Environmental Management Systems

Implementation of an EMS at a Municipal Waste

Management Facility

Introduction

• Who is RWS?

• What is an EMS?

• What is ISO 14001?

• Why implement an EMS?

• What does an EMS cost?

Regional Waste Systems • RWS is a quasi-municipal organization created

in the 1970s by several municipalities in southern Maine for the purpose of waste management

• RWS is currently made up of 21 owner municipalities and 5 municipalities that have annual contracts for waste management

• RWS operates a 550-ton waste-to-energy facility, the largest recycling program in Maine, and an ash disposal facility

What is an EMS?

An EMS is a mechanism/tool that a business or organization uses to help ensure continual improvement in managing the environmental affairs over which it has some level of control.

The International Organization for Standardization - ISO

• ISO is an international non-governmental organization that promotes the development and implementation of voluntary international standards. ISO consists of 112 member countries, with the United States represented by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Standards are developed within ISO technical committees.

• Draft versions of ISO standards are sent out for formal support and comments from ISO member countries, and through iterations, feedback is incorporated to eventually realize an agreed-upon international standard.

• Over 100,000 businesses registered to ISO 9000 by 1996

EMS Models EMAS (Eco-management and

Audit Scheme) BS 7750 Responsible Care ISO 14001

Development of ISO 14000• Strategic Advisory Group on the Environment

(SAGE) formed in June 1992 in advance U.N. Conference on Environmental Development held in Brazil

• SAGE concluded that an EMS was a critical element in meeting future environmental needs worldwide

• SAGE recommended the formation of ISO Technical Committee in 1993 to develop standards

• ISO 14001 Published in Fall 1996

ISO 14000 Environmental Management System Structure

• Environmental Management Systems (EMS) -14001, 14004

• Environmental Auditing -14010-14012• Environmental Labeling - 14020-14024• Environmental Performance Evaluations

- 14031• Life-Cycle Assessment - 14040-14044

ISO Registration and Accreditation

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Registrar Accreditation Board (RAB), a subsidiary of the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) have established the America National Accreditation Program for Registrars of Quality Systems

• ANSI/RAB will accredit EMS Registrars and EMS Auditor Training Courses

AccreditationBodies

Registrars Supplier Companies

Provide Accreditation to Who Register

Directory of Registrars Directory of Registered Suppliers

ISO 14000 EMS Principles and Elements

Policy andCommitment

Plan

Implement/Operate

Monitoring and Measurement

Review &Improve

ISO 14001 Elements• Environmental Policy• Environmental Aspects• Legal & Other Requirements• Objectives & Targets• Environmental Management Programs• Structure & Responsibility• Training, Awareness & Competence• Communications• Environmental Management Systems

Documentation

ISO 14001 Elements• Environmental Management Systems

Documentation• Document Control• Operational Control• Emergency Preparedness & Response• Monitoring & Measurement• Nonconformance, Corrective & Preventive

Action• Records• Environmental Management System Audit• Management Review

Environmental Policy Requirements• Ensure commitment to the EMS and define

policy that: is appropriate to the nature, scale and

environmental impacts of the business includes a commitment to continual

improvement includes a commitment to comply with relevant

environmental legislation and regulations is documented, maintained and communicated

to all employees is available to public

ISO 14001: Planning• Formulate a plan to fulfill environmental

policy identify environmental aspects and

significant impacts to environment identify legal requirements and other

internal priorities or criteria establish environmental objectives and

targets establish a program/plan to achieve

objectives and targets

Environmental Aspects

The organization shall establish and maintain (a) procedure(s) to identify the environmental aspects of its activities, products or services that it can control and over which it can be expected to have influence, in order to determine those which have or can have significant impacts on the environment. The organization shall insure that the aspects related to these significant impacts are considered in setting its environmental objectives.

Process for Identifying/Evaluating Environmental Aspects

Define Scope

Define Process

Gather Data

Assemble appropriate people

Identify Environmental

Aspects

Identify Environmental

Impacts

Evaluate Impacts

Record Results

PeriodicallyReview and

Update

Example Environmental Aspects

Activity Aspect Potential Impact

Regulated

Rating

MSW Combustion

Air Emissions (Nox, SO2, metals, dioxin, CO)

Air quality degradation, smog, acid deposition

Yes 51

Residuals Handling

Residuals (ash) Disposal

Land/water contamination

Yes 51

Boiler water production

Chemical spills/releases

Land/water contamination

Yes 30

Recyclables Receiving

Windblown Litter Aesthetics Yes 36

Objective and Targets Minimize emissions from

unpreventable malfunctions and startups/shutdowns

Minimize the amount of unburned materials in ash

Reduce ash disposal requirements

Minimize mercury in MSW coming to WTE Facility

Reduce waste disposal requirements

Develop/enhance procedures/checklists to minimize emissions during these conditions

Eliminate preventable ash extractor pluggages by end 2001

Implement systems to recover 50% of metals in ash by 2003

Conduct household mercury collection programs in 2001

Double recycled materials by 2004

ISO 14001: Implementation

• Develop organizational capabilities and support mechanisms that provide: personnel, technology, and financial resources training on EMS policy, aspects and impacts,

etc.. procedures for external and internal

communication document control operational controls emergency preparedness and response

Operational ControlActivity Aspect Example Operating Procedures

MSW Combustion

Air Emissions (NOx, SO2, CO, metals, dioxin)

Boiler Operation; Scrubber Operation; Emergency Shutdown; Environmental Monitoring;Electrostatic Precipitator Operation

MSW Combustion

Residuals (ash) Generation

Residue Handling and Storage; Environmental Monitoring

Boiler Water Production

Chemical Spills/Releases

Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure; Chemical Handling

Recyclables Receiving

Windblown Litter

Recyclables Receiving

ISO 14001Monitoring and Measurement

• Develop and maintain procedures to regularly monitor and measure performance against objectives and targets

• Maintain and document program for calibrating monitoring equipment

• Identify and investigate non-conformance and implement corrective and preventative action

• Establish and maintain program to conduct periodic internal audits

Corrective and Preventative Action

• Environmental Incident Corrective and Preventative Action Environmental incidents includes emission

exceedances, chemical spills, any audit findings

All environmental incidents require full evaluation of root cause, initial response, and identification and implementation of corrective and/or preventative action

Internal Audit

Conduct periodic audits of the EMS to determine if it conforms to planned arrangements and has been properly implemented and maintained

Generally conducted semi-annually, just prior to the Registration Audit

Can be conducted by facility personnel (independent from the area being audited).

Management Review

• Conduct Annual (at least) Management Review of EMS to ensure: Its continuing suitability, adequacy and

effectiveness

Adequate information is collected to perform the management review

Address the need for changes to policy, environmental aspects, objectives, or other elements

Costs of 1SO 14001

• Registration Audit: $8,000 - $16,000

• Annual Maintenance: $5,000 -$15,000 (Surveillance Audits and preparation)

• Internal Implementation Costs

Potential Benefits of ISO 14001• Provide a Framework for Management of

Environmental Affairs • Demonstrate Commitment to Environmental

Protection (to Public, Regulatory Agencies, Etc.)• Help Ensure Continuous Improvement• As a Condition of Some Customer/supplier

Transactions• As a Factor in Alternative Regulatory Programs• As a Condition of Business Loans• Lower Insurance Premiums

Potential Drawbacks of ISO 14001

• Substantial Work to Maintain Certification

• Cost to Maintain Certification• Potential Loss of Certification

Registration

• Select Registrar and Schedule Registration Audit (3rd party audit)

• Conducted Registration Audit in March 2002

• Registered to ISO 14001 in March 2002