Module-5

Applications: Applications of EMS, Waste Audits and Pollution

Prevention Control: Textile, Sugar, Pulp & Paper,
Electroplating, , Tanning industry. Hazardous Wastes -
Classification, characteristics Treatment and Disposal Methods,
Transboundary movement, disposal.
APPLICATIONS OF EMS

 Environmental Management System is a tool for managing the impacts of an organisation’s

activities on the environment.
 It provides a structured approach to planning and implementing environment protection
measures.
 EMS monitors environmental performance
 EMS integrates environmental management into a company’s daily operations, long term
planning and other quality management systems.
 Application of Environmental management system (EMS) in urban environment provides a
city with orderliness, regularity, quietness and freshness environment.
 It contributes to the sustainable development and optimization in life level index of the
city.
 Where malfunctions in manufacturing systems and other activities of a company may lead
to environmental damage, procedures must be instituted to identify such malfunctions
promptly and instigate remedial action
COMPONENTS OF EMS

 Environmental Policy
 Environmental Impact Identification
 Objectives and targets
 Consultations
 Operational and Emergency procedures
 Environmental Management Plan
 Documentation
 Responsibilities and Reporting Structure
 Training
 Review Audits and Monitoring Compliance
 Continual Improvement
BENEFITS OF EMS
An EMS can assist a company in the following ways:

 Minimize Environmental liabilities

 Maximize the efficient use of resources
 Reduce waste
 Demonstrate a good corporate image
 Build awareness of environmental concern among employees
 Gain a better understanding of the environmental impacts of
business activities.
 Increase profit, improving environmental performance,
through more efficient operations
WASTE AUDITS

Waste Audit is a physical analysis of waste composition to provide a detailed

understanding of problems, identify potential opportunities and give a detailed analysis of
the waste composition.

 Establish baseline or benchmark data

 Characterise and quantify waste streams.
 Verify waste pathways
 Identify Waste diversion opportunities
 Access effectiveness and determine ways to improve efficiency of current waste
 management system
STEPS IN WASTE AUDITS

1. Background information
Production processes, facility layout, waste stream generation, waste
management costs.
Source, type, quantity and concentration of waste
2. Plan Survey
Verify and fill gaps in background data.
Identify additional waste streams
Actual operation data and manufacturing practices
3. Sampling
Identify type of waste and point of origin.
Determine fate (e.g., waste treatment, storm sewer, and atmosphere)
 Determine rate produced or emissions factors (amount produced per hour, per
production unit)
Determine variability (potential shock loading).

4. Plant Survey Methods and Procedures

To identify missing or inaccurate information, a preliminary review of the data
should be done during, or immediately following, the survey.

5. Evaluation and Selection of Waste Reduction Techniques

List waste streams
Identify potential waste reduction techniques for each waste stream
Evaluate the technical and economic aspects of each technique
Select the most cost effective waste reduction techniques for each waste stream
6. Waste Minimization Program Implementation and Monitoring
Keeping employees informed.
Maintaining records and data
Corporate Commitment.
WASTEWATER MINIMIZATION

1)Process change: Process changes can reduce the inherent demand for water. An example is the
replacement of wet cooling towers by dry air coolers.

2) Water reuse: Wastewater can be reused directly in other water using operations when the level
of previous contamination does not interfere with the water using operation. This reduces both
freshwater and wastewater volumes but leave the mass load of contaminant essentially
unchanged.

3) Regeneration reuse: Wastewater can be regenerated by partial or total treatment to

remove the contaminants that would otherwise prevent reuse. The regeneration is any operation
that removes the contaminants that prevent reuse and could be filtration, pH adjustment, carbon
adsorption, and other processes. Regeneration reduces both freshwater and wastewater volumes
and decreases the mass load of contaminant.

