Industrial ecology of metals : barriers and incentives to closing loops

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2000.Includes bibliographical references (p. 195-107).This thesis examines the end-of-life markets for NiCd batteries and Aluminum Intensive Vehicles (AIVs) through an industrial ecology framework. Case studies were chosen to examine the general characteristics of the industrial ecology of metals, barriers and incentives to closing material loops, and policy interventions associated with loop closing. The NiCd case shows how industry policy and public policy converge towards creation of an environmentally beneficial end-of-life market. The industry coordinated take back program was motivated by public health concern for cadmium landfill contamination. The main barriers to taking back batteries are low consumer participation, insufficient economic incentive for cadmium recovery, and ambiguous industry motivations. Public policy makers should consider subsidizing recycled cadmium prices and adding serious accountability measures to the take back system (such as a tax per unit under a recycle rate goal). The AIV case demonstrates the effectiveness of material value economic incentives for creating and maintaining a self-sufficient recycling system. However, the current recycling system built for steel automobiles will not most efficiently recycle AIVs. Barriers to efficient recycling include inadequate aluminum alloy sorting technology and lack of coordination between firms. Public policy options are limited because recycling efficiency regulation is outside the enabling legislation of agencies, but government should assist industry coordination as much as possible. The case studies also speak generally to loop closing policies that affect either the supply or demand for recycled material. Demand increasing policies (procurement, minimum recycled content, etc.) are more appropriate for recycling systems where a functional system is in place and the last user has sufficient incentive to return the product. On the other hand, supply increasing policies (take back, landfill ban, etc.) may be necessary for products where the last user does not have sufficient incentive to deliver the used product to the recycling system. Industry policy is useful for developing mutually beneficial technology, setting product standards, and coordinating behavior through merger and acquisition.by Jeffrey MacDonagh-Dumler.S.M

Barium light source method and apparatus

Visible light emission is obtained from a plasma containing elemental barium including neutral barium atoms and barium ion species. Neutral barium provides a strong green light emission in the center of the visible spectrum with a highly efficient conversion of electrical energy into visible light. By the selective excitation of barium ionic species, emission of visible light at longer and shorter wavelengths can be obtained simultaneously with the green emission from neutral barium, effectively providing light that is visually perceived as white. A discharge vessel contains the elemental barium and a buffer gas fill therein, and a discharge inducer is utilized to induce a desired discharge temperature and barium vapor pressure therein to produce from the barium vapor a visible light emission. The discharge can be induced utilizing a glow discharge between electrodes in the discharge vessel as well as by inductively or capacitively coupling RF energy into the plasma within the discharge vessel

ISO 14001 and EPA Region I's StarTrack Program: Assessing their Potential as Tools in Environmental Protection

The goals of the EPA Office of Reinvention are the following: 1) use incentives and promote environmental management systems (EMSs) 2) provide timely and accessible compliance-assistance 3) create flexible and streamlined permitting 4) help communities make sound environmental decisions This research explores two recent initiatives related to those goals: ISO 14001 and the EPA Region I's StarTrack program. We studied ISO 14001 through two approaches: a statistical analysis of the characteristics of early adopters, and case studies at six chemical facilities, five of which had adopted the standard. To study StarTrack, we interviewed managers at four of the six facilities that have participated in the program since its inception, as well as EPA staff members at the regional and national levels, state environmental officials, and representatives of environmental advocacy groups.U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc