Waste Management Course Objectives and Sources

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
• Identify the industrial and domestic sources of waste
and their characteristics;
• Develop knowledge of waste treatment disposal and
remediation processes;
• Understand the concepts of risk assessment and
remediation standards;
• Describe and share practical knowledge and technology
of chemical ,physical and biological treatment of
hazardous waste.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
• Describe and be able to apply the current remediation
processes and technologies;
• Understand the criteria behind selection of treatment
technologies and site remediation; and
• Educate communities and stakeholders on best
practices in waste management.

Waste Types and Sources
Definition of Wastes
“substances or objects which are disposed of
or are intended to be disposed of or are
required to be disposed of by the provisions
of the law”
Disposal means
“any operation which may lead to resource
recovery, recycling, reclamation, direct re-use
or alternative uses.

Solid wastes: domestic, commercial, mining and industrial
wastes especially common as co-disposal of wastes
Examples: plastics, styrofoam containers, bottles,
cans, papers, scrap iron, and other trash
Liquid Wastes: wastes in liquid form
Examples: domestic washings, chemicals, oils, waste
water from ponds, manufacturing industries
and other sources

Classification of Wastes according to their Properties.
Bio-degradable
can be degraded (paper, wood, fruits and others)
Non-biodegradable
cannot be degraded (plastics, bottles, old machines,
cans, styrofoam containers and others)

Classification of Wastes according to their Effects on
Human Health and the Environment
Hazardous wastes
Substances unsafe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally,
or economically.
Non-hazardous
Substances safe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or
economically.

TYPES OF WASTES
residential industrialcommercial
agricultural
mining
construction
Municipal solid waste Hazardous waste

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY IMPROPER
DISPOSAL OF WASTE
Threat to public health
rodents, insects = vectors of diseases (transmit
pathogens, typhoid, plague
poisonous materials
flammable materials
Irreversible environmental damage in ecosystems
terrestrial and aquatic
air pollution (incineration)
water pollution (land burial)
Technical and environmental difficulties
+administrative, economic and social problems

PROBLEMS WITH LAND DISPOSAL OF WASTE
• too little space for disposal
• costs
• harm to the environment and public health
• landfills are unreliable in long run

Refuse (municipal solid waste)
All non-hazardous solid waste from a community
Requires collection and transport to a processing or disposal site
Ordinary refuse: garbage + rubbish
Garbage
Highly decomposable food waste
Vegetable + meat
Rubbish
Glass, rubber, tin cans
Slowly decomposable or combustible material – paper, textile, wood
Trash
Bulky waste material that requires special handling
Mattress, TV, refrigerator
Collected separately

COMPOSITION OF URBAN SOLID WASTE
paper
hard waste
plastics
metals
food waste
glass
wood
other
• 0,6 – 1,2 m3 waste / day / person
• 120 – 250 kg / m3 without compaction
• 40-50% is paper

Responsibility of the local municipality
refuse collection vehicles
enclosed, compacting type with a capacity of 15 m3
compaction: 50% reduction
Frequency of collection and the point of pickup
depends:
type of community
population density
land use in the collection area
combined collection of garbage and rubbish is cheaper
for recycling it is essential to separate
separated collection!!! (paper, metal, plastic, glass,
organics, chemicals, batteries)

WASTE TREATMENT AND RESOURCE
RECOVERY
1. Reduce the total volume and weight of
material that requires disposal
Help to conserve land resources
2. Change the form or characteristic of waste
Composting, neutralizing, shredding, incineration
3. Recover natural resources and energy in the
waste material
Recycling and reuse!!! (it takes 17 trees to make 1 ton of
paper)


Predominant method of waste disposal in developing
countries
Illegal dumping problems
Groundwater contamination, air pollution, pest and
health hazards
15
Open Dumps

16
Ocean Dumping
Source:The Independent

Sanitary Landfills
17
Waste Disposal Methods (cont’d)

What is a solid waste
• Any material that we discard, that is not liquid
or gas, is solid waste
– Municipal Solid Waste (MSW):
• Solid waste from home or office
– Industrial Solid Waste:
• Solid waste produced from Mines, Agriculture or
Industry

Benefits of Recycling
The ultimate benefits from recycling are
• cleaner land, air, and water,
• overall better health, and
• a more sustainable economy.

Municipal Waste
• On-site (at home)
• Open Dump
• Sanitary Landfill
• Incineration
• Ocean dumping

Open Dump
• Unsanitary, draws pests and vermin, harmful
runoff and leachates, toxic gases
• Still accounts for half of solid waste

Sanitary Landfill
• Sanitary Landfill
– Layer of compacted trash covered with a layer of earth
once a day and a thicker layer when the site is full
– Require impermeable barriers to stop escape of leachates:
can cause problem by overflow
– Gases produced by decomposing garbage needs venting

Sanitary Landfill
Leachates
• is any liquid that in passing through matter,
extracts solutes, suspended solids or any other
component of the material through which it has
passed.
• In the narrow environmental context leachate is
therefore any liquid material that drains from
land or stockpiled material and contains
significantly elevated concentrations of
undesirable material derived from the material
that it has passed through

Sanitary Landfill
• Avoid:
– Swampy area/ Flood plains /coastal areas
– Fractures or porous rocks
– High water table
• Prefer:
– Clay layers
– Heads of gullies

Monitoring of Sanitary Landfills
• Gases: Methane, Ammonia, Hydrogen sulphide
• Heavy Metals: Lead, Chromium in soil
• Soluble substances: chloride, nitrate, sulfate
• Surface Run-offs
• Vegetation: may pick up toxic substances
• Plant residue in soil
• Paper/plastics etc – blown by the wind

Incineration
Solves space problem but:
– produces toxic gases like Cl, HCl, HCN, SO2
– High temp furnaces break down hazardous compounds but
are expensive ($75 - $2000/ton)
– Heat generated can be recovered: % of waste burnt

Ocean Dumping
• Out of sight, free of emission control norms
• Contributes to ocean pollution
• Can wash back on beaches, and can cause death of
marine mammals
• Preferred method: incineration in open sea
• Ocean Dumping Ban Act, 1988: bans dumping of
sewage sludge and industrial waste
• Dredge spoils still dumped in oceans, can cause
habitat destruction and export of fluvial pollutants

Ways of Reducing Solid Waste
• Incineration, compacting
• Hog feed: requires heat treatment
• Composting: requires separation of organics from glass
and metals
• Recycling and Reusing

Recycling: facts and figures
• In 1999, recycling and composting activities prevented
about 64 million tons of material from ending up in
landfills and incinerators. Today, this country recycles 32
percent of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during
the past 15 years.
• 50 percent of all paper, 34 percent of all plastic soft drink
bottles, 45 percent of all aluminum beer and soft drink
cans, 63 percent of all steel packaging, and 67 percent of
all major appliances are now recycled.
• Twenty years ago, only one curbside recycling program
existed in the United States, which collected several
materials at the curb. By 2005, almost 9,000 curbside
programs had sprouted up across the nation. As of 2005,
about 500 materials recovery facilities had been
established to process the collected materials.