4) Regeneration recycle: Wastewater can be regenerated to remove contaminants and then the
water recycled. In this case, regenerated water may enter the water using operations in which the
water stream has already been used. Also, recycle can sometimes create a buildup of undesired
WASTEWATER REUSE INTO THREE WAYS AS FOLLOWS
1) Internal wastewaters recycle: Depending on the manufacturing process, water
consumption can be cut down between 50% to 90% by adopting appropriate water
recycling techniques.
2) Reuse of treated industrial wastewater.
3) Reuse of treated wastewater for other activities such as irrigation, fire protection, dual
system etc.
POLLUTION PREVENTION IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES
SOURCES OF WASTEWATER AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
1. Sizing wastewater results from the cleaning of sizing boxes, rolls, size mixer, sizing area
and the drainage of sizing solution. Its volume is low but, depending on the recipe used,
can contain high levels of BOD, COD and TSS.
2. Desizing effluent results from additives used in the size technique, surfactants, enzymes,
and acids or alkaline as well as the sizes themselves. The generated wastewater can be the
largest contributor to the BOD and TSS.
3. Scouring wastewater characteristic is an organic and alkaline, contain fabric fragment
starch and sizing materials, caustic soda and chemicals used. It generates very high BOD
concentrations.
4. Bleaching wastewater usually has high solids content with low to moderate BOD levels include
alkaline and contain bleaching agents.
5. Mercerizing wastewater has low BOD and total solids levels but are highly alkaline prior to
neutralization. The low BOD content arises from surfactants and penetrating agents used as
auxiliary chemicals.
6. Dyeing wastewater depend upon the dyes used. It contributes high volume, color, low BOD,
high COD, high temperature and is sometimes toxic.
POLLUTION PREVENTION Pollution prevention programs should focus on reduction of water use and on
more efficient use of process chemicals. Process changes might include the following:  Match process
variables to type and weight of fabric (reduces wastes by 10–20%).

 Manage batches to minimize waste at the end of cycles.

 Avoid non degradable or less degradable surfactants (for washing and scouring) and spinning oils.
 Avoid the use, or at least the discharge, of alkylphenol ethoxylates.

Ozone-depleting substances should not be used, and the use of organic solvents should be minimized.
 Use transfer printing for synthetics (reduces water consumption from 250 l/kg to 2 l/kg of material and also
reduces dye consumption).
 Use water-based printing pastes, when feasible.
 Use pad batch dyeing (saves up to 80% of energy requirements and 90% of water consumption and
reduces dye and salt usage). For knitted goods, exhaust dyeing is preferred.
 Use jet dyers, with a liquid-to-fabric ratio of 4:1 to 8:1, instead of winch dyers, with a ratio of 15:1, where
feasible.
 Avoid benzidine-based azo dyes and dyes containing cadmium and other heavy metals. Do not use
chlorine-based dyes.
CLEANER PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES 1) Good housekeeping: Good
housekeeping in textile industries is a program of maintenance, inspection, and
evaluation of production practices should be established.
2) Reduction in water use
 Minimizing leaks and spills  Maintaining production equipment properly 
Identifying unnecessary washing of both fabric and equipment, and  Training
employees on the importance of water conservation.
3) Reuse in mercerizing: On the mercerizing range, the scope for water
conservation and reuse lies in adopting a countercurrent flow pattern. The water
requirement can be reduced, if most of this water can be recovered as steam
condensate from the multiple effect evaporators of the caustic recovery plant
provided suction in the evaporations is carefully controlled to avoid boiling
overflow.
4) Reuse in dyeing: Small saving can be affected if running washes are replaced
by static ones wherever possible. Further, the batching or wetting water need not
be drained out. It can be retained for use in the next operation like dyeing .
5) Reuse in printing and finishing: Uses water for various cooling and washing operation and
reuse steam condensates in boilers.
6) Reuse of soaper wastewater: The colored wastewater from the soaping operation can be
reused at the buckeye washer, which does not require water of a very high quality. Alternatively,
the wastewater can be used for cleaning floors and equipment in the print and color shop
8) Counter current washing: Counter current washing is an employed frequently on
continuous preparation and dye range. It can be applied at desire washers, scour washers,
mercerizing washers, bleach washers, dye ranges, and print house soaper range.
9) Use of automatic shut-off valves: An automatic shut-off valve set to time, level, or
temperature will control the flow of water into a process unit. One plant estimated that a
reduction
in water use of up to 20% could be achieved with thermally controlled shut-off valves.
10) Use of flow control valves: A flow or pressure reduction valve can significantly reduce the
quantity of water used in a wash or clean-up step. These valves are particularly useful in
cleaning areas where operators are not always aware of the need for water conservation
Sugar industry:

Growing and harvesting the cane

Cane preparation for milling
Milling
Clarification
Evaporation
Crystallization
Centrifugation
Drying
refining
Flow diagram for the sugar manufacturing process
Flow diagram for complete treatment of sugar mill waste
SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
 The main air emissions from sugar processing and refining result primarily from the
combustion of bagasse (the fiber residue of sugar cane), fuel oil, or coal.
 Other air emission sources include juice fermentation units, evaporators, and
sulfidation units.

