Environmental Progress - Summer 1998

P2 Interns Solve Problems, Save Money

Graduage students work and learn, sponsoring industries reap benefits

Twenty-seven graduate students worked in the field as part of the 1997 Graduate Intern P2 Program of the Illinois EPA. Three were assigned to working with environmental groups, one worked with a community development organization and others worked with private industries.

"The outstanding work of the interns once again helped companies discover long-term savings opportunities for reduced disposal and raw-material costs," said Richard Reese, coordinator of the program.

At the Motorola plant in Schaumburg, Ill., for example, intern Chrysi Laspidou recommended ways to reduce several hazardous waste streams that will result in savings of approximately $4,000 a year. The recommendations included use of an alternative oil-based coolant that can be recycled four times longer and will reduce coolant water waste by 87 percent, and a switch to spray rinsing for photosensitive chemical bottles instead of immersion in acetone, to reduce acetone waste by 70 percent.

At Abbott Laboratories in Lake County, intern Ellen Tegeler dealt with improvements to the chemical stockroom inventory of miscellaneous lab chemicals and found ways to save an estimated $180,000 a year, while reducing disposal costs and the need to purchase new chemicals.

Akkamma Navada, an intern working at Dexter Aerospace Corporation, demonstrated that by adjusting the procedure for removing "bottoms" from the solvent recovery still, the firm could decrease RCRA wastes by 14,000 gallons, increase efficiency of the stills so solvent could be reused in manufacturing as a virgin product, and save the company $6,500 yearly. Another suggestion, to filter oversized particles from the finished product using wire screens instead of bags that had to be purchased and disposed of, will save the firm $22,000 annually.

The eight-year-old graduate program matches college graduate students in engineering, chemistry, and environmental health and safety with participating companies and organizations in Illinois. Students first learn the basics of pollution prevention through the Agency's Office of Pollution Prevention, then apply the knowledge to identify waste reduction opportunities during a 12 week stint at their host facility. The Illinois EPA pays the salaries for first-time intern requests, and splits the intern salaries with companies who are repeat participants.

Since the program's start, 101 students have worked with 78 Illinois companies and organizations. Their work is summarized in abstracts. Copies of the 1997 intern abstracts, or additional information about the program, can be obtained by calling 217-782-8700. Kevin Greene, manager of the Office of Pollution Prevention, estimates the program has saved Illinois businesses millions of dollars and contributed to a reduction of more than 100,000 pounds of releases to the environment.

Enrollment of 1998 interns is currently underway.