i3 Assessment #01: [Sustainability in the Graphic Design/Print Industry]

PART A: Waste Checklist

Develop a checklist for disposing of waste generated in your home/office.

• Items in your checklist may include printer paper, empty food & drink containers and unwanted food. Include at least 5 items in the checklist.
• Beside each item describe how each of these can be recycled or reused.

PART B: Identify Hazards

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) identify the potential hazards involved in the use of substance and precautions for safe handling, use, storage and transport.

Scenario: You have a HP Laser Jet 2100 printer in your home/office.

• Go to http://www.hp.com/go/msds and locate the MSDS for the printer cartridge [part number C4096A-AC]
• List the hazards identified on the MSDS.
• What are the instructions for safe handling and storage for the toner?

PART C: Reporting Hazards

Reporting Breaches of Environmental Hazards

• Name the government agency that breaches of environmental regulations in your State must be reported to
• Under what circumstances must owners occupiers of land notify the agency?
• How soon must the agency be notified? (i.e. hours/days/weeks' time frame?)

PART D: Organisational Plans

Follow organisational plans

• Access a copy of the Australian Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-2015.
• What is the Agency target for the use of internal copy paper per end user (reams per annum) by July 2015?
• What is the Agency target for the desktop energy usage per end user (kWh per annum by July 2015?)
• What procedures should be followed to reduce desktop energy usage?

PART E: Improvements to Workplace Practices

Scenario: You are currently employed as a pre-press operator doing mainly desktop publishing jobs ready for print in the art room of a local printing company. ReadyPrint*. You use a number of portable electronic devices such as laptop computers, digital cameras, mobile phones etc. 

Task: Research the options available for sustainable disposal of batteries form the above mentioned portable equipment. Then make suggestions for improvements to current workplace practices at ReadyPrint. Present your research findings and recommendations in a short report (one or two pages).

Use the following structure for your report:

• Memo heading with:
• Reciever's name and title
• Writer's name and title
• Date
• Subject of report

• Introduction which provides some background information to the report. This could include its purpose (the what) and the reason it is being prepared (the why) and a brief background to the work area or team activities.
• The body of the report, which is the main part of the report. You should use sections with appropriate headings to describe your research, findings, recommendations and likely benefits. You should outline the costs related to your recommendations.
• The conclusion which summarise and evaluate the findings.
• Recommendation/s (if required) which list the likely outcomes that should result.

*ReadyPrint is a made-up name 

PART A Waste Checklist: Develop a checklist for disposing of waste generated in your home/office.

pic courtesy of: http://gogreenamericatv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/hierarchy-of-waste-management.jpg

It is important how you carry out waste disposal. In today’s world waste material is a common phenomenon. These wastes are harmful to the environment and how you dispose of them depends on how they affect the environment. Proper disposal of waste material helps keep the environment clean.

· Recycling

Recycling is an important part of the waste generated in an office. You can recycle papers, glass, aluminum and plastics. If you want to reduce the volume of your waste material, the best way to do so would be to recycle it.

- Paper: the best way to recycle paper is by using the kerbside recycling service offered by your local council. These 240L bin are collected on a fortnightly basis.

- Glass. By placing it in your kerbside bin you can also recycle it easily.

- Aluminum. This can be also be recycled by placing items in your kerbside bin.

- Plastic too, is recycled in your kerbside council bins.


You may also choose to drop off your recyclable items at your local drop off recycling facility. My local drop off recycling facility for the Pittwater council area is located at the SITA Belrose Resource Recovery Centre in Crozier Ave, Belrose.

· Composting

This is a natural process that is completely free of any hazardous by-products.

- Compost all your lunchtime scraps. Add vegetables and fruit peels.

PART B Identify Hazards:  

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) identify the potential hazards involved in the use of a substance and precautions for safe handling, use, storage and transport.

·  List the hazard identified on the MSDS sheet for the printer cartridge [part number C40986A-AC], for the HP Laser Jet 2100 printer.

Hazards Identification

Acute health effects

Skin contact Unlikely to cause skin irritation.
Eye contact May cause transient slight irritation 

Inhalation Minimal respiratory tract irritation may occur with exposure to large amounts of toner dust.
Ingestion Low acute toxicity. Ingestion is a minor route of entry for intended use of this product.
Potential health effects Routes of exposure Potential routes of exposure under normal use conditions are skin, eye contact and inhalation.
Ingestion is not expected to be a primary route of exposure for this product under normal use conditions.
Chronic health effects Prolonged inhalation of excessive amounts of any dust may cause lung damage. Use of this product as intended does not result in inhalation of excessive amounts of dust. 
Carcinogenicity None of the ingredients have been classified as carcinogens according to EU, IARC, MAK, NTP, OSHA or ACGIH.
Other information This product is not classified as hazardous according to OSHA CFR 1910.1200 or EU Directive 1999/45/EC, as amended.This preparation contains no component classified as Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) or very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB) as defined under Regulation (EC) 1907/2006.

·   What are the instructions for safe handling and storage for the toner?

Handling   Keep out of the reach of children. Avoid inhalation of dust and contact with skin and eyes. Use with adequate ventilation. Keep away from excessive heat, sparks, and open flames.