 Approximately 5.5 kilograms of fly ash per metric ton (kg/t) of cane processed (or
4,500 mg/m3 of fly ash) are present in the flue gases from the combustion of bagasse.

 Sugar manufacturing effluents typically have biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) of

1,700– 6,600 milligrams per liter (mg/l) in untreated effluent from cane processing and
4,000–7,000 mg/l from beet processing; chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 2,300–
8,000 mg/l from cane processing and up to 10,000 mg/l from beet processing; total
suspended solids of up to 5,000 mg/l; and high ammonium content
POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

 Reduce product losses to less than 10% by better production control. Perform sugar
auditing.  Discourage spraying of molasses on the ground for disposal.

 Minimize storage time for juice and other intermediate products to reduce product
losses and discharge of product into the wastewater stream.

 Give preference to less polluting clarification processes such as those using bentonite
instead of sulfite for the manufacture of white sugar

 Collect waste product for use in other industries—for example, bagasse for use in
paper mills and as fuel.Cogeneration systems for large sugar mills generate electricity for
sale. Beet chips can be used as animal feed.
 Optimize the use of water and cleaning chemicals. Procure cane washed in the field.
Prefer the use of dry cleaning methods.  Recirculate cooling waters.
AUDIT APPROACH
The typical audit comprises of three steps as Pre-Audit, onsite Audit and Post
Audit.

Pre-Audit: The Pre-Audit is conducted to get the background information and

making the survey by using the questionnaires. The pre audit is useful to get
familiar with the company and to save time requirement for the onsite audit.

Onsite Audit: The onsite audit means to identify the water usage, raw material
consumption, by product produced, wastewater produced, solid waste, hazardous
waste generated and also analysis report is produced for all this waste as well as
air, noise and sound. The water used for all the purpose within the industry is also
taken into account.

Post Audit: The final draft is prepared for raw material, water and energy
consumption and also the waste generated on the action plan the recommendation
are given.
 The wastewater is generated in a sugar factory from processing, domestic purposes and
some number of spent lees which is coming from distillery.

 All these wastewaters treated in ETP of sugar factory treatment process. To achieve BOD
reduction from 1000 mg/lit i.e. 92% treatment efficiency.

 There is two stage biological treatment plants. The first stage will comprises of an aerobic
lagoon equipped with surface aerator and second stage is provided with conventional
complete mix activated sludge process.

 The aerated lagoon in first phase is expected to reduce BOD by 50 %.

 The second stage is activated sludge process which further provides 90% reduction in
BOD resulting into an effluent. An oil and grease trap are incorporated to remove all free
and floatable material.
SOURCES OF POLLUTANTS AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS
POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL
 Prefer dry debarking processes.
 Prevent and control spills of black liquor.
 Prefer total chlorine-free processes, but at a minimum, use elemental chlorine-
free bleaching systems.
 Reduce the use of hazardous bleaching chemicals by extended cooking and
oxygen delignification.
 Aim for zero-effluent discharge where feasible. Reduce wastewater discharges to
the extent feasible.
 Incinerate liquid effluents from the pulping and bleaching processes.
 Reduce the odor from reduced sulfur emissions by collection and incineration
and by using
modern, low-odor recovery boilers fired at over 75% concentration of black liquor.
 Dewater and properly manage sludges.
 Where wood is used as a raw material to the process, encourage plantation of
trees to ensure sustainability of forest
WASTE AUDITING OF THE MILL
Unit Operation of The Mill
1. Main processing sections consuming water are washing, diluting pulp before pumped to
beaters, beating and paper making.
2. Beating unit operation is the process combining beating and washing.
3. Wastewater from office section
Solid Waste Generation from Production Process
1. Piths generated from depithing unit operation.
2. The amount of pith separated is accounted for 20% of the bagasse amount.
3. Cinder generated from coal burning from the steam boiler.
4. It is estimated that the cinder amount is accounted for 30% of the amount of coal consumed.
5. Waste paper (low quality product) come from finishing and cutting.
6. At present, this waste paper amount is about 15% of total paper amount from paper machine.
7. The amount of waste paper here seems to be high.
8. The reason leading this might be that the rolls in the paper machines were not clean
resulting in paper is broken.
9. Another reason might be the edge for cutting too large
Water Consumption
➢ River water from sedimentation unit is pumped to the production area of the mill.
➢ A part of the raw water is pumped to a tank where alum is added.

