Economically attractive materials recycling in small- to medium-sized manufacturing plants
Journal Article
·
· Energy Engineering
OSTI ID:355664
The DOE-supported University of Tennessee Industrial Assessment Center (UTIAC) utilizes engineering faculty-student teams to perform in-plant assessments for regional small- to medium-sized industrial manufacturing plants. Since 1993, the focus of the program has been broadened from energy conservation to include waste minimization as an area in which recommendations are made. Since November 1993, 66 companies in seventeen Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) categories have received energy/waste assessments and provided follow-up information about the success of the visit. For these 66 clients, a total of 54 recommendations dealing with the recycling of industrial waste materials were made by the UTIAC. The average potential savings for these 54 recommendations was $18,415 with an average associated implementation cost of $16,740. Within a period of up to one year after submission of a report of findings and recommendations to clients, each was contacted by phone to assess whether or not they had decided to implement the specific waste measures recommended. The overall implementation rate of the recycling recommendations made was 39%. A first-order trend analysis of the composite data provided evidence of the relative influence of simple economic factors in the decision to implement recycling recommendations. Neither cost savings, implementation costs, nor payback period appeared to be a major factor in the decision-making process. Other factors including quality of the assessment and potential waste reduction were shown to be of limited importance to plant managers making decisions on recycling actions.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 355664
- Journal Information:
- Energy Engineering, Journal Name: Energy Engineering Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 96; ISSN EENGDO; ISSN 0199-8595
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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