Waste

Waste is expensive – we pay for raw materials that don’t go into the end product, and we pay to dispose of it. Reducing waste not only benefits the environment, but also our bottom line.

Our approach follows the three R’s; disposal is always a last resort.

Reduce – At our site in Cork, Ireland, our Process Excellence programs identified improvements to membrane cutting processes that reduce the space between cuts. This change decreased waste and will save about $200,000 per year. Additionally, eliminating unnecessary chemical testing on membrane through enhanced statistical methods decreased membrane and chemical use, as well as staff time.
Reuse – We installed solvent recovery systems at several of our locations worldwide. These systems minimize solvent emissions to air and waste water while recovering solvent for further use within the company.
Recycle – At our Jaffrey, New Hampshire site, we regrind plastic scrap from our injection molding operations. Although we cannot use this plastic in Millipore products, we do sell it to other companies. In 2006 we earned $28,000 and avoided $26,000 in disposal costs, thanks to plastic and other recycling efforts. We also engage professional recycling firms to recommend process improvements at individual sites to reduce waste and enhance recycling performance

We also engage professional recycling firms to recommend process improvements at individual sites to reduce waste and enhance recycling performance. We anticipate the benefits from this will be both environmental and financial.

Here are a few other examples of our recycling programs.

Product recycling

Our facility in Molsheim, France, is working with recycling vendors to determine ways to recycle plastic from two products, Steritest (used for verifying the sterility of solutions) and Aervent (used for sterilizing applications and removing particles and microorganisms from gases and solvents).
See Local Efforts: Molsheim

Supporting Local Schools

At our Jaffrey, New Hampshire site, we donate used toner cartridges to local elementary schools for toner recycling. The schools return the cartridges to a vendor in exchange for “technology points” to purchase digital cameras and other electronic equipment.

External Waste Management

Millipore belongs to CHWMEG, Inc., a non-profit trade association comprised of manufacturing and industrial companies seeking efficiency in waste management. By conducting comprehensive, independent reviews of commercial facilities that treat, store, dispose, recycle or transport waste, CHWMEG helps us improve due diligence and ensure that waste is properly managed while protecting the company from undue risk.

Cork’s Recycling Program

Our Cork site recycles approximately 70% of the non-hazardous waste it generates. Our rate is even higher for Durapore membrane manufacturing, as we reuse or recycle 95% of waste generated from this process. For example, we locally compost cardboard drums which come into the plant as packaging for raw material. We bale and recycle cardboard boxes as well as waste paper, and we wash and re-wind PET file plastic. We bale and recycle waste membrane cuts, and return end walls which are used to transport rolls of mylar to the supplier for reuse.

PRODUCT RECYCLING

A number of our customers have asked us about product recycling. Currently, this is an area that we are examining, and will update this website as we create options for customer participation.

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