This water is used for two purposes:

1. Domestic use including staff housing and office consuming.
2. Steam boiler use after adding chemical to soften the water.

Evaluating Material Balance

1. A material balance of the input and output across the two sections of the paper production
was made.
2. This difference was due to beside the washing wastewater there was the black liquor
remain from cooking discharging.
In pulp and paper industry the useful component balances are : water balance, solid
balance and COD balance.
4. These balances give a direct indication of the efficiency of utilization of fibrous raw
material, chemical and water. It gives the relative importance of different waste
streams in term of quantity of loss

Energy Audit of the Mill

The two major energy forms consuming in the mill are steam and electricity.
1. Coal is used to produce steam.
2. team supply to the cooking and drying process is produced by a steam boiler
IDENTIFICATION FOR CLEANER PRODUCTION OPPORTUNITIES

Causes of Waste Generation

1) Poor Housekeeping
• It was seen the spillage of the bagasse from the belt conveyors when transferring the
bagasse from the depther to a digestor.
• The leaking and overflow of water taps in the mill leading to water consumption amount
was increased.
• The insulation of steam pipeline has been in bad condition.
2) Poor Raw Material Quality
• It was easy to recognize when surveying the mill that depithed bagasse was still mixed
with fine piths after depithing process.
• Hence the input material contains amount of non-fibrous material leading to consume
more chemicals and energy.
3) Poor process and equipment design
• The concentrated black liquor from cooking operation have not been separated and
collected.
• The spillage of pulp in washing pulp operation was seen due to inadequate size of the
potcher (the tanks below the digestors)
• Time of beating was found to be too long (more than 2 hours).
• It was seen that edge cutter was too large.
• Consistency indicator was absence.
• Fiber recovery unit using for wastewater from paper machine was absence Cleaner Production Good
housekeeping

1. Installation of a screen to separate fine piths and dust in the depithed bagasse.

2. Repairing the belt conveyor to prevent the bagasse spillage.

3. Replacing another type of water tap to avoid water leaking.

4. Installation of self-closing valves for the pressurized raw water to minimize water wastage

5. Insulation of the steam pipeline

6. Insulation of the digestors.

7. Cleaning the roll in the paper machines to avoid broke paper Better Process Control 1. Segregation of
initial concentrated black liquor 2. Installation of consistency indicator. 3. Adjustment of edge cutter to
reduce side trimming loss 4. Use of soft water as boiler feed water. 5. Installation fiber recovery unit
(saveall) for whitewater from paper machines. 6. Reduce beating time 7. Multiple loading of digestor
Better Process Control

1. Segregation of initial concentrated black liquor

2. Installation of consistency indicator.

3. Adjustment of edge cutter to reduce side trimming loss

4. Use of soft water as boiler feed water.

5. Installation fiber recovery unit (saveall) for whitewater from paper

machines.
6. Reduce beating time

7. Multiple loading of digestor

The tannery industry is one of the oldest industries in india
Usually the tannery waste characterized by strong colour ,high BOD ,pH, dissolved salts

