Dallas, Texas - Rubicon llc, a joint venture between Huntsman and Chemtura Corp., in Geismar, Louisiana, is being recognised by the US Environmental Protection Agency for completing its National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) goal.
Under this scheme, Rubicon, which manages production assets for the two chemicals groups at Geismar, has reduced the amount of benzene and aniline incinerated annually at the facility by 1.2 million lb (544 tonnes), said an 11 Feb EPA announcement.
Rubicon joined the programme in 2005 and committed itself to reducing waste benzene and aniline used in its polyurethane operations.
NPEP is an EPA programme that promotes the voluntary reduction of hazardous chemicals. Through work with EPA, both public and private organizations identify activities that will reduce the use of these chemicals, preventing their ability to be released into the environment and threaten public health.
"More and more top facilities are finding smart, simple ways to conduct business and care for the environment at the same time," said EPA acting regional administrator Larry Starfield. "It is even more inspiring when industry members not only stick with their commitments to the environment, but expand on them."
Rubicon started a waste minimisation programme in 1995, and has cut aniline incinerated at the facility by 48 percent since 1997. In the NPEP programme, Rubicon upgraded its waste system, reducing aniline incineration by 720 000 lb and that of benzene by 500 000 lb.
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