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RECYCLING FACILITIES
PROJECT PROFILES:
Services for Utilities
For over five years, RT Environmental Services, Inc.
(RT) has provided comprehensive
environmental services for the utilities industry. These include:
Development of Waste and
Recycling Plan
Facility Audits
and Environmental Surveys
Preparation of Residual Waste Facility Applications
Development of Contingency Plans
Facility Upgrading Programs
Tanks Management
Operating Services
Recycling Facility Project
In a two-facility project for design and construction of upgraded
industrial metals recycling facilities, RT addressed new regulatory waste
management and stormwater control initiatives and minimized the potential
for contamination of stormwater from exterior sources.
Project Approach
Using a proactive upgrading approach to source control, RT moved all
potentially polluting activities under roof with full access control to
prevent employee and vehicle tracking of contaminants. Regulatory agencies
approved conceptual plans to upgrade the facilities under a private sector
fast track program.
Solution-Oriented Engineering
The solution-oriented engineering features employed by RT included:
- Provision of a cone bottom tank system to simplify accumulation and loading
of trench drain liquids considered to be hazardous waste.
- One percent floor slopes and positive joint waterstop controls in the
facility to minimize ponding and promote proper drainage to trench drains.
- Electrically operated door vehicle access and egress controlled from a
central office.
- Video inspection of remote loading docks.
- Provision of change rooms to prevent waste tracking by employees.
- Design of alarm and timer controlled trench drain systems to minimize
excessive employee water use, reducing production of hazardous waste.
Adherence to Budget and ScheduleThe first facility came on line in late winter 1992, with the second
facility to come on line six months later.
Remedial measures at each facility spanned several months after startup.
Results
The facility has a design life of 20 plus
years. It allows utilities to maximize recycling and cost recovery, saving
hundreds of thousands of dollars per year through metals recycling.
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