The tanning process consists of three basic stages

preparation of hides for tanning
Tanning proper
Finishing
In first stage - Hides are washed to removed dirt and preservative salts and then soaked in fresh water containing
sodium chloride and preservative chemical like antimucin for 1to 5days. The soaked hides are then washed again w
sufficient running water .the washed hide are then limed with pasted of lime and sodium sulphide (8:1). Limed hides
then mechanically cleaned of haired and fleshing in wooden vats with running freshwater . The subsequent operatio
are deliming and bating . Bating prepares the hides for tanning by reduced the pH, reducing the swelling and removin
the protein degradation product in it .the deliming and bating is carried out vertically drum in warm solution salts a
commercially prepared protoelytic enzyme .An addition treatment knowing as pickling is required for preparing th
hides for chrome tannng which involves the treatment of hides with sodium chloride and acids.

second stage leather making, the tanning proper invoves the treatment of the hides to make them non putrescible and
soft even when dried .depending on the type of product either vegetable substance containing natural tannin.
Vegetable tanning used for heavy leather and chrome tanning used for light leather
The leather industry is one of the main examples of industries which play an important role in
the Indian economy in terms of exports and employment opportunities, while being blamed for
environmental pollution

Effects of waste discharged from tannery on environment

 Pollution of environment by tannery waste is one of the most horrible ecological crisis to
which we are subjected today. Due to lack of proper management facilities the tannery
waste creates environmental pollution day by day.
 About 95% of the tannery industries have been built in unplanned way

. These unplanned tanneries caused environmental pollution very much.

 These wastes affect the main elements of environment such as air, water and soil and
the animal or plants living depending on these elements are harmed drastically.
 It was showed that the most harmful environmental effect was bad smell to the
surrounding areas which caused environmental pollution
Cleaner technology in Leather Processing Cleaner technology in leather processing can significantly
reduce the costs of environmental compliance by reducing effluent loadings and chemical costs in
leather manufacture.

The pressure to adopt cleaner technologies normally emanates from environmental imperatives such as
the need to meet specific discharge norms, reduce treatment costs or comply with occupational safety
and health standards.

The typical primary targets are: o lower water consumption, o improved uptake of chemicals, o better
quality/re-usability of solid waste, and o reduced content of specific pollutants such as heavy metalsand
electrolytes.
Waste Minimisation Measures

Systematic implementation of the waste minimisation measures in tannery sector can provide a
viable solution to the environmental problems faced by the tanners as well as assist the tanners in
improving their profitability. The following measures should be taken:

a) All the tanneries shall install water meters and flow meters to measure actual consumption
andwaste water discharged. Water consumption rates shall be brought down to less than the
prescribed limits per tonne of hides by taking water conservation measures.

b) Process-wise, some of the waste minimisation measures to be adopted by the tannery units
include the following:
i) Soaking: The waste minimisation measures for reducing water consumption inter-alia include:  Use of
counter current system of washing to concentrate the salt and other soluble materials such as dirt and
blood.
ii) Reuse of the 2nd main soak for dirt soak: Soaking consists of dirt soak and main soak. The main soak is
retained and used for dirt soak for the following batch.
iii) Reuse of dirt soak: The dirt soak liquor may be collected and added polyelectrolyte to flocculate and
settle the suspended solids. Soak liquor thus treated and filtered can be reused partially in liming,
deliming washes and pickling.
iv) Drum soaking instead of pit soaking: This will not only reduce water consumption but will also bring
down the soaking time from 12 hrs to 3 hrs. This will enable the tanners to construct solar evaporation
pond in less area thereby using the open land for more productive use.
v) Addition of soaking enzymes: Soaking enzymes are added to achieve uniform and thorough soaking.
Further, to improve the treatability of waste water, regular wetting agent should be substituted with
biodegradable wetting agents.
vi) Stop ''open washing systems‖ in drum washing. Use batch systems only. Batch washing involves washing
of hides and skins during processing by introducing the required quantity of clean water into the
processing vessel and using the action of the vessel to achieve the required agitation as opposed to
running water washes which use the inflow and outflow of large quantities of water.
ii) Liming: The following measures shall be adopted to optimise chemical consumption in this
process step.

