Came into operation since 2001, Quang Nam Starch factory (FOCOCEV) is a member of Central Region Food production Company. The factory has a designed capacity of 50 ton starch.day and operational fund of VND 30 billions.
So far, the operation of the factory has been stabled which has brought better living quality to workers. The factory expanded it designed capacity in 2004 to 130 tons of starch/day and actual production of 120 tons of starch/day. Besides of collecting tapioca in locality, the factory also collects from surrounding provinces such as Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Gia Lai
With specific production characteristics, the Company has faced with severely environmental pollution: BOD, COD concentrations in the effluent were hundred times higher than permissible limits. This is from washing process, cutting process, containing soil, peel, fragment etc. The Wastewater from filtering and settling processes, with high concentration of organic matter (BOD5), suspended solids (SS). Wastewater also contains tannin, toxic substance (HCN), enzyme and some micro elements in tapioca.
Moreover, the Company also suffers solid wastes problems. Everyday, 18 tons tapioca peel and pulp are discharged. . Currently, this amount has not been treated but dumped in one place, causing pollution in water and bad smell, especially in hot temperature. Residue with an amount of 10 tons/day and humidity of 86%. The wastewater from the residue also causes water contamination. Around 300 kg of Slag from coal, mixed with incomplete burning coal are discharged daily.
Perceiving the urgent environmental problem, the Company has actively participated in the CP demonstration project of the Cleaner Production in Industry Component. The Company has set up a CP team with 12 members, led by Deputy Head of Technical Department to review and assess the whole production process, identify obstacles and analyse solutions to save energy and resources. The team has proposed 23 CP solutions and has been applied since Jan 2008. Some were applied and brought the following benefits.
| Technical benefit | Economic benefit | Environmental benefit |
| Reduction of 2 m3 water/ton of product | Annual saving of VND 57.6 millions | Reduced waste water volume |
| Reduction of 10 kg coal/ton of product | Annual saving of VND 500 millions | Reduction of 1.030 ton CO2 and other exhaust gases |
Typical Cleaner Production options of the Company are as follows:
| No. | CP Option | Investment | Performance | CP technique |
| 1 | Coal quality control and burning mode of ovens | No cost | Reduction of coal cost from VND 250,000 to 200.000 per ton of product | GH |
| 2 | Install water meters | VND 5 millions | Annual reduction of 70.000m3 water, equivalent to VND 70 millions | GH |
| 3 | Make use of industrial wastewater after the centrifuge system for washing system | No cost | OR | |
| 4 | Control leaking points | No cost | GH | |
| 5 | Gradually replace the old lights by energy-saving lights | Low cost | Reduction of 5kwh/1 ton of product, equivalent to an annual saving of VND 100 millions | GH |
| 6 | Replace and repair belts | Low cost | GH | |
| 7 | Buy temperature measuring equipment to check bad electricity contact points | Low cost | GH |
Remarks: GH: Good Housekeeping, OR: Onsite Recovery
Notably, with the support of CP expert, FOCOCEV JSC., has carried out feasibility studies and built a wastewater treatment system to recover biogas for heat and electricity generation. All wastewater and solid wastes from the production process will be collected to the storage pond. The gas generated will be pushed into the oven by pipeline and fan. Such gas will be used to substitute for coal in the cassava drying oven.
Since the biogas recovery system came into operation in Mar 2009, the Company has saved up 100 kg coal per one ton of starch. An annual saving of VND 1 billion was achieved, and also a reduction of air emissions and slags releases to the environment is possible. Wastewater discharged to the environment is under the acceptable level./.