OPERATING COSTS OF DAIRY PRETREATMENT VS. POTW FACILITIES
AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WASTE MINIMIZATION PROGRAM
Wayne A. Bough, Ph.D.
Manager, Environmental Affairs
Ed McJimsey, P.E.
Project Engineer
Donna Clark-Thomas, B.S.
Environmental Scientist
Mid-America Dairymen, Inc.
Southern Division
P.O. Box 1837
Springfield, Missouri 65801-1837
PRESENTED AT THE FOOD PROCESSING WASTE CONFERENCE,
OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 2, 1988, ATLANTA, GA., SESSION 2
ABSTRACT
Accounting records of each plant's waste treatment department costs
and spreadsheet analysis of wastewater monitoring data on three
pretreatment facilities and two plants discharging raw wastes to the POTW
has enabled calculation of waste treatment costs per pound of raw BOD
generated and per pound of BOD removed. Two large plants with pretreatment
facilities had similar treatment costs of $0.229/1b and $0.278/1b raw BOD
removed compared to a third plant's costs of $0.264/1b for discharge of raw
wastes to a large municipality's POTW. The technologies represented by the
two pretreatment facilities were a complex anaerobic/aerobic system
($0.229/1b) and a high-rate plastic media trickling filter followed by a
lime-aided clarification system ($.278/1b raw BOD). An older pretreatment
facility needing expansion showed a total treatment cost of $0.116/lb. One
small municipality with adequate treatment capacity charged only $0.03/lb
BOD for discharge of raw wastes.
The magnitude of water and sewer costs for the 7 processing plants in
MADI's Southern Division prompted the Vice-president for Manufacturing and
Engineering to establish a division-wide water and waste minimization
campaign. The focus of his Environmental Waste Committee in 1988 has been
water conservation. Data from water use audits of the plants were analyzed
for savings addressable by training (in-plant education), by preventive
maintenance, and by projects (construction or equipment) to conserve,
recycle, and reduce water losses. One plant already operating efficiently
on w