Econ Engineering – Solvent Management Plan

Based in North Yorkshire, Econ Engineering Ltd are the UK’s largest manufacturer of gritters and salt spreading vehicles and multi-purpose highway maintenance bodies. They hold an environmental permit for the coating of metal and plastic processes and under the conditions of this permit they have a duty to demonstrate compliance, or otherwise, with the Solvent Emissions Derivative (SED) using the Reduction Scheme. WRM were asked to produce a Solvent Management Plan to demonstrate compliance with the SED.

WRM began by assessing the coatings used by ECON over a six month audit period under consideration. This involved liaising with the client to produce a comprehensive list of products ordered from suppliers over the audit period. A calculation as to the quantities used was then carried out, taking into account opening and closing stock levels.

Solvent and solid contents – WRM also liaised directly with the supplier in order to get up to date information on the solvent and solid contents of the products which play a vital role in the final calculation.

Quantity of waste – The quantity of waste removed from site was then calculated by calculating the number of barrels of waste produced by the client in the audit period.

Solvent content in waste – WRM estimated the solvent content of this waste based on an understanding of the paint application and cleaning process and the information given by the product supplier.

Following the gathering of all the information described above, WRM were able to calculate the total actual solvent emission over the audit period and compare it to the total target emission.

Follow up – WRM will attend a meeting between the client and the local authority regulatory officer to present the Solvent Management Plan and answer any associated questions.