Letter Box.

Reuse Works for Foundries That Do Their Homework

The article "Manage the Risks and Liabilities of Reusing Spent Foundry Materials" by Bob Zayko and Douglas McWilliams that appeared in the August issue focused on the problems that can result when foundries do not do their homework when it comes to beneficial reuse of foundry by-products. The authors' emphasis on proper characterization of wastestreams, adequate documentation of results and verification of sites where the by-products will be reused should serve as a framework to guide beneficial reuse projects. Sometimes foundries go into beneficial reuse applications without doing their homework, and as pointed out in the article, the results can be disastrous. Significant clean-up costs, huge fines and setbacks to beneficial reuse programs are all possibilities when shortcuts are taken.

My concern is that I hope that these dangers will not discourage foundries from seeking bonafide beneficial reuse options. Foundry officials should keep in mind that the case presented in the article was a worst-case scenario and is not representative of what happens with beneficial reuse projects that are handled properly. Probability and possibility are two very different things.

Today, many foundries have taken the needed precautions and have successfully implemented programs to reuse their spent sands and other foundry by-products, such as cupola slag. For those who do their homework and play by the rules, the benefits of beneficial reuse efforts far outweigh the liabilities. For example, the Ohio Turnpike has utilized more than 140,000 tons of spent sand on projects over the last 2 years. Foundry sand is now being utilized in record numbers as an ingredient in asphalt in Michigan and Pennsylvania. West Virginia just adopted a new beneficial reuse policy in June of 2000 thanks to some hardworking foundry people in that state. In addition, Indiana and Wisconsin recently improved their beneficial reuse policies to allow for easier implementation of beneficial reuse projects. In fact, Indiana is now allowing the use of some foundry sands as a soil amendment in accordance with its beneficial reuse policy.

The bottom line is to use good judgment and do your homework when it comes to beneficial reuse. It is critical that foundries interview those in charge with handling their by-products and wastestreams and never look to the "low bidder" as the only solution. Keep abreast of what is going on in the industry, attend AFS conferences, attend state organization meetings, talk with the experts, and obtain the most accurate information you can before starting or retooling your program. The real bottom line is this: to truly gain longterm, low-cost options, you must do your homework.

MIKE LENAHAN

SENIOR CLIENT SERVICE MANAGER

RMT, INC.

INDIANAPOLIS