Laboratory
Self-Audit |
Wood/Construction/Carpentry
Laboratory
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Waste Stream Overview:
Estimate how much
of your waste falls into these common categories. (Add your own if necessary.)
___% Wood |
___% Insulation |
___% Metals |
___% Finishing Chemicals* |
___% Concrete |
___% Other |
___% Packaging |
___% Drywall |
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*Paints,
Stains, Strippers, Solvents
Now look at where
you can reduce waste, reuse materials or recycle.
Try to make use of building and carpentry products made from recycled
materials. Use environmentally friendly products when possible. When dealing
with products that can only be disposed of, choose the least hazardous option.
Use this checklist to identify possible problem areas and develop your pollution
prevention plan.
Wood Waste
Scraps - Do
You?
- Consider efficient use and
cutting of lumber to get the most use of each piece
- Reuse as much as possible
for future projects
- Use crates and pallets for
miscellaneous projects; use as kindling or fuel in wood stove (some
suppliers will take back their pallets for a refund).
Sawdust and
shavings (from unpainted/untreated lumber) - Do You?
- Compost with plant material,
use for small animal bedding.
Insulation (all types) - Do You?
- Buy only what you will need
- U se scraps for future projects. Even small amounts can be used to
insulate pipes, small structures such as pet homes, or small gaps in
larger structures.
Concrete - Do You?
- Consult with local authorities to find out if set and dry concrete
without rebar may be crumbled and used as fill.
- Save unmixed conrete for future projects, even small amounts can
be used for setting a post or making a weight or anchor.
Drywall ("sheetrock") - Do You?
- Acquire only what you need.
- Save leftovers for future projects.
- Use small amounts for patches and repairs.
- Efficient use and cut drywall
to get the most use of each piece.
- Crumble unpainted drywall for use as a soil additive.
Metals - Do You?
-
Recycle with other metal waste (different metals may need to be sorted).
Other
Materials - Do You?
- Control inventory as described
in General Housekeeping.
- Use as much waste as possible on other projects.
Containers and Packaging - Do You?
- Re-use empty clean containers
for storage of appropriate items.
- Return empty containers to
the distributor for re-use when possible.
- Train students to scrape paint
containers clean so they are lawfully “empty”.
- Reuse and recycle paper and
cardboard as recommended under General Housekeeping.
- Buy products with as little
packaging as possible.
- Separate reusable and recyclable
packaging materials from those that must be disposed of.
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Wood Finishing Chemical Waste
All finishing
chemicals - Do You?
- Keep product in original containers.
- Keep lids secure and closed
tightly to prevent spills and evaporation.
- Do not store containers directly
on ground or in an area where containers will corrode. (Store
over spill containing pallets when possible; any water contaminated
with such waste becomes waste itself.)
- Teach students proper and
efficient application and cleanup techniques
- Don’t buy more paint products
than you need. Ask your local painting supply company about regulations
in your area, recycling opportunities and proper disposal methods.
Wood coating
materials - Do You?
- Call your state EPA or environmental
office to determine if coating material is hazardous. (Dry paint may
not be considered hazardous.)
- Use coating with high solid
content (usually 35% or more), that require fewer coats.
- Teach students proper and
efficient application and cleanup techniques.
- Consider water-based coatings.
- Not buy more paint products
than you need.
Strippers
and solvents - Solvents
can be expensive, treat them so and conserve them. Do You?
- Consider less hazardous strippers
when possible
- Reuse solvents and strippers
when possible. (Use dirty solvent to first loosen wood coating and then
proceed with fresh.)
- Filter solvents to prolong
life.
- When you must dispose of strippers
and solvents:
- Utilize a legitimate recycling
facility or a permitted hazardous waste treatment facility.
DO NOT
dump them down the drain!
Absorbents
- Do You?
- Know if absorbents (sawdust,
kitty litter and others) contain materials that may be hazardous and
require special disposal.
- Use drip trays and pans to
prevent spills.
- Use squeegees to recover product
and cleanup spills.
- Consider using rags that can
be wrung out to recover product.
Shop towels/rags
- Do You?
- Avoid disposable shop rags.
Use a shop towel recycling service.
- Wring out shop towels into
an appropriate waste container to reclaim solvents and other products
(use proper personal protection i.e.: gloves).
- Avoid chemicals which may
hinder laundering of shop towels (i.e. perchloroethylene and toluene).
- Keep clean and dirty shop
towels in separate well-labeled containers.
Aerosol cans
- Do You?
- Return defective or partially
filled cans to supplier instead of throwing in the trash.
- Use refillable spray canisters and bulk paint instead of multiple
spray cans.
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Adhere
to all WATER QUALITY, AIR QUALITY and ENERGY CONSERVATION
recommendations listed in General Housekeeping.
References:
The P2 audit for Agricultural and Vocational Educators
was produced by the Peaks to Prairies Pollution Prevention Information
Center, funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
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