Starting a Waste Reduction Technical Assistance Center

John CalcagniWaste Reduction Resource Center

Cleaner Production SeminarHuangshan, Anhui ProvincePeople’s Republic of China

November 11, 1998

ProcessProcess

Gas

LiquidRawMaterial

Solid WasteWasteEnergy

Products

Energy

Role of Pollution Prevention

• Encourage waste reduction by improving source operations.

• Waste reduction at the source is the preferred method because:– Reduces use of raw materials and energy– Reduces need for waste treatment – Saves money

• Best way to meet dual goals of economic growth and environmental protection

Technical Assistance is Essential

• Purpose of a Technical Assistance Center is to support the pollution prevention person in the field– Cleaner technology results from the pollution

prevention expert convincing the plant expert to change the process

– Our job is to make sure the pollution prevention person has what he or she needs to explain the pollution prevention options to the plant expert.

Technical Assistance Program Services

• Toll-free telephone number• Library• Web site on Internet• Training• Audit assistance• List server• Newsletter• Conferences

Toll-free Telephone Number

– Users need to be able to reach Center in a convenient manner

– Many of the requests for information are transmitted over the telephone

– User will call more frequently if calling is free and convenient

– Often easier, faster and more complete than mail or even Email

Library

• Collection of references is most important tool to identify pollution prevention technology

• Important material to collect:– Up-to-date technical journal articles– Core References– Fact Sheets– Case Studies– Vendor Library

Library (Continued)

• Journal articles and core references identify best technology and latest developments

• Fact sheets are essential to simply explain and summarize commonly used technologies

• Case studies and vendor lists help a firm answer questions specific to the industry

Internet Web Site

• Increasingly becoming most convenient communication technique

• Items on-line:– Library Bibliography– References in full text – Vendor Library– Products Exchange Directory – List of Links to other sites

Training• Types of Training

– Basic Introductory (i.e. Pollution Prevention on the Internet) • Because of continual staff turnover, many offices

need frequent “basic” training• Often includes on-site assessments

– Technical (i.e. Solvent Alternatives, Pollution Prevention in Electroplating)• Training courses helpful to develop new skills or

to keep staff up to date – Regulatory (i.e. Pollution Prevention for Permit

Writers)

Audit Assistance

• The ability to conduct audits is an central to a center’s mission. Most technical assistance centers conduct some audits.

• Role of Center– Train personnel to conduct audits.

– Participate in audits as trainers for new auditors.

– Conduct federally requested audits and audits on federal facilities.

• Issues with audits include:

– Confidentiality of findings

– Providing specific usable information

– Requests for regulatory interpretations

List Server

• List server is an effective method for sharing information.

• Subscribers can post a question.• List server simultaneously transmits it via Email to

all subscribers.• When someone responds to the inquiry, the answer

is Emailed for all to see.• An archive keeps a record of all requests and

responses for easy future reference.

Newsletter

• A number of technical assistance centers publish newsletters.

• Excellent way to communicate with users. • For those who depend on commercial clients, it is

an excellent way to market the services provided by a center.

• Timeliness is an issue since there often is a time lag in publication.

Conferences

• Several technical assistance centers sponsor annual conferences.

• Provides an opportunity to present latest developments to a large group.

• Provides for networking of people in the pollution prevention community.

• Can be an important source of funding through sales of proceedings and exhibitor display space.

Staffing A Center

• Technical background is essential. – Must be familiar with industrial operations. – Process experts are not essential.– Good communication skills are important.– Must be willing to ask “WHY?”

• Retirees excellent because they are:– Knowledgeable about industry processes.– Not intimidated by complex operations.– Know how to work with plant personnel.– Relatively inexpensive.

Staffing a Center (Continued)

• Some centers use college student interns.– Up to date on latest technology.– Bring a fresh perspective.– Less threatening to company.– Less credible as a resource due to lack of

experience.– Relatively inexpensive.

Funding a Technical Assistance Center

• Types of governmental funding.– Fees from permits or disposal charges.– Legislative appropriations.– Grants.

• Types of private funding.– Fees for services and assessments.– Contracts with large companies.– Conference and publication profits.

Technology

• Compatibility with users more important than latest technology.– If users cannot easily access data, they will not

use it.

– Avoid expensive customized database software which users cannot easily learn or access.

– Put on-line files in widely available formats such as html or adobe acrobat.

– Consider posting multiple versions (e.g. 5.1,6.0 etc.) if using Word or WordPerfect.

Technology (Continued)

• Maintenance of equipment and Web site needs to be considered in plans.– Web site has to be up-to-date. – Broken links need to be serviced quickly. – After a couple of bad experiences, people will

not return.• Similarly, presentations in the field need to plan

for equipment failure.

Quality Assurance

• Continually monitor users to determine quality of product.– Use a postcard questionnaire to follow-up site

assessments to determine usefulness of results.– Follow-up calls to 800 numbers to see if

information was useful and helpful.– Distribute evaluation form at training classes.– Track the number of requests for technical

assistance over time to determine most popular services.

Summary

• Starting a technical assistance center requires providing a number of support services.

• The key to being successful is identifying the technical support needs of your users and providing them in an easily accessible manner.

• Many different services can be provided depending on the needs of your users.

• Do not get ahead of your users in technology and don’t get behind them in training.

• Follow-up with users for constructive feedback.