From Deseret News archives:
Toxic Utah: Firms take pains to avoid polluter list
Sandy company spends millions to clean the air
Becton-Dickinson's Sandy plant has tried to avoid the list by changing the chemicals it uses from those that harm the environment to those that are less damaging. For instance, the company no longer releases ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical used to sterilize the medical devices. Now, the company contracts for the sterilization process with a New Mexico firm that has state-of-the-art pollution-control equipment that captures most of the ethylene oxide gas before it is released into the atmosphere.
"We did not just ship the problem to New Mexico," Alexander insists. Instead, the New Mexico company offered a cleaner alternative.
"We chose the high road," he said. "We are a medical company. We think of ourselves as a company that helps people. We like to be thought of as a clean industry."
Becton-Dickinson is now trying to phase out another solvent that is linked to global warming. And it's making good strides.
"Industry, in general, is struggling to find substitute chemicals that work as well," Alexander said.
The company has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce its pollution, and it has paid off environmentally. The Sandy plant is among the top 10 companies in North America with an environmental certification. "We were the first medical device company in North America to achieve it," Alexander said. "It is our measure of social responsibility to reduce our waste."
But a host of other Utah companies are still struggling.
Two make the list every year and are at or near the top of the nation's worst polluters. Magnesium Corp. of America emits more air pollution chlorine mostly than any other company in America.
And Kennecott makes the list because of releases of 33.9 million pounds of various toxic materials mostly natural byproducts of copper mining to the air, land and water.
Recent comments
i think it is wrong!!
Anonymous | Feb. 25, 2009 at 7:18 p.m.
- Volunteers are needed 6:50 p.m.
- News seeks entries for contest 6:49 p.m.
- Fans greet 'New Moon' stars 6:37 p.m.
- Eisenhower home oozes charm 5:54 p.m.
- New designation for Clinton Museum 5:54 p.m.
- RDP brings family-oriented 'Joyride II' 5:54 p.m.
- Sculptor turns scrap metal into art 5:54 p.m.
- Galleries 5:54 p.m.
- Art canvas 5:54 p.m.
- BYU exhibit evokes identity questions 5:54 p.m.
- Apostle's wife felt comfort in attack
- Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
- Short-handed Jazz fly past Sixers
- D-Will home for daughter
- Bench proves fruitful for Y.
- Utes excited for 'dream' game
- Snowstorm hits Utah; 1 dead in crash
- Born of water and the spirit
- GameDay in Fort Worth
- No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
356 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
199 - Senators want food tax restored
164 - Will state consider gay rights law?
148 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
129 - Can BYU root for (ick) Utah Utes?
125 - Utes remain silent about BCS
120 - No. 22 BYU holds off pesky Lobos
118 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
113 - Pratt pleads not guilty to sex charges
105
If you are looking for a bird on the cheap, the following specials from...
How do you handle kids and contests? Our oldest daughter, 7, is of the...
I'm sure the Yewts are not posting here any longer. Reason: TCU 35, Yewts 7.
how's that game going for you guys? And I thought BYU looked really bad...
Let's start with the military. If we were to eliminate the bulk of the...
Another silly Saturday in the 801. Y'all crack a Gator up.
are slowing down. hmmmm, anything to do with a mouthful of humble pie????
Alta fan, when you wrote this, "Hope fully the hawks have a great season next...
Good grief Cougs WTG TCU!! Now that is the way to represent the Conference....
I guesss I'll root for TCU
TCU= cure for Ute arrogance! Humble pie taste good?
All you ute fans who think you are so much better than BYU. Have you checked...