Storage     Keep out of the reach of children. Keep tightly closed and dry. Store away from strong oxidizers.

Store at room temperature.

PART C Reporting Hazards:

·       Name the government agency that breaches of environmental regulation in your 
    State must be reported to.

You must report all breaches of environmental regulation to: NSW Trade and Investment, Environmental Sustainability Unit.

Email: compliance.environment@trade.nsw.gov.au with the following information to assist with our investigation.

- Your name
- Your contact details
- The type of activity
- The time, date and location of activity
- A description, registration numbers and type of any vehicles or plant involved
- Any other information you think is relevant.

• Under what circumstances must owners and occupiers of land notify the agency?

An environmental incident report is required when an incident causes or threatens material harm to the environment.

• How soon must the agency be notified? (i.e. hours/days/weeks’ time frame?)

A verbal report must be made to the Department within 24 hours after the titleholder or person becomes aware of the incident. 

A written incident report must be provided to the Department as soon as practicable, but no later than 7 days after the incident (unless the titleholder is otherwise advised by the Department).

PART D Organisational Plans:

-       Australian Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010 – 2015

· What is the Agency target for the use of internal copy paper per end user (reams per annum) by July 2015?

Target: Internal copy paper per end user (reams per annum) = 9

· What is the Agency target for the desktop energy usage per end user (kWh per annum) by July 2015?

Target: 250kWh or less per annum in desktop energy per end user

· What procedures should be followed to reduce desktop energy usage?
 
Examples of improving desktop energy efficiency are power management solutions, printer rationalisation and desktop virtualisation. A target of 90 per cent of all desktop computers is to be shut down after hours by July 2010 (or within six months from announcement of this plan), which supports the 250 kWh per annum energy intensity target.

PART E Improvements to Workplace Practices:

MEMO

  

To:    ReadyPrint. General Manager

From: Michelle Carroll. Pre-press Manager

Date: 30^th October 2014

Subject: Improvements to current workplace practices

It has come to my attention that batteries play a huge part in my daily activity. I use batteries in many of my different platforms, including, my laptop, mobile phone, digital camera and iPad. After working with these portable electronic devices they have led me to examine their environmental impact at the end of their life span and I have prepared these findings for consideration.

There are two types of batteries:

1. Primary batteries: These are the most common battery. They automatically convert chemical energy into electrical energy. These kind of batteries cannot be recharged and are thrown away after use, and

2. Secondary Batteries: These are rechargeable and can be used repeatedly. These are the batteries used in my mobile devices. Although these batteries are rechargeable, secondary batteries may need to be recycled at some stage, when they can no longer be charged.

The Environmental problems that these batteries cause are identified in the waste stream. Batteries are made from a variety of chemicals to power their reactions. Some of these chemicals, such as nickel and cadmium, are highly toxic and can cause damage to humans and the environment.

In particular, they can cause soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife. Therefore, the correct disposal of them is vital.

Landfill is generally where these batteries end up, but regulations that govern the correct disposal differ from State to State. Here in NSW, there are moves underway to establish household battery recycling.

I suggest we contact our local council recycling facility to see if they have any household battery recycling options. Recycling our mobile phone batteries is easy. We just need to request a free satchel from Clean Up Australia by registering on-line at http://mobile.cleanup.org.au/register.html. There are easy to follow instructions on the satchel itself, and we would then just send it back via freepost through Australia Post to Clean Up Australia’s partner Australian Recycling.  

For all our other batteries, SUEZ provides a variety of options for the safe collections of spent batteries. By calling SUEZ on 13 13 35, their customer service center will deliver a battery recycling container. We then just place the container in a prominent area here at work for all staff and visitors to fill the container with their used batteries. This is not only helping our company to recycle, but it will encourage others to do so too. Once the container if full, call SUEZ and they will arrange for its collection and for a replacement container to be left. Please note that a small charge will be applied to cover the collection and recycling costs.

I thank you for your time in reading this memo and hope we can implement these changes as soon as practicable.

Regards, Michelle Carroll

 

Pre-press Manager

References:

Clean Up Australia, (2009). Why are Batteries Harmful to the Environment? Retrieved from https://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/batteries_final.pdf
Davis, J. (2014). Go Green America. Retrieved from
http://gogreenamericatv.com/4-methods-of-proper-waste-management/
hp. Living Progress, (2014). Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs). Retrieved from http://www8.hp.com/us/en/hp-information/environment/msds-specs.html?jumpid=re_r138_eco_msds#.VFH9uVvjDgY
Mineral Resources Division. Environmental Incident Reporting Requirements. ESB28 22 October 2007. Retrieved from http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/422953/ESB28-Environmental-Incident-Reporting-Requirements.pdf
NSW Trade and Investment, (2014). Incident reporting. Retrieved from http://www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/miners-and-explorers/compliance-and-reporting/incident-reporting
Recycling Near You, (2014). Paper, Cardboard, Phone Books. Retrieved from http://recyclingnearyou.com.au/facility/144/PittwaterNSW
SUEZ, (2019). Battery Recycling. Retrieved from https://www.suez.com.au/en-au/sustainability-tips/learn-about-waste-streams/general-waste-streams/battery-recycling