Waste Exchange
• One persons waste can be another persons
raw material
• Isopropyl alcohol = cleaning solvent
• Nitric Acid from Electronic Industry = high
grade fertilizer
• Spent acid of steel industry = control for H2S

LANDFILL DESIGN
• Modern landfills are designed to
minimise these problems:
– Location
– Landfill Liner
– Compaction of waste
– Daily Cover
– Landfill Cap
– Leachate Management System
– Landfill Gas management System

LANDFILL LOCATION
• In order to obtain a permit a landfill operator
must first carry out a detailed investigation
and prove to the satisfaction of the planning
authority and the EA that the site:
– is located in a geologically stable area
– is not located on a major aquifer;
– Is not located in a vulnerable area;
– is designed to reduce the risk of damage to
the environment and human health;
– will be monitored regularly for the duration of
operations and aftercare period.

Installation of monitoring/site investigation borehole

LANDFILL LINERS
• Landfill Liners are constructed on the base
and sides of a landfill site to prevent leachate
from leaking into the surrounding soils.
• Landfill Liners may be constructed from:
– Compacted Clay
– Bentonite Enhanced Sand
– Geomembrane
– Geotextile Protector
– Dense Asphaltic Concrete (DAC)
– Combination of the above

LANDFILL LINERS
Construction
of compacted
clay liner

LANDFILL LINERS
Installation of Geomembrane Basal Liner

LANDFILL LINERS
Construction of Dense
Asphaltic Concrete Liner
This is a new method of
lining landfills.
The first landfill to be
constructed with this
type of lining system in
the UK is North of
London and was
completed this summer.

CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE
• All construction carried out on landfill sites
is supervised and recorded by an
independent consultant.
• Following construction, certification reports
are produced by the consultant and issued to
the Environment Agency for approval.

LANDFILL OPERATIONS
• Waste is placed in layers approximately 3 m
thick and compacted.
• At the end of each working day
approximately 0.3 m of clay or sand
material is placed on top of the waste to:
– minimise the infiltration of rainwater
– isolate the waste from birds and vermin
– reduce odours

LANDFILL OPERATIONS
• To prevent wastage and the formation of
layers of weakness within the waste mass
the daily cover is scraped off and re-used
each day.
• Leachate that collects at the base of the
waste mass is collected and re-circulated
into the waste. This:
– increases the rate of decomposition of the waste
and therefore, rate of settlement;
– decreases disposal costs.

LANDFILL CAP
• Landfill caps placed above the waste
after completion of infilling prevent the
infiltration of rainwater, minimising the
production of leachate.
• Landfill Caps are usually constructed
from:
– Recompacted clay
– Geomembrane

LANDFILL CAP
Construction
of
geomembrane
cap

LEACHATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
• Leachate management systems are installed to:
– prevent the accumulation of leachate in the base
of the landfill
– collect, re-circulate and dispose of leachate during
operations and after closure
• They comprise of:
– leachate drainage blanket at base of landfill
– pipes along base and sidewalls of landfill
– wells to monitor and extract the leachate

LANDFILL GAS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
• Landfill gas management systems are
installed to prevent the build up of gases
within the landfill and to prevent migration of
landfill gas through the underlying strata.
• There are 2 ways landfill gas can be
managed:
– passive
– active

• Passive management systems
comprise of wells with perforated tops to
allow the gas to vent into the
atmosphere
• Active management systems involve the
active extraction of the gas.
• The extracted gas can be used to
generate electricity.

Electricity
generating
system

MONITORING
• Monitoring is carried out before, during, and
after the placement of waste.
• Numerous monitoring wells are constructed
around a landfill site (both upstream and
downstream) to check for contamination.
• Chemical testing is carried out regularly on:
– Groundwater
– Leachate
– Landfill Gas

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Public/private ownership and operation
In most developing countries landfills are
owned and operated by local governments.
Where expertise is available in the private
sector, municipal planners should explore the
option of privatizing landfill operations on a
contractual basis. This option should be
weighed carefully in bases of cost recovery
and the payment of fees.

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Monitoring and control of leachate:
Leachate management is a key factor in
safe landfill design and operation. The
natural decomposition of MSW and rain
infiltration into the site causes potentially
toxic contaminants. The wetter the climate is
the greater potential risks of ground- and
surface water contamination. The geology of
a site can exacerbate or reduce amount of
leachate.

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Continue Monitoring and control of leachate:
Household hazardous waste (e.g., paint
products, garden pesticides, automotive
products, batteries) and hazardous wastes
from commercial and industrial generators
can release organic chemical and heavy
metals contaminants in leachate.

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Natural or synthetic materials are used to
line the bottom and sides of landfills to
protect ground and surface water. Two feet
or more of compacted clay, thin sheets of
plastic made from a variety of synthetic
materials and others used in lining landfills.
Natural and synthetic liners can crack, if
improperly installed, or can lose strength
over time.

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More than one liner or a mix of natural
and synthetic liners, called a composite
liner, is a recommended alternative. To
minimize production of leachate, covering
material should be applied after each day of
MSW is spread.

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Leachate collection and treatment:
Leachate collection systems are installed above the
liner and consist of a perforated piping system which
collects and carries the leachate to a storage tank.
Periodically, leachate removed from the storage tank
and treated or disposed of.
Most common leachate management methods are:
discharge to wastewater treatment plant, on-site
treatment and recirculation back into the landfill.

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Leachate recirculation
over waste in landfills showed an increase
the quantity (by factor of 10) and quality of
methane gas for recovery as well as possibly
reduces the concentration of contaminants in
leachate and enhances the settling of the waste.

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Leachate reinjection may be appropriate for
areas with low rainfall. This technology could
be more cost-effective than other treatment
systems.

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Possible drawbacks of leachate recirculation
include clogging of leachate collection systems,
increasing release of leachate to the
environment and increasing odor problems.

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At controlled dumps monitoring operations
may involve the scheduled withdrawal of
samples to test for indicator contaminants such
as bacteria, heavy metal ions, and toxic organic
acids.

