Site
visit:
Seagate
Technology
7801
Computer
Ave.
So.
Bloomington,
MN
55435
Participants:
Barbara
Cockriel­
Senior
Environmental
Engineer­
Seagate
Bill
Bentler­
Hazardous
Waste
Supervisor­
Seagate
Teena
Wooten­
EPA
OSW
Jim
O'Leary­
EPA­
OSW
Nancy
Ellefson­
MN
Pollution
Control
Agency
Date:
May
10,
2006
Jim
O'Leary
and
Teena
Wooten
with
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency's
Office
of
Solid
Waste
and
Nancy
Ellefson
with
the
Minnesota
Pollution
Control
Agency
visited
the
Seagate
facility
located
in
Bloomington,
MN
on
May
10,
2006.
The
company
makes
recording
heads
for
disc
drives
used
in
computers,
and
other
electronic
devices.
The
company
operates
24
hours
seven
days
a
week
and
employs
approximately
2100
people.
Disposable
pre­
saturated
IPA
wipes
are
used
in
the
clean
room.
The
wipes
are
used
to
clean
equipment
prior
to
entering
the
clean
room,
to
clean
up
minor
spills,
and
to
keep
equipment
clean.
Six
Sigma
projects
were
used
to
make
sure
the
waste
stream
is
minimized
to
the
extent
possible.
One
Six
Sigma
project,
involved
the
development
of
a
dispenser
for
dry
wipes
that
are
used
to
wipe
incidental
drips
and
spills
of
solution
from
equipment.
Because
the
operators
must
wear
clean
room
garments
such
as
gloves
and
other
protective
gear,
the
gloves
caused
the
operator
to
pick
up
several
wipes
at
a
time.
The
designed
dispenser
allows
the
operator
to
pick
up
only
one
wipe
at
a
time.
This
has
reduced
the
number
of
wipes
used,
and
thus
the
amount
of
hazardous
waste
generated.

Seagate
began
using
the
pre­
saturated
wipes
during
the
last
ten
years.
Each
bucket
contains
50
wipes.
Seagate
generates
one
55­
gallon
drum
of
used
wipes
per
week
at
approximately
140­
150
pounds.
The
drums
do
not
contain
free
or
excess
liquids.
This
hazardous
waste
stream
is
sent
offsite
as
hazardous
waste
for
incineration.

Seagate
continually
evaluates
ways
to
reduce
its
hazardous
waste
generation.
In
2004,
81
tons
of
hazardous
waste
was
generated.
This
was
reduced
to
59
tons
in
2005.
Projects
to
reduce
wipe
usage
are
included
in
this
reduction.
Seagate
continues
work
to
reduce
wipe
usage.
