Technical Assistance
 |
 |
 |
WMRC technical assistance engineers possess a unique mix of experience and training that enables them to investigate and solve a variety of business problems. Our experts can help businesses and organizations reduce all types of solid waste as well as toxic releases into the air or water.
WMRC engineers work as change agents to help customers identify and implement practices that improve efficiency. Services typically begin with a free assessment to develop strategies and set priorities for addressing issues. WMRC staff assists companies to develop and implement processes that are more environmentally friendly and less wasteful. Services offered by the technical assistance experts at WMRC include:
- Pollution Prevention – WMRC staff work closely with customers to help them identify opportunities to improve efficiency by reducing raw material utilization and waste.
- Energy efficiency
- Water purification and conservation methods
- Environmental Management Systems
- Testing of alternative technologies
No matter the size of the project, WMRC can provide a sustainable solution!
City of Chicago Industrial Rebuild Program (CIRP), Metal Casting Industry
Commonwealth Edison, the University of Illinois at Chicago and WMRC are working with the City of Chicago's Department of Environment Energy Management Group to perform comprehensive audits at metal casting facilities. The Metal Casting Assessment Team has performed energy and waste reduction assessments at some twenty facilities and completed the project in the past year.
City of Chicago Industrial Rebuild Program, Chemical Initiative
The same team members are providing facility audits to Chicago Chemical Manufacturers to identify energy efficiency, process and waste minimization improvement opportunities. The team then recommends technical solutions to reduce energy, manufacturing and waste disposal costs. WMRC personnel have been doing assessments on companies throughout Chicago during the past year.
City of Chicago Industrial Rebuild Program, Confectionary Initiative
The latest in the rebuild program involves working with the numerous candy companies located in Chicago. WMRC engineers have started working on assessments on these confectionary industries.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)
WMRC provided training for 12 MWRD Pollution Control Officers (PCO). As part of the training, WMRC developed a checklist to help the PCO identify P2 opportunities during inspections and make referrals to WMRC. Through the MWRD Checklist Program, 55 companies have requested technical assistance from WMRC. Assistance visits and follow-up reports have been completed for more than 30 companies. WMRC has visited other companies and plans on contacting the other companies.
Strategic Goals Program (SGP)
The Strategic Goals Program is designed to help metal finishing companies achieve environmental and economic goals. Various groups, including metal finishers and federal, state and local agencies work with one another to share resources and best practices to make good environmental decisions without sacrificing the company's bottom-line. WMRC has helped establish SGP's in the Rockford and Addison areas this past year.
Department of Military Affairs
WMRC has been working with the Illinois Department of Military Affairs (DMA) performing Environmental Baseline Studies on facilities that have maintenance facilities. WMRC also has been involved with the design and construction of automatic weapons cleaning equipment for the military. And WMRC has developed a Pest Management program for DMA. That project is expected to be implemented this year.
Green Chemistry
Green Chemistry is the utilization of principles that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. WMRC staff has experience helping companies and schools develop and implement processes that are more environmentally friendly and less wasteful. Dr. William Nelson of WMRC recently published a book on environmentally friendly solvents. The book titled “Green Solvents for Chemistry” is published by Oxford Press and is designed for use by research scientists, academics, industrial scientists and the military.
Jump to another section:
