In Mexico sorting of garbage for recycling is still something new, and the practice has yet to take firm root. Nonetheless, the employees at Takasago's Mexican plant have shown considerable initiative in separating waste by type, an example of their growing awareness about protecting the environment.
In recent years the Mexican manufacturing sector has, in partnership with industrial waste disposal companies, taken definite steps to promote sorting and recycling of garbage. Takasago's plant in Mexico for its part recycles metal drums and cardboard boxes. Japanese cardboard boxes in particular, which have an established reputation for quality and durability, are passed on via local waste service providers to be reused as export packaging for Talavera tableware, for which the area is famous.
Every care is exercised to ensure that fine particles generated in the powder blending plant are not released with wastewater. Hazardous and chemical waste too is rigorously managed, being entrusted to specialized service providers for disposal.
Thermal power predominates in petroleum-producing Mexico, but the country's crude oil reserves are dwindling by the year - hence a company-wide effort to conserve electricity.
Protecting the environment through the combined effect of water and power conservation
Takasago's plant in Mexico used to water the lawn with drinking water, but now it purchases cheaper recycled water for that purpose instead. Rainwater accumulated in the 11m3 water tank is used as well. In the past bulbs consuming 40W of power each were used, but with the installation of energy-efficient equipment these have now been replaced by 32W bulbs. There are 150 light fixtures in use at the company, and the switch from two 40W bulbs to two 32W bulbs for each cuts power consumption by 2,400W. Assuming the lights are on ten hours a day, that adds up to a reduction in electricity use of 5,760 kWh per year.
Fluorescent lighting
Automatic sprinklers in operation at night, with control switch.
Reducing water use and tapping natural energy
- a boon to both environment and bottom line
CIP system at Takasago's Mexican plant.
The plant's clean-in-place (CIP) system requires 12m3 of drinking water per cycle, but the water used during the third stage of the cycle can be recycled for reuse at the next stage. A total of 487 cleaning operations using the anhydro spray dryer are planned for 2010, and it is expected that 6m3 of water can be conserved per operation, saving a total of 2,922m3 of water.
Moreover, the boiler is shut down in spring and summer, and the hot water needed for the cleaning process is heated using a solar water heater.
Outcomes of environmental conservation measures in numbers
Solar water heater
at Takasago's Mexican plant.
1. Drinking water consumption reduced by 3,482m3 per year (equivalent to the amount consumed daily by 12,616 Mexicans).
2. Power consumption reduced by 22,392 kWh and CO2 emissions by 14 tons per year (equivalent to the monthly power consumption of 93 Mexican households).
3. Using a solar water heater instead of a boiler reduces CO2 emissions by 9 tons per year.
Takasago De Mexico is committed to achieving further such gains through sustained efforts to protect the environment and save energy.
Hazardous and chemical waste is handled with all due care
Hazardous and chemical waste is gathered in a single location for collection by the disposal firm. Our employees are definitely showing greater awareness about the environment, though perhaps not yet on a par with their European and Japanese peers. We will keep up these efforts on the environmental front.
