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Pollution Prevention Top Tips for Wood Products and Preserving
The following ideas have been used in wood products companies around the
state to prevent pollution.
Use those tips that apply:
For Inorganic Wood Treaters:
- Dedicate material handling equipment (forklifts, boots, etc.) to the drip pad to ensure that
process pollutants are not tracked off the pad.
- Store and handle treated and untreated wood (and associated stormwater) separately. Store treated wood
(including blocks and stickers) under roofs, tarps, or plastic wrap while on site. Pave treated wood storage
areas.
- Adjust drip pad storage times to account for variables (such as ambient temperature, humidity, wood
species, moisture content, etc.) to ensure wood is drip-free and surface-dry before it is moved off the
pad.
- Optimize drainage from treated wood (e.g. angle trams or poles) and use adequate blocking (more blocks
on longer trams).
- Regularly schedule cleaning/sweeping of paved areas. Pressure wash and/or dry vacuum treated wood storage
yard during dry season. Collect wash water and pump into recovery water tank for use in process.
- Ensure wood stock is clean prior to treating. Use water, compressed air, and/or agreements with suppliers.
Perform visual inspections at time of delivery.
- Ensure all process water is collected and recycled to the process treatment system. Drip pans under
trams should be sloped to return to recovery system.
- Apply final vacuum in treatment cylinder to remove excess preservative. Use hot water treatment in a
separate, dedicated retort following pressure treatment
- Completely enclose treatment building; including tank farm, retorts, transfer table, and drip pad.
- Pressure treat with Ammoniacal copper quatenary (ACQ), or other less toxic alternatives, as a substitute
for CCA. (Be prepared to market these products aggressively, because demand is low at present.)
For Organic Treaters using penta:
- Modify cooling tower to reduce the PCP contribution to stormwater.
- Install panels on tower to prevent droplets from escaping due to wind.
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