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Monitoring operations at sanitary landfills
may involve computerized statistical sampling
and automatic reporting of results at the
regulatory agency. Such systems are costly and
require skilled personnel.

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Monitoring and control of landfill gas
Gas management is required at sanitary landfills. At
controlled dumps, it should be monitoring to
determine if dangerous amounts of gas are being
released. A low-cost design (passive collection
system) to handle landfill gas consists of covered
vertical perforated pipes, using natural pressure of
gas to collect and vent or flare it at surface. More
costly active collection systems utilize covered
network of pipes and pumping to trap it. Gas is
processed and used for process heat or electricity.
This collection system is risky and expensive.

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Continue Monitoring and control of landfill gas
Gas management is required at sanitary landfills. At
controlled dumps, it should be monitoring to
determine if dangerous amounts of gas are being
released. A low-cost design (passive collection
system) to handle landfill gas consists of covered
vertical perforated pipes, using natural pressure of
gas to collect and vent or flare it at surface. More
costly active collection systems utilize covered
network of pipes and pumping to trap it. Gas is
processed and used for process heat or electricity.
This collection system is risky and expensive.

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Access and tipping area
Fencing should be designed to restrict unauthorized
access to the landfill and to keep out animals. A
staffed gate should be the point of entry to the facility
for vehicles and any waste pickers. Gate should be
equipped with scales for the weighing of vehicles as
they enter and exit the facility. They provide critical
information for planning purposes and for
operational management of collection vehicles.

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Pre-processing and waste picker policy
Landfill is the least efficient alternative for materials
recovery operations. Where composting is attractive
at the landfill and/or waste picking activity is
permitted, sorting of the waste should occur close to
the gate or tipping area rather than at the working
cell. Such activities reduce the volume of material to
be landfilled and extend the life of the facility.
Waste picking policy should be established during
the design phase of the facility

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Operations and safety manuals
Manuals should be prepared during the
design phase of the landfill. This permits their
content to be specifically adapted to the
processes for which the facility is designed.
Clear operating procedures and well-trained
workers are vital to safe and effective landfill
operations.

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Closure/post-closure plans
Essential closure and post-closure elements are:
• Plans for the sealing and application of
final cover (including vegetation)
• Plans for long-term leachate and gas
management system monitoring;

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Continue Closure/post-closure plans
• Plans for long-term ground and surface water
monitoring;
• Financial assurance guarantees to the local or
state government; and
• Land use restrictions for the site

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In the case of controlled dumps in most
developing countries, closure and post-closure
plans are not prepared. However, ongoing
monitoring and control of the facility after its
useful life is an unavoidable for periods that
may exceed 30 years after their closure.

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Community relations
The designer should establish a program for
ongoing dialog with community. This should
be based on transparency in landfill operations
and procedures to addressing community
concerns. Some facilities offer give-backs to
their host community.

Liquid Waste
• Sewage
• Highly toxic Industrial Waste & Used Oil
– Dilute and Disperse
– Concentrate and Contain
– Secure Landfill
• Sealed drums to be put in impermeable holds with monitoring
wells to check for leakage: does not work
– Deep well Disposal
• Pumping in deep porous layer bounded by impermeable
formations, well below water table
• $1 million to drill, $15-20/ton afterwards
• Restricted by geological considerations, can trigger earthquakes

Wastewater Treatment
Purpose:
To manage water discharged from
homes, businesses, and industries
to reduce the threat of water
pollution.

 Pre-treatment
 Preliminary treatment
 Primary treatment
 Secondary treatment
 Sludge (biosolids) disposal

 Pre-treatment
- Occurs in business or industry
prior to discharge
- Prevention of toxic chemicals or
excess nutrients being discharged
in wastewater

Water discharged from homes, businesses,
and industry enters sanitary sewers
Water from rainwater on streets enters
storm water sewers
Combined sewers carry both sanitary
wastes and storm water

Water moves toward the
wastewater plant primarily by
gravity flow
Lift stations pump water from low
lying areas over hills

Preliminary Treatment
- removes large objects and non-
degradable materials
- protects pumps and equipment from
damage
- bar screen and grit chamber

Bar Screen
- catches large
objects that have
gotten into sewer
system such as
bricks, bottles,
pieces of wood, etc.

Grit Chamber
- removes rocks, gravel, broken glass,
etc.
Mesh Screen
- removes diapers, combs, towels,
plastic bags, syringes, etc.

 Preliminary Treatment

Measurement and sampling at the inlet
structure
- a flow meter continuously records the
volume of water entering the treatment
plant
- water samples are taken for determination
of suspended solids and B.O.D.

Suspended Solids – the quantity of solid
materials floating in the water column
B.O.D. = Biochemical Oxygen Demand
- a measure of the amount of oxygen
required to aerobically decompose organic
matter in the water

Measurements of Suspended Solids and
B.O.D. indicate the effectiveness of
treatment processes
Both Suspended Solids and B.O.D.
decrease as water moves through the
wastewater treatment processes

Primary Treatment
-- a physical process
-- wastewater flow is slowed down and
suspended solids settle to the bottom by
gravity
-- the material that settles is called sludge
or biosolids

Primary Treatment

Sludge from the primary sedimentation
tanks is pumped to the sludge
thickener.
- more settling occurs to concentrate
the sludge prior to disposal

 Primary treatment reduces the suspended solids
and the B.O.D. of the wastewater.
 From the primary treatment tanks water is
pumped to the trickling filter for secondary
treatment.
 Secondary treatment will further reduce the
suspended solids and B.O.D. of the wastewater.

Secondary Treatment

Secondary treatment is a biological process
Utilizes bacteria and algae to metabolize
organic matter in the wastewater
In Cape Girardeau secondary treatment
occurs on the trickling filter

 the trickling filter does not “filter” the
water
 water runs over a plastic media and
organisms clinging to the media remove
organic matter from the water

 From secondary treatment on the trickling filter
water flows to the final clarifiers for further
removal of sludge.
 The final clarifiers are another set of primary
sedimentation tanks.
 From the final clarifiers the water is discharged
back to the Mississippi River.

The final clarifiers
remove additional
sludge and further
reduce
suspended solids
and B.O.D.

Disposal of Sludge or Biosolids
-- the sludge undergoes lime
stabilization (pH is raised by addition of
lime) to kill potential pathogens
-- the stabilized sludge is land applied by
injection into agricultural fields

Disposal of Sludge or Biosolids
-- in the past, the sludge was disposed by
landfill or incineration
-- landfill disposal discontinued to the threat
of leachate
-- incineration discontinued because of the
ineffectiveness and cost

The final part of the field trip tour
will be in the treatment plant lab.

