane (TCE) was eliminated in January, 1993. This reduced air emissions of TCE from 8,941 pounds in 1988 to zero in 1993
• From 1988 through 1993, there was a reduction of 44% in the amount of solid waste going to the landfill.
• From 1989 through 1993, water consumption in the circuit board manufacturing process had been reduced by 1,250,000 gallons per month and in the semiconductor operation by 1,100,000 gallons per month.  This is equivalent to the water use of about 200 residential homes.
• From 1991 to 1993, Fluke shipped 9,400 gallons of sulfuric acid to users under the IMEX program. This saved $37,600 in that period.
• As a result of changes in manufacturing and on-site waste management, generation of hazardous waste was reduced from 992 tons in 1991 to 848 tons in 1992.

Treftz Corporation, Bellevue (now known as Cascade Pest Control)

• A Bellevue firm that provides residential structural pest control services with 10 employees.
• As part of an Integrated Pest Control (IPM) strategy:
• They switched from using chlorinated hydrocarbons and organophosphates to inorganic silica aerogels and boric acid, the botanical pyrethrum and related pyrethrins, and insect growth regulators (IGRs) which are artificial insect hormones that disrupt the target species life cycle, but aren’t-toxic to non-target species.
• Switched from using gasoline-powered engines to hand-pumped backpack sprayers. This eliminated consumption of gasoline & storage hazards and reduced their application of chemicals in half on hundreds of applications per year.
• Instead of washing their vehicles in a paved parking lot which runs into storm drains, they now do it over a lawn. They use biodegradable detergents, and the water runs into the ground, where it is biologically filtered through the soil.
• Switched to using vegetable-based inks on recycled paper for their printing.  

Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Oak Harbor

• Three separate facilities, home to 19 active duty and two reserve squadrons, and numerous tenant commands.
• Reduced hazardous waste by 50% since 1987.
• Reduced hazardous wastewater volume and toxicity by 20%, saves more than $250,000 per year in disposal costs.
• Collect 100,000 gallons of used oil and solvents per year. Recycled solvents used by base personnel; sell used oil to recycler for $.12 per gallon.
• Save approximately $95,000 per year by using laundry service to recycle shop rags rather than managing as hazardous waste.
• Adding rinse tank reduced methylene chloride in sump wastewater from more than 2% to less than 0.5%.

Cascadian Farm, Sedro-Woolly

• Contracts with farmers to grow about 2,000 acres of fruits and vegetables as certified organic crops.
• Pays growers to use measures that reduce or eliminate water pollution from fertilizers used in conventional agriculture.
• Use biological controls, not pesticides or herbicides, in most cases.
• Organic farming does not expose farm workers to harmful chemicals. It builds healthy soil, and reduces erosion.

Washington State University, Printing Division, Pullman

• Makes printed circuit boards; employs 160.
• Eliminated the use of chlorinated solvents, toluene-based products,
• Cascading rinses reduced waste by 60-75%.
• Automatic etch feed and bleed system reduced waste by 60-75%.
• Electronic panel sensors rather than manual systems on conveyorized wet process equipment reduced waste 20%.
• High pressure/low volume spray nozzles reduced waste 20-80% compared to conventional nozzles.
• Closed loop resist separation units with filtration extended bath life by 20%.
• Increased production during 1993 and 1994, while saving energy, reducing waste, and increasing recycling.

Foss Maritime Company, Seattle

• Marine transport, ship repair, and environmental services; employs nearly 900.
• Recycles all antifreeze.
• Recycles engine oil, and oil and metal from filters..
• Use citrus-based solution instead of environntally detrimental solvents.
• Recycle and reuse solvents.
• Eliminated more than 1,400 pounds of tri-chloroethane (about 185 pounds annually) from waste stream.

ARCO Products Company Refinery, Ferndale

• Cherry Point facility refines approximately 180,000 barrels of oil per day.
• Sludge makes up 98% of the total hazardous waste stream. Eliminated benzene emissions and reduced sludge generation by more than 82% by installing bins, covers and settling devices.