These include:
 Substitution of paste lime by 85% pure calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)!]: This will bring down the
quantity of consumption of powdered lime to one third ofits original quantity. lt will also reduce
the frequency of cleaning the primary settling tanks which consisted mainly of the lime sludge.
 Use of liming enzymes: Use of liming enzymes will reduce Sodium sulphide (NaS)
consumption by 40%.  Provision of a slight slope in the pasting area: By providing a slight
slope in the pasting area the excess liming paste can be effectively collected and used which is
otherwise washed away in the drain by lime yard workers.
 Reuse of relime liquor: 50% of relime liquor can be retained and reused for liming of
subsequent batches. This will also reduce water consumption in liming. In addition to
optimisation of the chemical consumption in liming section, fleshings can be used to produce
biogas, gelatine, glue and also high-grade protein. This will solve the problem of solid waste
disposal from the liming section.
iii) Deliming: Efforts should be made to reduce the water consumption in this section process by
implementing the following measures:
 Use of deliming agents such as ammonium chloride/ ammonium sulphide.
 Use of 2nd delime wash for liming.
 Reduce the use of ammonium by the injection of carbon dioxide gas (mainly applicable for
large tanneries and /or the use of other substitutes deliming agents 10
iv) Pickling: In this process, the following measures should be adopted to reduce salt
consumption: a. Use of drained float for next batch or go directly to tanning. b. Controlling
pickle liquor to 6° - 7° to optimise use of sodium chloride (NaCl).

v) Chrome tanning: The following measures should be adopted to recover chrome from
chrome tanning process, if it is applicable for the tannery. It may be restricted by the need to
produce leather properties which meat the customer requirement in particular related to dyeing
(reduced fastnesss and less brightness of colours) and fogging. a. Collection of spent chrome
liquor after basification and recovery of chrome from the same. The recovered chrome can be
used along with regular Basic Chrome Sulphate (BCS) for chrome tanning.

vi) Dyeing: The waste minimization measures under this process include the following: a. Use of
soft water for dyeing process to reduce the dye consumption as well as syntans consumption, in
case, the fresh water quantity is not good enough (hardness). b. Use of automated water dosing
systems.
ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY
Pollution Prevention and Control Plating involves different combinations of a wide variety of
processes, and there are many opportunities to improve on traditional practices in the industry.
The improvements listed below should be implemented where possible.
1. Changes in Process
 Replace cadmium with high-quality, corrosion-resistant zinc plating. Use cyanide-free
systems for zinc plating where appropriate. Where cadmium plating is necessary, use
bright chloride, high-alkaline baths, or other alternatives. Note, however, that use of some
alternatives to cyanides may lead to the release of heavy metals and cause problems in
wastewater treatment
 Use trivalent chrome instead of hexavalent chrome; acceptance of the change in finish
needs to be promoted.
 Give preference to water-based surface-cleaning agents, where feasible, instead of
organic cleaning agents, some of which are considered toxic.
 Regenerate acids and other process ingredients whenever feasible.
2.Reduction in Dragout and Wastage
 Minimize dragout through effective draining of bath solutions from the plated part, by,
for example, making drain holes in bucket-type pieces, if necessary.
 Allow dripping time of at least 10 to 20 seconds before rinsing
 Use fog spraying of parts while dripping.
 Maintain the density, viscosity, and temperature of the baths to minimize dragout.
 Place recovery tanks before the rinse tanks (also yielding makeup for the process tanks).
The recovery tank provides for static rinsing with high dragout recovery

3.Minimizing Water Consumption in Rinsing Systems

Testing is required to determine the optimum method for any specific process, but proven
approaches include:
 Agitation of rinse water or work pieces to increase rinsing efficiency
 Multiple countercurrent rinses
 Spray rinses (especially for barrel loads)
4.Management of Process Solutions
 Recycle process baths after concentration and filtration. Spent bath solutions should be
sent for recovery and regeneration of plating chemicals, not discharged into wastewater
treatment units.
 Recycle rinse waters (after filtration).
 Regularly analyze and regenerate process solutions to maximize useful life. • Clean racks
between baths to minimize contamination.
 Cover degreasing baths containing chlorinated solvents when not in operation to reduce
losses.
Spent solvents should be sent to solvent recyclers and the residue from solvent recovery properly managed
(e.g., blended with fuel and burned in a combustion unit with proper controls for toxic metals)
ELECROPLATING INDUSTRY
The key production and control practices that will lead to compliance with emissions guidelines can be
summarized as follows:
 Use cyanide-free systems.
 Avoid cadmium plating.
 Use trivalent chrome instead of hexavalent chrome.
 Prefer water-based surface cleaning agents where feasible, instead of organic
 cleaning agents, some of which are considered toxic.
 Minimize drag out.
 Use countercurrent rinsing systems; recycle rinse waters to the process after
treatment.
 Regenerate and recycle process baths and rinse waters after treatment.
 Recycle solvent collected from air pollution control systems.
 Send spent solvents for recovery.
 Do not use ozone-depleting substances.
 Manage sludges as hazardous waste. Reuse sludges to the extent feasible but
 without releasing toxics to the environment.
Hazardous-waste management