The wastewater plant lab conducts a
number of measurements and tests
on the water.
suspended solids temperature
B.O.D. nitrogen
pH phosphorus

In addition to test performed at the
wastewater lab, an off-site contract
lab performs additional tests
heavy metals priority pollutants
W.E.T (Whole Effluent Toxicity) tests

TRP Chapter 2.1 111
HAZARDOUS WASTE

TRP Chapter 2.1 112
General definition
A hazardous waste has the potential to
cause an unacceptable risk to:
– PUBLIC HEALTH
– THE ENVIRONMENT

TRP Chapter 2.1 113
Why definition is difficult
HAZARDOUS WASTE
PHYSICAL FORM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIESCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
COMPOSITION
The hazard associated with a waste depends on:
BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

TRP Chapter 2.1 114
Examples of hazardous waste
definitions: Basel Convention
45 categories of wastes that are presumed to be
hazardous.
PLUS …...
These categories of waste need to exhibit one or
more hazardous characteristics:
flammable, oxidising, poisonous, infectious,
corrosive, ecotoxic

TRP Chapter 2.1 115
definitions: UNEP
Wastes other than radioactive wastes which,
by reason of their chemical activity or toxic,
explosive, corrosive or other characteristics cause
danger or are likely to cause danger to health or the
environment

TRP Chapter 2.1 116
definitions
UNDER United Nations REGULATIONS:
1 The waste is listed in UNEP regulations
2 The waste is tested and meets one of the four
characteristics established by UNEP:
• Ignitable
• Corrosive
• Reactive
• Toxic
3 The waste is declared hazardous by the generator

TRP Chapter 2.1 117
The objective of definitions
Why define wastes?
To decide whether or not that waste
should be controlled - this is
important for the generator as well as
the regulator
Why create a list?
•Clear and simple
•No need for testing

TRP Chapter 2.1 118
Different methods of classification
Lists eg Basel Convention Annex I, Basel List A,
EU European Waste Catalogue, US EPA list
Origin eg processes, Basel Convention Annex II
Hazardous characteristics eg toxicity, reactivity,
Basel Convention Annex III
Chemical and physical properties eg inorganic,
organic, oily, sludges
• Need to match classification to objectives
• No method will suit all cases

TRP Chapter 2.1 119
Methods of waste classification:
by origin
•Waste streams eg Basel Convention
•Miscellaneous or ubiquitous wastes eg
• contaminated soils
• dusts
• redundant pesticides from agriculture
• hospital wastes

TRP Chapter 2.1 120
Example of waste classification
by origin: Basel
The Basel Convention’s List of
Hazardous Waste Categories (Y1-Y18)
identifies wastes from specific
processes
eg Y1 Clinical wastes
Y6 Wastes from the production and
use of organic solvents
Y18 Residues from industrial waste
disposal operations

TRP Chapter 2.1 121
by hazardous characteristics
Main characteristics:
•Toxic
•Corrosive
UN Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods
by Road or Rail (ADR) lists waste characteristics.
These have been adopted by Basel Convention -
Annex III gives 13 characteristics, based on ADR
rules, including:
•Explosive
•Flammable
•Toxic and eco-toxic
Represented as codes H1-H13
•Ignitable
•Reactive

TRP Chapter 2.1 122
Hazardous characteristics:
Toxicity
Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested,
inhaled or absorbed through the skin
Examples:
•Spent cyanide solutions
•Waste pesticides

TRP Chapter 2.1 123
Corrosivity
Acids or alkalis that are capable of dissolving human
flesh and corroding metal such as storage tanks
and drums
Examples:
•acids from metals cleaning
processes eg ferric chloride
from printed circuit board
manufacture
•liquor from steel
manufacture

TRP Chapter 2.1 124
Ignitability
Ignitable wastes:
• can create fires under certain conditions
• or are spontaneously combustible
Examples:
•Waste oils
•Used solvents
•Organic cleaning materials
•Paint wastes

TRP Chapter 2.1 125
Reactivity
Reactive wastes are unstable under ‘normal conditions’
They can cause:
• explosions
• toxic fumes
• gases or vapours
Examples:
• Peroxide solutions
• Hypochlorite solutions or solids

TRP Chapter 2.1 126
Eco-toxicity
Eco-toxic wastes are harmful or fatal to other
species or to the ecological integrity of their habitats
Examples:
• Heavy metals
• Detergents
• Oils
• Soluble salts

TRP Chapter 2.1 127
by chemical, biological and
physical properties
• Inorganic wastes eg acids, alkalis, heavy metals,
cyanides, wastewaters from electroplating
• Organic wastes eg pesticides, halogenated and
non-halogenated solvents, PCBs
• Oily wastes eg lubricating oils, hydraulic fluids,
contaminted fuel oils
• Sludges eg from metal working, painting,
wastewater treatment

TRP Chapter 2.1 128
•Hazardous waste from households - outside the controls in
many countries
•Small quantity generators - often placed outside the system, at
least initially
•Aqueous effluents discharged to sewer or treated on-site -
controlled separately from hazardous wastes in most countries
•Sewage sludge - excluded in some countries
•Mining wastes - often excluded
•Agricultural waste - often excluded
•Nuclear waste - always excluded
Exclusions from control systems
Some wastes may be excluded from the legal
definition of hazardous wastes, and thus not
subject to controls. These vary, but may include:

TRP Chapter 6.5 129
Thermal treatment

TRP Chapter 6.5 130
Definitions
Thermal treatment = destruction of hazardous waste by
thermal decomposition
Thermal treatment methods include:
• incineration - complete combustion using excess
oxygen
• gasification - incomplete combustion in the partial
absence of oxygen
• pyrolysis - thermal decomposition in the total
absence of oxygen

TRP Chapter 6.5 131
Application of thermal treatment
Suitable for organic wastes
Thermal treatment processes:
• require high capital investment
• are highly regulated
• need skilled personnel
• require high operating and safety
standards
• have medium to high operating costs

TRP Chapter 6.5 132
Good practice in hazardous waste
combustion
3 Ts:
•Time
•Temperature
•Turbulence
Flue gas cleaning systems

TRP Chapter 6.5 133
Waste characteristics
Different waste types have different heat values ie
the amount of heat released during complete
combustion - Calorific Value (CV)
• Gross Calorific Value (CV) includes heat released
by steam condensation
• Net Calorific Value does not include the heat from
condensation
Also important:
•Flash point
•Viscosity
•Chlorine, fluorine, sulphur & heavy metals

