With environmental awareness on the rise, many HVAC water treatment companies are reevaluating their use of plastic containment for chemical storage and delivery. There are many available methods of recycling containers, utilizing larger reusable drums and totes for reduced waste, and switching to non-chemical green alternatives to decrease reliance on chemicals overall. The purpose of reassessing containment utilization is to limit environmental hazards, align with green initiatives valued by the public, comply with regulations, and save on costs – all while upholding safety and efficacy standards.
Why Plastic Containment?
Containment is needed for water treatment to transport chemicals and to securely store chemicals on site. Plastic is mostly used because of its chemical resistance, impact strength, light weight, transparency, and low cost. It is the most economical way to ship, store, and monitor chemicals to a site. The downside is that plastic is often wasted or incorrectly recycled or reused. Companies using chemical containments should try to eliminate one-time use or significantly reduce use with some best practices or alternative service offerings.
Ways to Reduce Containment
Recycling
Rather than disposing of used containers, water treatment companies can try to reuse them multiple times their client network before recycling. When a client no longer needs a containment unit, collect and clean it thoroughly before reassigning it to another customer site that requires one. For smaller transport drums that cannot be reused, it is important to ensure these are recycled properly after transferring chemicals to larger long-term containments.
Larger Drum Sizes
Transitioning to bulk storage and transport methods using larger reusable drums and totes is an impactful way to reduce containment requirements. Right sizing the volumes based on customer usage or transport and storage on site will help reduce the frequency of deliveries needed. The goal is to try and store multiple months’ worth of chemicals on site.
Non Chemical Alternatives
In addition to packaging reduction strategies, water treatment companies are also exploring more sustainable treatment methods that reduce reliance on chemicals altogether. Technologies like ozone generators diminish the need for harsh chemical biocides by utilizing oxidation, to protect against bacteria. Other technologies like Promoss, work to remove organic material and sediment from the water, while the enzymes break down biofilms and kill bacteria. Both of these chemical alternatives completely remove the need for plastic containment and chemicals are eliminated.
Tower Water Cares About Your Sustainability Initiatives
Reducing containment usage through strategies like reuse, bulk delivery, and non-chemical treatment is an impactful way for HVAC water treatment companies to reduce their environmental footprint. If you’re looking to implement green initiatives at your building or facility, Tower Water has the expertise to help.
Many companies are making it a long-term goal to go green and ensure sustainability for the environment. Reach out today at 212-518-6475 or schedule a consultation online to learn more about our innovative water treatment solutions focused on reducing waste.