 The collection, treatment, and disposal of waste material that, when improperly handled,
can cause substantial harm to human health and safety or to the environment.

 Hazardous wastes can take the form of solids, liquids, sludges, or contained gases, and
they are generated primarily by chemical production, manufacturing, and other industrial
activities. They may cause damage during inadequate storage, transportation, treatment,
or disposal operations.

 Improper hazardous-waste storage or disposal frequently contaminates surface water

and groundwater supplies as harmful water pollution and can also be a source of
dangerous land pollution.

 People living in homes built near old and abandoned waste disposal sites may be in a
particularly vulnerable position. In an effort to remedy existing problems and to prevent
future harm from hazardous wastes, governments closely regulate the practice of
hazardous-waste management
Hazardous-waste characteristics
 Hazardous wastes are classified on the basis of their biological, chemical, and physical
properties.
These properties generate materials that are either toxic, reactive, ignitable,
corrosive, infectious, or radioactive.
 Toxic wastes are poisons, even in very small or trace amounts. They may have acute effects, causing death
or violent illness, or they may have chronic effects, slowly causing irreparable harm. Some are carcinogenic,
causing cancer after many years of exposure. Others are mutagenic, causing major biological changes in the
offspring of exposed humans and wildlife.
 Reactive wastes are chemically unstable and react violently with air or water. They cause
explosions or form toxic vapours. Ignitable wastes burn at relatively low temperatures and may cause an
immediate fire hazard. Corrosive wastes include strong acidic or alkaline substances. They destroy solid
material and living tissue upon contact, by chemical reaction.
 Infectious wastes include used bandages, hypodermic needles, and other materials from
hospitals or biological research facilities.

 Radioactive wastes emit ionizing energy that can harm living organisms. Because
some radioactive materials can persist in the environment for many thousands of years
before fully decaying, there is much concern over the control of these wastes.

 However, the handling and disposal of radioactive material is not a responsibility of

local municipal government. Because of the scope and complexity of the problem, the
management of radioactive waste—particularly nuclear fission waste—is usually
considered an engineering task separate from other forms of hazardous-waste
management
Treatment
 Hazardous waste can be treated by chemical, thermal, biological, and physical methods.
 Chemical methods include ion exchange, precipitation, oxidation and reduction, and
neutralization.
 Among thermal methods is high-temperature incineration, which not only can detoxify
certain organic wastes but also can destroy them.
 Special types of thermal equipment are used for burning waste in either solid, liquid, or
sludge form. These include the fluidized-bed incinerator, multiple-hearth furnace, rotary
kiln, and liquid-injection incinerator. One problem posed by hazardous-waste
incineration is the potential for air pollution.
 Biological treatment of certain organic wastes, such as those from the petroleum industry,
is also an option. One method used to treat hazardous waste biologically is
called landfarming. In this technique the waste is carefully mixed with surface soil on a
suitable tract of land.
 Microbes that can metabolize the waste may be added, along with nutrients. In some
cases a genetically engineered species of bacteria is used. Food crops are not grown on
the same site. Microbes can also be used for stabilizing hazardous wastes on previously
contaminated sites; in that case the process is called bioremediation.
 The chemical, thermal, and biological treatment methods outlined above change the
molecular form of the waste material.
 Physical treatment, on the other hand, concentrates, solidifies, or reduces the volume of
the waste. Physical processes include evaporation, sedimentation, flotation, and filtration.
Yet another process is solidification, which is achieved by encapsulating the waste in
concrete, asphalt, or plastic.
 Encapsulation produces a solid mass of material that is resistant to leaching. Waste can
also be mixed with lime, fly ash, and water to form a solid, cement like product
Disposal methods

1 Underground disposal
 The only way this method is compliant is when the hazardous waste is brought to mines
that are either inactive or partially active (along with meeting additional geological and
technical specifications).