TRP Chapter 6.5 134
Examples of Calorific Value
Mixed waste from plant
cleaning operations 10,000 - 30,000 kj/kg
Wastewater 5,000 kj/kg
(0 - 10,000kj/kg depending on organic content)
Industrial sludge 1,000 - 10,000 kj/kg
Paints and varnishes >20,000 kj/kg
Chlorinated hydrocarbons 5,000 - 20,000 kj/kg
For comparison, MSW = ~10,000kj/kg
Source: Indaver

TRP Chapter 6.5 135
Combustion
Requires:
•addition of excess air
•mechanical mixing of waste
•even distribution and aeration of waste
Behaviour of waste during combustion varies
according to its heat value and its form
Some low CV wastes burn easily = straw
Some low CV wastes are difficult to burn = wet sludges
Some high CV wastes burn easily = tank bottoms
Some high CV wastes are difficult to burn = contaminated
soils, certain plastics
Certain wastes change their physical
characteristics during combustion

TRP Chapter 6.5 136
Combustion techniques
Bed plate furnaces: use gravity to mix waste - used for
homogeneous and wet wastes such as sludge cake
Fluidised bed furnaces: waste is introduced into a bed of
sand which is kept in suspension - used for wastes of
similar size and density
Incineration grates: wastes fed onto the grate are turned or
moved to ensure aeration of the waste mass via holes in the
grate - used for solid wastes eg municipal wastes, not
liquids or sludges
Rotary kilns: wastes are placed in slowly rotating furnace -
suitable for solids, sludges and liquids

TRP Chapter 6.5 137
Operation of the furnace
• good understanding of waste
characteristics
• technical skills
• control of waste feed
• mixing of wastes
• temperature to be kept at required
level despite variations in waste
• excess air
• flue gas control
• regular maintenance
Must be consistent
Needs:
Source: David C Wilson

TRP Chapter 6.5 138
Energy recovery
Waste combustion produces heat
but combustion of low CV wastes may not be self-supporting
Energy recovery is via production of steam to
generate electricity
• Only steam production: 80% efficiency is typical
• Steam can be used for in-house demands
• Steam can be delivered to adjacent users eg other industrial
plants
• Electricity can be generated: 25% efficiency typical
Opportunities to sell heat are improved where
facilities are in industrial areas
Sale of surplus energy improves plant economics

TRP Chapter 6.5 139
By-products of incineration
May be:
• solid
• liquid
• gaseous
Comprise:
• recovered materials such as metals, HCl
• flue gases
• slag and ash
• products of the flue gas treatment, also
called air pollution control (APC) residues
• wastewater

TRP Chapter 6.5 140
Solid residues
•bottom ash or slag
•fly ash
•air pollution control (APC) residues
Terms and regulations on treatment and
disposal of solid residues differ between
countries
Bottom ash may be landfilled or used as an
aggregate substitute eg for road building

TRP Chapter 6.5 141
Flue gases
Quantity and type of pollutants
in emissions depend on:
•pollutants in waste
• technology
•efficiency of operation
Average 6 - 7 Nm3 of flue gas
per kg waste
Specific collection/treatment for:
Dust - staged filters
Chlorine - neutralised by scrubbing with lime
Sulphur - washing stage
Dioxins - combustion control, activated carbon
Source: David C Wilson

TRP Chapter 6.5 142
Dioxins
• Family of around 200 chlorinated organic
compounds, a few of which are highly toxic
• Widespread in the environment
• Present in waste going to incineration
• Can be re-formed in cooling stages post-combustion
• 3Ts help destroy dioxins in waste, reduce reformation
• Use of activated carbon to filter from flue gases
• Emissions limits extremely low

TRP Chapter 6.5 143
Example of flue gas cleaning
technology
Source: Indaver

TRP Chapter 6.5 144
Wastewater from incineration
•Controls vary from country to country
•Quantity:
• influenced by gas scrubbing technology
chosen ie wet, semi-dry, dry
•Treatment:
• in aerated lagoons
• widely used
• low cost
• may not meet required standard
• physico-chemical treatment may also be
needed

TRP Chapter 6.5 145
Measurement
Of what:
•controlled parameters eg carbon monoxide
How:
•regular
•continuous
Set out in:
•national regulations
•permitted operating conditions
Problems:
·Measuring equipment may be imprecise
·Errors in correlation
·Errors in sampling

TRP Chapter 6.5 146
Measurement: an example
Emissions from rotary kiln incinerator
Continuous monitoring for:
HCl, CO, dust, SO2, HF, TOC, Nox, O2
Monthly measurement for:
9 heavy metals
Twice a year (soon to be continuous):
PCDD/PCDF
ALSO monitored: wastewater and solid residues
Source: Indaver, Belgium

TRP Chapter 6.5 147
Costs
• Related to site-specific and country-specific factors
• High level of sophistication & control = high
construction costs
• Air pollution control costs = 30-40% of total
• Treatment costs per tonne similar to other
technologies
• Cost savings because volume, weight and hazard of
waste remaining for disposal greatly reduced
• Recovery and sale of energy/heat from the process
improves economics

TRP Chapter 6.5 148
Cement kiln incineration
Widely used for range of hazardous wastes eg oily
wastes, wastewaters, sludges, solvents, organic
compounds
Provides:
•good combustion conditions
•alkaline environment
•vacuum operation
•high thermal inertia
•no impact on quality of cement product
•opportunity to recover energy content of waste
•no by products

TRP Chapter 6.5 149
Requirements for co-combustion
in cement kilns
• suitable for pumpable organic wastes
• not suitable for wastes with high water,
sulphur, chlorine, heavy metals content
• waste needs pre-treatment/blending for use
as fuel
• adaptations may be needed eg fuel feed,
dust controls
• must meet Health and Safety concerns re
handling of hazardous wastes
• dependent on demand for product

TRP Chapter 6.5 150
Examples of technology 1
Rotary kiln incinerator
Source: Guyer, Howard H Industrial processes and waste stream management, Wiley

TRP Chapter 6.5 151
Examples of technology 2
Fluidised bed combustion
Circulating fluidised bed Bubbling fluidised bed
Source: Guyer, Howard H Industrial processes and waste stream management, Wiley

TRP Chapter 6.5 152
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis = thermal decomposition process which
takes place in the total absence of oxygen
Products of pyrolysis:
•combustible gases
•mixed liquid residue
Advantages:
•low operating temperature
•no need for excess air so less flue gas
•by-products are combustible

TRP Chapter 6.5 153
Application of pyrolysis
For single waste streams
such as:
•scrap tyres
•waste plastics
For treatment of
contaminated soils

