Started in the 1990s by the Plastics Industry Association, Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) is an environmental stewardship program for companies, focused on preventing plastic resin pellets, flake and dust from being released into the environment. These pellets are used to manufacture countless products that make modern life safer and more comfortable.

By now pretty much everyone is aware of the massive global problem of plastic pollution, micro plastics, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and the environmental effects caused by all of this. Most people would, understandably, attribute it to plastics that end up in landfills, etc. after they are used. What the general public might not immediately think of, is the equally massive amount of source material that goes into all of these plastic goods. This is where OCS comes in.

According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission, in 2019, about 120 billion pounds, or approximately 54.4 million metric tons of plastic resin was used by the U.S. alone. For context, this amount is equivalent to approximately 9.07 million elephants, which standing trunk to tail, is enough to form a line around the equator with plenty of elephants to spare.
That is a truly staggering amount, before even considering the rest of the world’s output. On top of that, use of resin in manufacturing often produces byproducts like plastic shavings, flakes, and dust. The sheer quantity being transported or handled at any moment creates countless opportunities for pellet loss to occur.

The good news is that this huge amount of material ends up in relatively few hands compared to consumer products. This makes it much easier to implement measures such as use of containment trays, and specialized components that can have a significant impact when implemented on a broad scale.

What concrete steps can companies take to prevent plastic resin pollution in the first place?

As a starting point, the OCS website, opcleansweep.org, provides various resources for the plastics industry and its partners to help prevent plastic pellet, flake, and powder loss. For instance, the OCS Program Manual offers detailed guidance, procedures and best practices companies can implement which will keep their plastics out of the environment, while improving worker safety and ultimately saving money.

Make it official by taking the “Pledge to Prevent Resin Pellet, Flake and Powder Loss” for your company, and become an official OCS Partner. In return, your company will receive a certificate for each facility participating in the program, which can be displayed to celebrate your company’s commitment to zero plastic resin loss.

And while pledges, checklists, and manuals are very effective tools for communication, successfully preventing plastic pollution depends on individuals at every link in the supply chain each doing their part. But by raising awareness, offering real solutions and expert guidance, our industry and its partners can help ensure our plastics do not end up in the environment.

The team at Salco Products is proud to share our ongoing support for Operation Clean Sweep® (OCS) as a contributing member, and offers a range of equipment made specifically for the safe handling of plastic resins during transit, transloading, and unloading. Let us help you be a part of the solution.

Salco Products manufactures top-quality waste fume scrubbers designed primarily to capture the vapors of specific Chlor-Alkali compounds, helping protect the health and safety of workers and the environment. But aside from the systems we manufacture for our rail freight partners, many other industries employ different types of scrubbers created specifically for their applications. In this article, we will take a closer look into how these systems effectively clean all kinds of nasty things out of the air we breathe.

Air pollution has long been a major concern for public health and the environment. One of the key technologies employed to reduce harmful emissions from various industries is the waste fume scrubber. These devices use liquid scrubbing agents to capture and dissolve air pollutants, including those generated from specific Chlor-Alkali processes. Let’s take a deeper dive into how these scrubbers work, their various types, and their widespread applications in diverse industries.

The Intricate World of Waste Fume Scrubbers:

Each waste fume scrubber is uniquely designed and operated to match the specific characteristics of the pollutants and the operating conditions of the system. Here’s a closer look at the three main types of scrubbers:

Packed Bed Scrubbers:

These scrubbers contain a packed bed of materials, such as ceramic balls or plastic packing, which significantly increases the surface area of liquid in contact with the air. This enhanced surface area allows for more effective pollutant capture and dissolution. Packed bed scrubbers are particularly efficient in dealing with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).

Venturi Scrubbers:

Venturi scrubbers utilize a clever design feature – a narrow constriction within a tube – to increase the air velocity. This design creates a suction effect that draws pollutants into the liquid scrubbing agent, where they are subsequently dissolved or trapped. Venturi scrubbers are especially adept at handling particulate matter, making them a popular choice for industries producing dust or other fine particles.

Tray Tower Scrubbers:

These scrubbers employ stacks of horizontal trays, allowing liquid to run across the tray and form small pools of water. As vapors move upward, the pools help reduce heat and capture pollutants. Tray tower scrubbers are versatile and can handle a wide range of pollutants, including acidic or alkaline gases and particulate matter.

The Aftermath: Scrubber Effluent Management:

The polluted liquid waste collected by waste fume scrubbers, known as scrubber blowdown or scrubber effluent, contains a concentrated mixture of captured air pollutants and any additional chemicals or materials from the scrubbing liquid. Proper handling and disposal of this effluent is critical to comply with environmental laws and regulations. There are several options, depending on the waste characteristics and the regulations specific to the facility:

Treatment and Discharge:

Scrubber effluent can typically be treated and safely discharged to a wastewater treatment plant, where it undergoes further treatment before being released into the environment.

On-site Processing:

In some cases, facilities can implement on-site processing systems to remove pollutants and contaminants. The resulting water can then be reused within the facility, thus reducing overall water consumption.

Industries Benefiting from Waste Fume Scrubbers:

The use of waste fume scrubbers is not limited to Chlor-Alkali vapor control. Numerous industries have adopted these systems to manage air pollution and protect public health and the environment. Some examples include:

Pharmaceutical Manufacturers:

Controlling emissions of HAPs and VOCs during drug production processes.

Petrochemical Plants:

Managing the release of toxic and corrosive gases produced during refining and chemical processing.

Paper Mills:

Reducing emissions of sulfur compounds and other odorous pollutants. Steel Mills, Aluminum Smelters, and Coal-Fired Power Plants: Controlling emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and other harmful pollutants.

Waste fume scrubbers play a crucial role in mitigating air pollution across various industries. By understanding the different types of scrubbers and their applications, we can better appreciate the vital part they play in safeguarding both public health and the environment.