Rollercoaster Ride to Green for Major Food Industry Manufacturer

摘要

‘Green’ is one of the defining business, political, and social issues of the 21st century. The dairyindustry, particularly in the production of milk products, often produces a significant quantity ofeffluents which contain high concentrations of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemicaloxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS). In March of 2008, the Los AngelesCounty Sanitation Districts (LACSD) notified several Southern California industrial wastewaterdischargers of a pending rate increase to their existing sewer surcharge costs that would beimplemented over the following three years.As a LACSD industrial wastewater discharge permit holder with a relatively high volume ofeffluent, our case company was aware of the rate increase and potential cost implications. Ourcase company, hereafter referred to as ‘The Company’, proactively responded by identifying andimplementing ways to improve their environmental compliance framework. The sewersurcharge rate increase in Southern California became a catalyst for Green initiatives at a numberof The Company’s domestic supply plants. Specifically, The Company focused on improvingthe management of process wastewater, and limiting production of waste at several facilities.The goal of the project has been to identify and execute opportunities for sustainable, cost-savingbest management practices (BMPs) for dairy plants. The primary objective was to focus onaddressing wastewater management at Company facilities while achieving full compliance witheffluent limits, and exploring possibilities for process water reuse. The approach that TheCompany developed with respect to implementing wastewater treatment strategies is wellaligned with sustainability and water conservation, employing elements of ‘Green’ solutions.This alignment provided benefits to the financial performance of individual Company facilities,and to the surrounding community.