American Medical Electronics

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Instrument Rental

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Batteries

Substance: Ni-Cd Batteries

Location: Richardson TX

No. of employees: 250

Contact: Sharon Danielson

Phone: (214) 918-8300

Description:

American Medical manufactures bone growth stimulators which use rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries. The stimulators are rented and returned to American Medical. When the batteries can no longer be used American Medical has had to dispose them in a regulated hazardous waste landfill in Louisiana. However, it found a company in Pennsylvania (INMETCO) that recycles the batteries. INMETCO is a TSD secondary metals reclamation facility that reclaims Ni, Cr, and Fe from hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. INMETCO can be contacted at (412) 758-9311.

Environmental Benefits:

The 12,500 pounds of Ni-Cd batteries a year that American Medical was disposing in a landfill are now being recycled.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The cost to ship the batteries to INMETCO and have them recycled averages around $10,000 a year. The cost savings, in terms of reduced disposal costs is $35,000 a year.

Source: TCEQ