The Value of Operation Clean Sweep

If you could take a simple step to help strengthen your company's:

• contribution to preserving water quality and wildlife;
• compliance with federal and state regulations and avoidance of fines;
• safety/housekeeping program;
• employees' well-being;
• operational efficiency;
• financial bottom line; and
• reputation in the community.

...would you take it?

That step is Operation Clean Sweep (OCS), a product stewardship program of the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.

The campaign's goal is: to help every plastic resin handling operation implement good housekeeping and pellet containment practices to work towards achieving zero pellet loss.

Pellet loss has many negative impacts on individual companies, on the plastics industry as a whole and on the environment.

• Slips and falls are a major cause of plastics industry accidents.
• Accidents mean lost time, higher worker compensation costs and lower employee morale.
• Violations of storm water regulations in states like California can result in civil penalties of up to $10,000 per incident (e.g., Cal. Code. Regs. title 23 § 13385). Any person discharging unauthorized waste in violation of CWC § 13264, could be found guilty of a misdemeanor and may be fined up to $1,000 a day.
• Spilled pellets eventually end up in our oceans. Whether they're handled in an Iowa plant or a seaside facility, pellets get to storm drains that lead to oceans - causing eyesores and a threat to marine life.

When the industry handles pellets as responsibly as possible:

• Pellets are kept out of the natural environment including waterways and oceans;
• Companies enhance their reputations as good stewards of the environment - an increasingly important factor for attracting the investment community and high-quality employees; and
• More material becomes product rather than waste, improving efficiency.

OCS' ultimate goal is to help keep plastic pellets out of the environment, but these efforts can also help improve relations with stakeholder groups and community organizations that expect the industry to minimize its environmental footprint.

The industry needs the help of every segment of the plastics production, distribution, handling and processing chain to get results.

This manual and its website, www.opcleansweep.org, provide the information and resources you need to either launch a new employee outreach program or to build on Operation Clean Sweep efforts you may have started.

If you are already following the OCS principles, or plan to, then take the Pledge (included in this manual on page 24) and be recognized for your commitment.

Please contact us with questions:

ACC: Submit Questions
SPI: 202-974-5200