TRP Chapter 6.5 154
Gasification
Gasification = incomplete combustion in the
partial absence of oxygen
Enables efficient destruction of hazardous waste
at lower temperatures than incineration
Thermal destruction is ensured by a combination
of high-temperature oxidation followed by high
temperature reduction
Products:
•useful gases eg hydrogen, carbon monoxide
•solid char

TRP Chapter 6.5 155
Key considerations
• Waste reduction and avoidance by generators
should always be a priority
• Need to consider residues from treatment
processes and their disposal
• Thermal treatment is the best available
technology for some organic hazardous wastes
- providing that it is designed, managed and
operated properly
• There is often opposition from the public and
from environmental groups, largely based on
dioxin concerns

TRP Chapter 6.5 156
Summary
Thermal treatment:
• is suitable for organic wastes
• includes different technologies, all require high
capital investment
• is highly regulated, requires high operating and
safety standards
• needs skilled personnel
• has medium to high operating costs
• generates useful energy
• has by-products which need careful handling
• often attracts opposition

TRP Chapter 4.2 157
Waste minimisation

TRP Chapter 4.2 158
Why minimise waste?
On-site
recycling
Off-site
recycling
disposal
disposal
source
source
waste
No waste
minimisation
With waste
minimisation,
recycling and
treatment
to treatment
waste

TRP Chapter 4.2 159
Preferred hierarchy of waste
management options
Source
reduction
On-site/off-site
recycling
Treatment
Final disposal
Waste
diversion

TRP Chapter 4.2 160
Source reduction opportunities
Source
reduction
Housekeeping
improvement
Product
reformulation
Input material
alteration
Technology
alteration

TRP Chapter 4.2 161
Factors influencing waste
minimisation
•Government policy and regulations
•Technological feasibility
•Economic viability
•Management commitment and support

TRP Chapter 4.2 162
Waste minimisation - incentives
•Reduced costs:
•raw materials, energy, water
•storage and handling
•waste disposal
•health and safety
•Regulatory compliance
•Improved efficiency
•Improved corporate image

TRP Chapter 4.2 163
Waste minimisation - barriers
•Economic barriers
•Technical barriers
•Regulatory barriers

TRP Chapter 4.2 164
Waste minimisation opportunities
applicable to all operations 1
•Use higher purity materials
•Use less toxic raw materials
•Use non-corrosive materials
•Convert from batch to continuous process
•Improve equipment inspection & maintenance
•Improve operator training
•Improve supervision
•Improve housekeeping

Waste minimisation opportunities
applicable to all operations 2
Improve material tracking and inventory
control:
•avoid over-purchasing
•inspect deliveries before acceptance
•make frequent inventory checks
•label all containers accurately
•ensure materials with limited shelf-life are
used by expiry date
•where possible, install computer-assisted
inventory control

Case studies
Delivering textile dyeing wastewater, Thailand

TRP Chapter 4.2 167
Implementing a company waste
minimisation programme
• A systematic and ongoing effort to reduce
waste generation
• Must be tailored to specific company
needs and practices
• 3 main phases:
• planning and organisation
• conducting a waste audit
• implementing, monitoring and reviewing

TRP Chapter 4.2 168
Phase 1: Planning and
organisation
•Obtain management commitment
•Establish programme task force
•Set goals and priorities
•Establish an audit team

TRP Chapter 4.2 169
Phase 2: Waste audit
6 main steps:
identify plant operations
define process inputs
define process outputs
assess material balance
identify opportunities
conduct feasibility study

TRP Chapter 4.2 170
Step 1: Identify plant operations
• Inspect the site
• Identify different processes undertaken on site
• List processes and obtain as much
information as possible on them

TRP Chapter 4.2 171
Step 2: Define process inputs
Account for all the material flows into each
individual process
•materials
•energy
•water
Make sure all inputs are accounted for in
detail eg kg of raw materials, kilowatts of
electricity, litres of water
Make sure figures are on same basis
eg annual, monthly, weekly inputs

TRP Chapter 4.2 172
Step 3: Define process outputs
Identify and quantify all process outputs
•primary products
•co-products
•waste for re-use or recycling
•waste for disposal

TRP Chapter 4.2 173
Step 4: Assess material balance
To ensure that all resources are accounted
for, conduct a materials balance assessment
=Total
material in
Total
material
out
+ Product

TRP Chapter 4.2 174
Typical components of a material
balance
Inputs Outputs
Production
process or unit
operation
Raw material 1
Raw material 2
Raw material 3
Water/air
Product
By-product
Wastewater
Wastes for storage or
off-site disposal
Gaseous emissions

TRP Chapter 4.2 175
Step 5: Identify opportunities for
waste minimisation
Using data acquired during the waste
audit, make preliminary evaluation of the
potential for waste minimisation
Prioritise options for implementation

TRP Chapter 4.2 176
Step 6: Conduct feasibility study
Conduct feasibility analysis of selected options
Technical considerations:
•Availability of technology
•Facility constraints including compatibility
with existing operation
•Product requirements
•Operator safety and training
•Potential for health and environmental
impacts
Economic considerations:
•Capital and operating costs
•Pay-back period

TRP Chapter 4.2 177
Phase 3: Implementing,
monitoring and reviewing
•Prepare Action Plan
•Identify resources
•Implement the measures
•Evaluate performance

TRP Chapter 4.2 178
Summary
•There are a number of good reasons for minimising
waste - source reduction comes at the top of the
waste hierarchy
•Factors which influence waste minimisation include
regulations, technological feasibility, economic
viability and management support
•There are both incentives and barriers; some
opportunities widely applicable - and valuable
experience from demonstration projects
•Guide to implementing a company waste
minimisation programme and conducting an audit

WHAT IS RECYCLING?
Recycling turns materials that would
otherwise become waste into
valuable resources and generates a
host of environmental, financial, and
social benefits. After collection,
materials (e.g., glass, metal, plastics,
and paper) are separated and sent
to facilities that can process them
into new products and materials

KEY PEOPLE
Step 1. – Key People - Select a
Recycling Coordinator
 The recycling coordinator will need to
have good communication and
organizational skills. Creativity, patience,
persistence, a sense of humor, and good
rapport with other people in your
business are important character
qualities
 If you are the owner or manager of a
small business, you will probably be the
coordinator, at least in the beginning

KEY PLAYERS
A coordinator’s role typically includes:
 Conduct a waste audit and determine what to recycle
 Selecting the contractor
 Designing the collection system
 Educating employees
 Tracking the program’s progress
 Designate area monitors to assist the coordinator in:
- Keeping the collection containers free of non-recyclable material
- Notifying the coordinator if containers overflow
- Encouraging employee participation

KEY PEOPLE
Step 1. – Key People - Cleaners
 Always involve janitors in the planning process for
any recycling program
 Additional training may be necessary to familiarize
them with new or alternative waste collection
procedures
 Realistically assess their safety concerns and how
changes will affect their workload
 The cleaners' commitment and cooperation in
executing your recycling program are crucial to success
 You may need to modify the janitorial contract to
specify recycling services.