 Many companies need to dispose of radioactive waste, whether from medical treatments,
laboratory experiments, nuclear fuel production, or radioactive ore mining. For those
cases, this method is considered a strong, cost-effective option.

 These hazardous waste facilities will vary in their sustainability, per the EPA. The agency
is responsible for protecting people and the natural world by verifying that these units’
design, operation, and maintenance adhere to its standards.
Landfill disposal

 Dumpsites and landfills are the most commonly used and oldest method of waste
disposal. Hazardous waste landfills are specially built and are NOT intended for liquid
wastes. They are engineered and excavated so that they are within the ground rather than
piling upward.

 These landfills are lined with clay, HDPE, or other non-porous materials to prevent the
waste from leaching into the ground. Wind dispersal controls, leak protection systems,
and a double liner are additional protections so that humans and the environment come
into contact with as little of the waste as possible.

 Human health is generally not impacted by hazardous waste landfills. However, it is

possible for people near the landfill to be harmed if there is a leak.
Ocean dumping

 For the avoidance of groundwater contamination, deep-sea depositing is sometimes used.

It is necessary to treat hazardous waste before ocean dumping to minimize the impact on
marine life. This treatment is important to human health, too, since the waste can make its
way to humans when they consume seafood. Some environmental agencies ban this.
practice, but it is allowed by the EPA if you have a permit and strictly follow its
Guidelines

 Regarding sustainability, treatment is critically important. Radioactive waste, industrial

waste, and sludge all cause considerable ocean pollution. Mercury and cadmium, toxic
heavy metals, are within about 10 percent of dredged material
Hazardous Waste Disposal Alternative

Recycling
 A federal analysis revealed that 1.5 tons of hazardous waste were managed through
recycling in 2017. Recycling is preferable to disposing of hazardous wastes for numerous
reasons. It results in economic benefits, decreases our raw material reliance nationally,
conserves natural resources, prevents pollution, and cuts energy use.

 Any of the following are ways that recycling can be achieved

 Reclaiming – Regeneration or processing to recover a useful product

 Reuse/use – Substituting it for another product or using it as an industrial ingredient

 Burning to recover energy – Burning for fuel

Disposal through use – Placement of waste on the land

Transboundary movement

 Any movement of hazardous wastes or other wastes from an area under the national
jurisdiction of one State to or through an area under the national jurisdiction of another
State or to or through an area not under the national jurisdiction of any State, provided at
least two States are involved in the movement

 Controlling transboundary movements of hazardous and other wastes is a corner stone of

the Basel Convention.

 Parties to the Basel Convention have the overall obligation to ensure that transboundary
movements of hazardous and other wastes are minimized and that any such movement is
conducted in a manner which will protect human health and the environment.

 In addition to these general obligations, the Convention provides that transboundary

movements can only take place if certain conditions are met and if they are in accordance
with certain procedures.

 Parties are under an obligation to take the appropriate measures to ensure that
transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and other wastes are only allowed if one
 The State of export does not have the technical capacity and the necessary facilities,
capacity or suitable disposal sites in order to dispose of the wastes in question in an
―environmentally sound manner‖.

 The wastes in question are required as raw material for recycling or recovery industries in
the State of import; or

 The transboundary movement in question is in accordance with other criteria decided by

the Parties (such criteria will normally be found in the decisions adopted by the
Conference of the Parties)

 In all cases, the Convention requires that the standard of environmentally sound
management of hazardous wastes or other wastes is met. Environmentally sound
management means taking all practicable steps to ensure that hazardous wastes or other
wastes are managed in a manner which will protect human health and the environment
against the adverse effects which may result from such wastes.

 In addition to these conditions, the Basel Convention specifies instances in which Parties
may restrict transboundary movements and instances in which Parties must restrict
transboundary movements.

 Finally, the Basel Convention requires that only persons authorized or allowed to
transport or dispose of wastes undertake such operations and that wastes subject to a
transboundary movement be packaged, labelled and transported in conformity with
generally accepted and recognized international rules and standards.