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Mercury Racing Recognized For Hazardous Waste
Reduction
Fond du Lac, WI -- Mercury Racing, a division of Mercury Marine, has been
awarded the fourteenth annual 'Governor's Award for Excellence in Hazardous
Waste Reduction.' The Fond du Lac, Wisconsin-based company was recognized for
reducing the amount of hazardous waste emitted into the environment by 25 tons
per year or 93% and cutting hazardous waste disposal costs by 90%.
A majority of the hazardous waste reduction can be attributed to the use of
environmentally safe parts washers, eliminating the use of chrome primer by the
paint department and the conversion to a cutting fluid (coolant) used for
machining parts that has improved biological stability.
Wisconsin State Senator Carol Roessler nominated Mercury Racing for the
prestigious award. Franc Fennessy, Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, presented the award to Racing's
Director of Manufacturing Russ Kuklinski and the Mercury Marine Hazardous Waste
Reduction Team Wednesday, March 8 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mercury Racing was
one of six companies recognized for their efforts in reducing hazardous waste.
The formal awards ceremony was held in conjunction with 'Environment 2000,' an
environmental industry trade conference.
The Governor's Award, sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the
Federation of Environmental Technologists, recognizes achievements by Wisconsin
industries and institutions in reducing and managing hazardous waste. The award
is based on four criteria:
· Reduction of the degree and amount of waste toxicity
· Economic performance as measured by profits generated,
costs reduced
and payback period
· Transferability of the processes of techniques to similar
applications for
use
by other industries, organizations or institutions
· Commitment by the applicant to help other industries,
organizations or
institutions by sharing information and expertise.
Mercury Racing, established in 1973, is known as the worldwide leader in
powerboat racing and production of high performance consumer and race marine
products, including outboards, sterndrives and inboards, propellers, parts and
accessories. Production of these handcrafted, high performance two cycle and
four cycle engines, parts and accessories begins with the cleaning of various
product components in parts washers. New parts washers, installed in 1994,
reduced VOC emissions and hazardous waste solvent disposal. The wash water was
still contaminated, however, with cadmium, lead and zinc. The hazardous waste
reduction team evaluated five alternative cleaning products for cleaning
performance, rust prevention and effluent quality. The one-year research effort
resulted in the elimination of 24.1 tons/year of hazardous waste and reducing
annual disposal costs bv $3,073 or 58%.
Mercury Racing also has its own in-house paint department used to paint engine
parts and accessories. During 1999, the majority of paints used were replaced
with high solids alternatives and a primer containing chromium and lead was
eliminated. As a result, waste paint filters have been reclassified from
hazardous to non-hazardous. This has resulted in a reduction of one ton per year
of hazardous waste, saving $1,314 per year in disposal costs for an overall 97%
cost reduction. Mercury Racing worked closely with Arthur Gilbert and the
Mercury Marine paint manufacture department along with PPG Paints distributor
Anders Auto Parts Inc. of Fond du Lac to accomplish the great cost savings in
the paint department.
Cutting fluids (coolants) used for drilling and machining engine components had
to be replaced frequently because the material became odiferous and disposal as
an off-specification waste oil was required because the coolant contained
chlorinated paraffins. In 1999, a replacement cutting fluid that did not contain
chlorinated parrafins was introduced, improving bacteriological protection and
reducing waste volume by 1,866 gallons/year or 50%. Disposal as oily wastewater
has reduced annual costs by $2,314 or 76%.
Mercury Racing's hazardous waste reduction efforts were a joint effort between
team members from Mercury's Plant 15 outboard assembly plant and Plant 36, world
headquarters for Mercury Racing. Full credit for Racing's receiving the
fourteenth annual Governor's Award goes to Mercury Marine Hazardous Waste
Reduction Team members , Jim Bartels, Pat Cartwright, Tom Dudzinski, Alan Haase,
John MacEwen and Brad Sabel. Hazardous waste reduction actions taken during 1999
resulted in Mercury Racing's hazardous waste regulatory status being reduced
from a large to small quantity generator. The payback period for these changes
was immediate because no capital investment was required.
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