KEY PEOPLE
Step 1. – Key People - Landscape
Contractors
 Plant waste from decorative
landscaping for many downtown
courtyards, atriums, and sidewalks
often goes straight to landfill
 By working with your landscape
contractor, you can potentially have
plant waste hauled to a commercial
composting facility

KEY PEOPLE
Step 1. – Key People – Food Handlers
 Food and other "wet wastes" contaminate dry
recyclable waste unless you keep them in separate
dumpsters
 It may be possible to reduce food waste through the
suggestions of food handlers
 Donating food may be another alternative rather than
disposal
 Food waste can also be recycled through composting

KEY PEOPLE
Step 1. – Key People - Construction Contractors
 The materials generated during the demolition phase
of a renovation are mostly recyclable
 It is necessary to provide the contractor with a
staging area and time in which to separate the materials
 If the contractor separates the materials, the value of
the material can be rebated back to reduce hauling
costs

WASTE AUDIT
Step 2. – Conduct a Waste Audit
 The reason to conduct a waste audit is to find out
what’s in your trash
 The waste audit will help you identify which materials
to collect for recycling, what size and type of containers
you will need, and what waste could possibly be
prevented in the first place
 Find out if your company or individual employees are
already collecting any materials for recycling
 A waste sort or “dumpster diving” should be the first
place to gather “bottom line” information and should be
done just prior to refuse pickup

WASTE AUDIT
Gather the following materials and
resources:
sorting tables
 a large scale for weighing the waste
 separate bins for each sorting
category
 gloves
 surgical masks
 a calculator
 materials for recording data

WASTE AUDIT
Safety First!
 Talk to your facility safety
representative prior to doing a waste
sort
 Wear protective clothing such as
long-sleeved shirts, pants, gloves, and
surgical masks
 If you discover any hazardous
material, don’t touch it and contact your
safety representative

WASTE AUDIT
 Once you have transferred all of the
garbage to your sorting table, identify the
materials you generate (for example,
cardboard, office paper, and food waste)
 Weigh each type of material and record
your findings
 Total the different amounts of waste found
in each dumpster to find the “bottom line”
 Do similar waste sorts within the facility to
determine what size recycling containers
you’ll need and where they should be placed

DECIDING WHAT TO RECYCLE
Step 3. – Deciding What to Recycle
Certain materials are either banned or restricted from
from disposal facilities, such as:
 Tires
 Green Waste (yard trimmings)
 Appliances
 Used Oil
 Scrap Metal
 Auto Batteries
•Contact your landfill to find a listing of restricted
materials and how these materials can be disposed

In some municipalities, businesses are required to recycle
certain commodities such as:
 Bars and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages might
be required to recycle glass
 Office buildings might be required to recycle office
paper, newspaper and cardboard
 Hotels, restaurants, food courts, grocery stores,
hospitals, and food manufacturers who generate large
volumes of food waste might be required to recycle food
waste
•You should contact your local solid waste regulator to
determine what materials you must recycle

Target materials with reliable markets, such as:
 Aluminum
 Corrugated cardboard
 Used Oil
 Copper/Brass
 Office/Computer paper
 Tires
 Steel
 Newspaper
 Green Waste
 Glass

The following liquids may be
recycled and reused on your
premises in most areas with special
equipment:
 Solvents
 Antifreeze
 Frying oil

COLLECTION CONTRACTORS
Step 4. – Selecting a Collection Contractor
 In selecting a collection contractor, you are looking
for good, reliable service at the best price
 The prices paid for recyclable materials vary with the
type of material and can fluctuate dramatically from
month to month
 Moreover, your company’s economic benefit from
recycling will probably come from reduced disposal
costs, rather than money paid to you from the sale of
recyclables

Option 1: Refuse hauler is also the recycling hauler
 If your refuse hauler provides both waste disposal
and recycling collection, the hauler should be able to
offer a combined cost/pay structure
 In other words, he would charge you for the hauling
of both refuse and recyclables and credit you the
current market value on the recyclables
 This can reduce your overall disposal costs or at least
provide a break-even arrangement

Option 2: Recycling company picks-up
 A second option is to have a recycling company (or
processor) collect and pay you for a material or collect it
at no charge/no pay, depending on the current value of
each material
 A small collector will most likely provide no charge/no
pay service
 If you select a recycler, you should discuss lowering
disposal costs with your refuse hauler, once your
recycling program is underway

When you talk to the various companies to compare prices
and services, ask the following questions to help you make
your decision:
 What materials do you collect?
 What materials do you purchase, and how much is paid
for each?
 Do you charge for collection of recyclables?
 If you’re picking up trash and recyclables, what will be
the net savings in my disposal costs?
 Do you pick up on schedule or on call? If on schedule,
how often? If on call, how much lead time is needed?

 Do you provide collection and/or storage containers?
 Will you help us organize and promote our recycling
program?
 Are you willing to sign a long-term agreement? (A
one-year minimum is recommended.)
 What is the allowable level of contamination?
 What are your reporting and accounting procedures?
 How long have you been in business?
Once you have made the selection, include the
information you have gathered in a written agreement

DESIGNING A RECYCLING
SYSTEM
Step 5. – Designing a Recycling System
 KEY: MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AND EASY TO RECYCLE
AS IT IS TO THROW AWAY!
 The goal is to design a collection system that is convenient
for everyone and does not incur additional labor costs

SYSTEM
 Recyclables should flow from individual employees to
area collection containers or directly to central
collection/storage
 Place area recycling containers in convenient
locations normally frequented by employees
 Recycling containers should look distinctly different
from trash containers
 Place regular trash cans nearby to avoid unwanted
trash getting mixed in with the recyclables

SYSTEM
Step 5. – Designing a Recycling
System
At Desks
 Each employee usually gets their
own small recycling tray or upright box
for convenience
 When full, the employee empties
the paper into the larger paper bins
 Trays and upright bins may be
available from your municipality for
free.

