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Turnaround season is upon us, and in this hyper-competitive market, cost-savings is always of paramount concern. Often times, we go about projects in the same manner and with the same tools as previous jobs, seldom looking at alternative solutions. If you are treating your waste packaging and disposal plans in this way, you may be doing your company a disservice.
Recent innovations in packaging products and processes are saving customers millions of dollars per year. What once took a team of employees several man-hours to accomplish is now done in a manner of minutes by a single man. What used to require additional equipment rentals can now be done with tools commonly found in most facilities. Investigating other methods and products that are available to accomplish your waste disposal tasks can make a significant impact on your bottom line. Having a reliable partner to guide you and identify cost savings is becoming an invaluable resource in making projects more successful.
Flexible Waste Packaging
The glory days of standard 20- and 30-yard intermodal containers for intermediate waste storage are a thing of the past. With advances in flexible waste packaging, facilities are finding immense cost savings and flexibility. Several things should be considered when determining the physical footprint demands required for turnaround staging. Many flexible waste packages are smaller than traditional intermodals and can be collapsed and stacked on a pallet until ready for use. These smaller packages are also easier to maneuver within plant units and can be placed in closer proximity to workers, which ultimately reduce downtime.
If larger waste containment is still a priority on your jobsite, many options are available that can still offer savings. If you are dealing with a dusty waste stream that presents airborne hazards, specialized waste bags exist to contain them and reduce risks. No one wants an OSHA recordable, so mitigating risk factors associated with containing waste streams should be discussed during turnaround planning.
Spill Containment
If you are not already obligated to ensure secondary containment, increasing EPA regulations may be forcing your jobsites to consider adding spill containment protocols to your turnaround planning. Many managers see this as just an added expense, but you can still reduce expenses by being compliant and safe. If you are renting large equipment for use during the turnaround, ask the rental company about their spill containment options. If renting the spill containment is cost prohibitive, there are several affordable options on the market for purchase that can be reused many times. Also, depending on the conditions and applications in which the containment is being used, there are infinite materials, styles and configuration options available.
Dewatering & Filtration
Many turnarounds involve the cleaning or draining of ponds, tanks or lagoons. Instead of incurring costly disposal fees based on increased volume due to solidification agents, often the water is removed from the waste stream on site before the solids are sent for disposal. While there are many methods to dewatering and filtration, there are significant cost savings to consider when finalizing your turnaround plans. Have you accounted for the footprint and power usage of any large machinery like a centrifuge or belt press? Do you have knowledgeable staff to operate those processes? What additional resources are needed to contain the solids once the water has been removed?
If you struggle with any of these situations, you may want to consider geotextile dewatering methods as an affordable alternative. Dewatering tubes and filters are readily available in most areas and can offer you cost-savings. Unlike machinery-based dewatering methods, tubes operate by gravity and input pressure to quickly remove the water from the solid waste. Since the solids are already contained, disposal becomes easier. If you have a large volume to dewater, tubes can be stacked vertically, requiring a smaller footprint. Also available on the market are specialized dewatering filters designed to fit standard roll-off containers that basically convert into dewatering boxes. They cost, on average, about half of the use/rental fees of renting dewatering boxes.
Engineering & Custom Design Support
Having highly skilled personnel on your team is important during every step of a multi-million dollar turnaround, so it makes sense that you expect the same from your waste packaging partner. Does your current provider have knowledgeable engineers on staff that can assist you? Do they offer complimentary site-visits to discuss all of your waste packaging options? Would a detailed cost analysis of the alternatives help you make the best decisions for your project? Are you forced to use on-the-shelf items, or do you have the ability to custom design solutions for your particular needs?
All of these questions should be considered when choosing a waste packaging partner for your next turnaround. Enlisting qualified experts to assist you without having to incur any additional expenses can prove invaluable for your future.
Conclusion
With over 16 current US and British patents to our name, PacTec, Inc. has been innovating waste solutions for nearly 30 years. We’ve established a reputation of developing new packaging to meet the growing and changing demands of our customers. We offer a complete line of stock and custom manufactured flexible waste containment and packaging products for any waste stream. Our innovations include waste bags, spill containment berms, hazardous waste containment, specialized nuclear waste packaging and much more. Our in-house engineering, R&D and quality control departments can all work in conjunction with your team to develop a comprehensive approach for you. We take great pride in maintaining our ISO 9001:2008 certification to ensure consistent delivery of quality products to our industrial, waste and nuclear clients the world over. We now operate 3 manufacturing plants, 6 US distribution facilities and global sales locations to best serve you.
PacTec, Inc. is the industry leader in flexible waste packaging, and we’ve helped thousands of companies save money with our innovative solutions. Contact one of our knowledgeable sales professionals today at (800) 272-2832 to discuss how we can save you money as well.
