GEP Partners

Pollution Prevention Assistance Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
7 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Suite 450
Atlanta, GA 30334-9004
Phone: 800-685-2443 or 404-651-5120
Fax: 404-651-5130

The University of Georgia
Engineering Outreach Service
College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
Driftmier Engineering Center
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia 30602-4435
Phone: 706-542-1653 Fax: 706-542-8806

Georgia Institute of Technology
Enterprise Innovation Institute
Energy and Environmental Management Center
760 Spring Street, Suite 330
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640
Phone: 404-894-4138 Fax: 404-894-1192

GEP Success Stories

Georgia Department Of Corrections
Reidsville, GA

• Comprehensive water efficiency program for canning plant
  
  
• Multifaceted program tracks usage, utilizes counterflow rinsing, and dry clean-up practices
  
  
• Peak water usage down 57 percent; approximately 25 million gallons each year

Metcam, Inc.
Alpharetta, GA

Installed an ultra filtration membrane and rinse counterflow system to reduce reject rates, chemical use and wastewater generation
Results:

• Operating costs reduced by 78%
  
  
• Rinse wastewater reduced by 96%
  
  
• Annual cost savings of almost $30,000
  
  
• Internal rate of return of 105%
  
  
• Evaporator cost avoidance of $42,000

Wal-Mart Supercenter
Athens, GA

An Athens Wal-Mart Super Center was used as a model assessment for ways to achieve by-product recovery, renewable energy use and sustainability momentum.

• UGA recommendations pointed to a potential 124 million cubic feet of natural gas per year displaced by renewable fuels (by-product oils and grease from store operations).
  
  
• Recommendations are being pilot-tested by the company in Super Centers in Missouri, Texas and Colorado. Wal-Mart is sharing their innovations with their competitors worldwide further demonstrating their commitment to the environment.

Pratt Industries USA
Conyers, GA

• Recycles old corrugated cardboard and uses a large quantity of water for the process.
  
  
• GEP recommended the use of the reclaimed wastewater from the county wastewater treatment plant as a source.
  
  
• The use of reclaimed water will save the company approximately $130,000 per year, and over 90 million gallons per year of fresh water will be conserved.

Fleetwood Homes of Georgia
Douglas, GA

• Recommended using wood waste material to manufacture wall studs
  
  
• 140 tons of wood waste will be diverted from the landfill each year
  
  
• Annual savings of $125,000 due to avoided disposal and transportation costs

Cedartown Manufacturing, LLC
Cedartown, GA

• Suggested modifying cotton processing equipment
  
  
• Reduced amount of cotton fiber rejects
  
  
• Changes save $18,000 and 25,000 pounds of fiber per year.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Comapny
C-130J Aircraft Painting
Marietta, GA

• Training, equipment upgrades and procedural changes reduced waste and material usage, resulting in annual cost savings of $37,000.
  
  
• New paint spray equipment improved application efficiency and reduced paint usage by 27% per aircraft.
  
  
• By consolidating the paint supply into a central unit, paint waste was reduced by 4.5 gallons per aircraft and solvent by 8 gallons per aircraft. Hazardous waste generation was reduced by 19%.
  
  
• In addition to material and waste reductions, Lockheed also saw an improvement in the quality of the coating.