SYSTEM
Office Suites
 Some space is required in offices for
recycling bins
 Based on weekly service, the rule-of-thumb
for a white or mixed paper program is one 12-
gallon container in each copy or printer area
For a beverage bottle and can program, you
need one lined container per kitchen area

SYSTEM
Dumpsters
 Most buildings have dumpsters for garbage
 Dumpster sizes are measured in cubic yards;
one cubic yard is equal to about three toters
 Dumpsters are good for larger loads or bulky
materials, such as cardboard They have lids
which are easy to lock (which will protect
materials from theft and or contamination if the
dumpsters are located outside).
Special garbage trucks are equipped to pick up
and empty dumpsters automatically.

SYSTEM
Compactors
 Where space is limited, many buildings prefer to
invest in compacting equipment
 Compactors come in a wide range of styles and sizes
 They can be rented or purchased and are often
customized for a specific site or use
 Some of the investment can be recovered by disposal
savings because you need less frequent garbage or
recycling pick ups

SYSTEM
 To select the best containers for your needs, consider
the following: durability, cost, capacity, ease of
handling, and attractiveness
 Check with local vendors on the types and styles
available
 While containers need to be convenient for everyone,
you also need to consider the work involved in emptying
them
 By keeping in mind the needs of both employees and
custodial or maintenance people you will find an
acceptable balance that works for everyone involved

SYSTEM
Step 5. – Designing a Recycling
System
Transferring to Central Collection
and/or Storage
 KEY: INTEGRATE
RECYCLING COLLECTION WITH
EXISTING SYSTEMS
 KEY: DISTRIBUTE THE
RESPONSIBILITIES.

SYSTEM
Central Collection/Storage Area
Determine the best location for you with your building or
facility manager and your collection contractor, using
these guidelines:
 Is the site large enough?
 Is there easy access to freight elevators and loading
docks?
 Does the area meet with local fire and building
codes?
 Are sprinklers required/in place?

TRAINING AND PROMOTION
Step 6. – Training and Promotion
Phase 1: Program Announcement
 Announce the start of the program
with a brief, upbeat memo from the
head of the company
 The memo should highlight the
benefits of the program to everyone,
outline the collection procedure, and
give the time for a meeting to
formally introduce the recycling
program and answer questions

Phase 2: Meeting/Educational Session
 Encourage everyone to attend an information session
about the new program
 The meeting should focus on the cooperative nature
of recycling and the importance of each individual to its
continued success
 Highlight the main points of the program, taking care
to explain the separation and collection procedures
 Emphasize the benefits to the environment, the
company and the employees

Phase 3: Follow-Up
 Follow-up can be done as a part of a regular meeting
agenda or with memos or newsletters
 Consistency is the key to any successful program,
and recycling is no different
 Note how much is being taken out of the waste
stream, how much was donated to charity, how big the
party fund is, and so on

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
Problem 1: Low Participation Rate
 Here are some of the things you can do to stimulate
participation:
Solution, Part 1: Provide Information
 People may not know how to recycle
 Provide reminders to tenants in memos and other
promotional pieces
 Check that signs explain the recycling program
 See the Training and Promotion Section of this
training

Solution, Part 2: Put Containers in
the Right Places
 Check the location of recycling
bins
 Make sure there are enough of
them and that they are conveniently
located
 Make it easier to put recyclable
materials in the recycling bins than to
put them in the garbage
 Make sure everyone can easily
reach a recycling bin

Solution, Part 3: Appoint Recycling
Experts
 It helps everyone to have an expert
available to ask questions
 Designate motivated employees to
be recycling coordinators for specific
areas and let everyone know how to
reach them
 Include the names or phone
numbers for the experts in all the
promotional materials

Solution, Part 4: Motivate
 Some people simply don't care at all about recycling
 Some people are very busy and might consider
recycling to be a waste of time that is better spent on
their "real work"
 Some of these people can be convinced to participate
by providing incentives, such as games, prizes, and
recognition or by making recycling easier than not
recycling
 You can also put recycling into contracts when doing
business outside your company

Problem 2: Contamination
This is when non-recyclables are mixed with recyclables
Solution:
 If contamination of recyclables is a problem
throughout your building, ask your recycling company to
help find procedural flaws or collection deficiencies
 If contamination is isolated to certain individuals in
the building, focus your educational efforts on making
sure they know the policies
 Solicit management help to change behavior

Problem 3: Unauthorized Scavenging
This is when people are stealing the recyclables.
Solution:
 Provide a secure, central storage area for recyclable
materials between pick ups
 It should be secured from public access, yet easily
accessible to your custodial staff and the recycling
company
 Inform cleaners when unauthorized scavenging takes
place and ask them to report suspicious activities to
management

Problem 4: Lack of Space
This can either be a lack of space near the points of
generation or at the central collection and storage.
Solution
 Lack of storage space is one of the biggest problems in
many downtown office buildings
 Request assistance from your recycling company
 The two most practical solutions are to:
(1) have materials collected more frequently and
(2) install compacting equipment
 Be sure to consider health and safety as well as fire
hazards when you address space issues

BUYING RECYCLED
Closing the Loop
 Business must also support the
purchase of recycled products
 By purchasing recycled products
made with recycled materials, you
are helping to ensure that a market
will continue to exist for the materials
collected in your recycling programs
 Building managers, through
purchasing recycled products, can
make a difference

BUYING RECYCLED
Identifying Recycled-Content Products
 “Recycled-content products” are made from materials
that would otherwise have been discarded (i.e.
aluminum soda cans or newspapers)
 “Postconsumer content” refers to material from
products that were used by consumers or businesses
and would otherwise be discarded as waste. If a
product is labeled "recycled content," the rest of the
product material might have come from excess or
damaged items generated during normal manufacturing
processes—not collected through a local recycling
program

BUYING RECYCLED
 “Recyclable products” can be
collected and remanufactured into
new products after they've been
used
 There are more than 4,500
recycled-content products
available, and this number
continues to grow
 Make the commitment to “Close
the Loop” and to purchase these
products

 Remember, You Control Your Facility or Area!
 Review Procedures With Them Before Starting the Job!
 Ensure They Are Properly Trained!
 Determine Their Environmental Compliance Record!
 Determine Who Is in Charge of Their People!
 Determine How They Will Affect Your Facility’s
Environmental Compliance!
TIPS FOR USING CONTRACTORS

ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL
SOLID WASTE RECYCLING PROGRAM
1. DETAILED WRITTEN SOLID WASTE RECYCLING
INSPECTION GUIDELINES.
2. DETAILED WRITTEN SOLID WASTE RECYCLING BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES.
3. EXTENSIVE EMPLOYEE TRAINING PROGRAMS
4. PERIODIC REINFORCEMENT OF TRAINING
5. SUFFICIENT DISCIPLINE REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION
6. PERIODIC FOLLOW-UP

Waste Management Course Objectives and Sources

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