Dow Corning evaluates waste reduction efforts

Dow Corning has reported significant progress in waste reduction, including a cut of up to 80% in process scrap at one of its manufacturing sites.

By Control Engineering Staff December 16, 2008

Seneffe, Belgium – Dow Corning has reported significant progress in waste reduction, including a cut of up to 80% in process scrap at one of its manufacturing sites.The reductions have been achieved in part through the company’s materials conversion program, which converts or recycles its waste, scrap, and off-spec silicone materials instead of sending them to landfill or incineration.But the reduction also reflects actions at all operations to reduce waste.anies Dow Corning is actively looking for ways to cut our waste levels.”Examples of the success in these efforts in Europe include:

Reducing the amount of process scrap generated by the emulsions and antifoam production unit of its Seneffe, Belgium manufacturing site by 80 percent;

Lowering the waste generated in its Barry, Wales, site by a factor of 10; and

Reducing the overall amount of waste solvent at the Barry site by reusing a different solvent that is generated as a waste byproduct elsewhere in the plant.

Examples in North America include:

Reducing consumption of natural gas and carbon dioxide emissions by burning hydrogen at its Midland, MI, plant.

Reducing the amount of solvent used in a coating process in Midland that had been sent to an offsite disposal facility by recycling it.

Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases through energy reduction at its Carrollton, KY, plant has also helped to offset the impact of rising natural gas prices. A wide variety of projects over the past five years have contributed to a 19,800 tons-per-year reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

Examples in China include:

Recycling more than 80% of the waste at its Zhangjiagang (ZJG) sealant plant, in contrast to the 90% of waste that had previously been sent offsite for disposal.

Through the first half of 2008, the Zhangjiagang sealant plant has reduced generation of

The sealants plant also has established a program to focus on further reducing the sealant waste at its point of generation. The plant is committed to moving its waste stream up through the “waste hierarchy” from disposal to recycling, to reduction and elimination.

“Our commitment to sustainability not only factors into the products, processes, technologies and solutions Dow Corning offers,” said Cartwright, “but it also is apparent in our approach to waste reduction during the manufacturing process.”For more information, visit www.dowcorning.com

Control Engineering News Desk

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