FMC – Diamides Process Water Reclamation: A Step Towards Environmental Stewardship

Partners for Environmental Progress recently awarded a 2024 Environmental Stewardship Award to FMC, a leading agricultural sciences company. Utilizing on-site environmental health & safety resources and 3rd party legal experts, the project team at their Mobile, Alabama facility completed a successful EPA application to allow onsite treatment to divert 2/3 of the waste from this process to their on-site wastewater treatment plant. Thanks to these efforts, 12.3 million pounds of waste and 307 trailer loads of waste per year are now diverted from incineration, leading to a cost savings of $4.5 million annually, projected to rise to $10 million by 2030.

The Challenge

FMC identified a major contributor to its environmental footprint—over 15 million pounds of process waste per year, predominantly water, which was being incinerated. This incineration not only resulted in high costs but also generated significant greenhouse gas emissions. To address this, FMC embarked on a comprehensive plan to divert two-thirds of this waste to their on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

Tyler Canady, Project Manager, ensured the project’s timely completion. “My role was to manage the strategy for procurement, cash flow, and construction execution,” he says. “It was crucial to keep everything on schedule.”

Key Achievements

• 12.3 million pounds of waste diverted.
  • By redirecting two-thirds of the process water, FMC has significantly reduced waste and saved costs.
• 575 metric tons of CO2 equivalent reduced.
  • This reduction is split between incineration (308 MT CO2-e) and transportation (268 MT CO2-e).

Permit Modifications

Colman Bradwell, Improvement Engineer, led the project design and technical development. “For this project, I worked with our wastewater treatment lab to develop the treatment method used on the process water,” he explains. “This was a first for our site, involving a fair amount of lab work to ensure complete treatment. I also collaborated with our environmental specialist, Melanie, to develop the EPA permitting package.”

Impact on the Environment

The project has had a profound impact on reducing FMC’s environmental footprint:

• Greenhouse Gas Reduction:
  • By diverting 12.3 million pounds of waste from incineration, FMC has cut down 575 metric tons of CO2 equivalents annually.
• Future Improvements:
  • FMC is already exploring additional waste volume reclamation, aiming for a total waste reduction of 80%.

Environmental Oversight

Melanie Rish, Environmental Specialist, handled regulatory compliance. “I was responsible for ensuring we obtained the necessary approvals from the U.S. EPA and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM),” she notes. “I worked with our technical team to provide insight into environmental compliance issues and constraints.”

FMC’s diamides process water reclamation project is a testament to the power of innovation and commitment to environmental stewardship. By diverting waste from incineration to on-site treatment, FMC has achieved significant cost savings and reduced its environmental impact. This initiative not only benefits the company but also sets a precedent for sustainable practices in the agricultural sciences industry.

Brad West, EHS Manager, proposed the project. “This initiative was crucial for FMC and the Mobile Site to reach our sustainability goals,” he emphasizes. “We aimed to reduce hazardous waste generation by 66% and cut down greenhouse gasses by 575 metric tons per year.