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Semiconductor Industry Conference

DTSC and Semiconductor Companies Shared Pollution Prevention Ideas

DTSC and Semiconductor Companies Shared Pollution Prevention Ideas

On November 5, 2003, DTSC's Office of Pollution Prevention and Technology Development (OPPTD) and the Semiconductor Environmental, Safety and Health Association (SESHA) co-sponsored a mini-conference bringing DTSC and semiconductor facilities together to share pollution prevention strategies and provide the industry with the latest regulatory updates. Approximately 40 people attended the conference, representing California's major semiconductor companies.

The conference provided companies with opportunities to further reduce hazardous waste generation by sharing various waste minimization approaches. Conference topics included:

  • Industrial Ecology: Promises and Challenges
    Waste of one facility can be a raw material for another. Kalundborg, Sweden case study was presented noting how five industrial businesses collaborated for mutual economic and environmental benefit.
  • Waste Minimization: Is it Cost Effective During Decommissioning and Decontamination
    Facilities should identify the tasks and decisions to be made at each step of the decommissioning process to identify savings from waste minimization.
  • Chemical Management Services in the Silicon Valley
    Chemical management services provide a strategic, long-term benefit that contract with a service provider to supply and manage the customer's chemicals and related services. The provider's compensation is tied primarily to quantity and quality of services delivered, not chemical volume. These chemical services are often performed more effectively and at a lower cost than companies can do themselves. This approach provides an excellent source reduction opportunity.
  • SB 14 Update
    Source reduction measures implemented by semiconductor facilities as reported in the latest SB 14 documents were discussed with the intent that other facilities could learn and apply the successful pollution prevention measures that others had implemented.
  • Common Violations During CUPA Inspections
    This was a practical presentation focusing on the violations CUPA inspectors commonly find, and the appropriate avoidance techniques.
  • Universal Waste and SB 20
    This discussion about California's universal waste rule included what wastes were designated as universal wastes, and the standards for their management. Additionally, an update was provided on SB 20, which establishes a program for collection and recycling of covered electronic devices.
  • Pollution Prevention in the European Union - WEEE and RoHS Directives
    The European Union set various dates at which electronic companies must comply with the EU's directives on electronic and electrical equipment manufacturers to take back end-of-life equipment (WEEE), and restrictions of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical or electronic components (RoHS).

The response to the forum was very positive - attendees indicated that they envisioned applying source reduction ideas learned from this conference at their facilities. Attendees appreciated the forum as an opportunity for discussing pollution prevention opportunities and waste management problem avoidance.

For more information, contact Relly Briones, Office of Pollution Prevention and Technology Development, at (916) 445-2927.

 
 
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