Hazardous-Waste Disposal

Hazardous waste may not be disposed of on-site unless a disposal permit has been obtained. Obtaining a permit to store, treat, or dispose of hazardous waste on site (40 CFR Part 270) can be costly and time consuming. 

The first step in the proper disposal of hazardous waste off-site 

When hazardous waste is shipped off-site, it is still the responsibility of the generator. Incineration of the waste, by a licensed treatment facility, is usually the selection of choice due to the fact that the waste is destroyed and no future liability can be incurred. Land disposal requires land ban exemption forms to be filed. 

The best way to manage hazardous waste disposal to the geosphere is to render all wastes non-hazardous before disposal. Unlike radioactive wastes that eventually decay (see later in this section), some hazardous chemical wastes never degrade and no secure landfill can be assumed to be secure forever. Organic wastes, such as refractory organochlorine compounds, should be destroyed by thermal process, and toxic heavy metals should be separated and recycled. 

One of the more pressing matters pertaining to geospheric disposal of wastes involves radioactive wastes. Most of these wastes are low-level wastes, including discarded radioactive laboratory chemicals and pharmaceuticals, filters used in nuclear reactors, and ion-exchange resins used to remove small quantities of radionuclides from nuclear reactor cooler water. When disposed of in properly designed landfills, such wastes pose minimal hazards. 

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Factors which may affect the cost of coal upgrading are environmental considerations such as toxicity, hazardous waste disposal, and carcinogenic properties (131). These and other environmental problems from process streams, untreated wastewaters, and raw products would figure significantly into the cost of commercialization. 

FIG. 25-75 Conceptual design for control cells for hazardous-waste disposal (section view). FML = flexible-membrane liner. (From Freeman, H. M., Standard Handbook of Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal, McGraw-Hill, 1988.)... 

Liquid injection incinerators are currently the most commonly used type of incinerator for hazardous waste disposal. A wide variety of units are marketed today, mainly horizontally and vertically fired types a less common unit is the tangentially fired vortex combustor. 

Most of the occurrences mentioned above maybe related to the location of tlie plant. Natural hazards, waste disposal liazards, and avoidance of congested areas, particularly tliose with inadequate emergency facilities, may eliminate or minimize the potential hazards of the phuit itself. It is important to set an efficient and appropriate environment for the plant site, as was discussed in Chapter 5. 

Populations residing near hazardous waste disposal sites may be subject to higher levels of methyl parathion in environmental media (i.e., air, groundwater, soil) than those experienced by the general population. Methyl parathion has been identified in at least 16 of the 1,585 hazardous waste sites that have been proposed for inclusion on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). However, the number of sites evaluated for methyl parathion is not known. As more sites are evaluated, the number of sites where methyl parathion has been detected may increase. 

The most important routes of exposure to endosulfan for the general population are ingestion of food and the use of tobacco products with endosulfan residues remaining after treatment. Farmers, pesticide applicators, and individuals living in the vicinity of hazardous waste disposal sites contaminated with endosulfan may receive additional exposure through dermal contact and inhalation. 

In a rural area, where leachate from a hazardous waste disposal site has contaminated an aquifer currently used by only a few residential wells, it may appear more cost-effective to replace a water... 

Sawhney BL. 1989. Movement of organic chemicals through landfill and hazardous waste disposal sites. In Reactions and movement of organic chemicals in soils. SSSA Special Publication no. 22, 447-474. 

Revegetation is a cost-effective method to stabilize the surface of hazardous waste disposal sites, especially when preceded by capping and grading. Revegetation decreases erosion by wind and water and contributes to the development of a naturally fertile and stable surface environment. It may be part of a long-term site reclamation project, or it may be used on a temporary or seasonal basis to stabilize intermediate cover surfaces at waste disposal sites. 

Injection will not be used for hazardous waste disposal in any areas where seismic activity could potentially occur. 

Remove all clothing and personal effects. Because of the potential for hazardous residual metal content (i.e., arsenic, lead, antimony), it maybe appropriate to ship nondurable items to a hazardous waste disposal facility. Otherwise, decontaminate with soap and water. 

Endrin has also been shown to be absorbed after ingestion by humans (Coble et al. 1967 Curley et al. 1970 Kintz et al. 1992 Rowley et al. 1987 Runhaar et al. 1985 Waller et al. 1992 Weeks 1967) however, no studies were located on the rate or extent of absorption that occurs in orally exposed humans or animals. Exposure to endrin through ingestion of contaminated drinking water is not expected to be an important source of concern because the compound has only rarely been detected in drinking water (Schafer et al. 1969 Wnuk et al. 1987). Since endrin is tightly bound to soil particles, ingestion of endrin-contaminated soil, particularly by children, may be an important route of exposure near hazardous waste disposal sites that contain endrin. 

Mirex has been detected in air, surface water, soil and sediment, aquatic organisms, and foodstuffs. Historically, mirex was released to the environment primarily during its production or formulation for use as a fire retardant and as a pesticide. There are no known natural sources of mirex and production of the compound was terminated in 1976. Currently, hazardous waste disposal sites and contaminated sediment sinks in Lake Ontario are the major sources for mirex releases to the environment (Brower and Ramkrishnadas 1982 Comba et al. 1993). 

Pojasek RB (1980) Toxic hazardous waste disposal. Ann Arbor Science Publishers... 

Double Liners and Leachate Collection Systems for Hazardous Waste Disposal Units Subparts M, N, and O Land Treatment, Landfills, and Incinerators... 

In addition, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 set the groundwater standards the same as the drinking water standards for the purpose of necessary cleanup and remediation of an inactive hazardous waste disposal site. The 1986 amendments of the SDWA included additional elements to establish maximum contaminant-level goals (MCLGs) and national primary drinking water standards. The MCLGs must be set at a level at which... 

The Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) addresses closed hazardous waste disposal sites that may release hazardous substances into any environmental medium. Title 111 of SARA also requires regular review of emergency systems for monitoring, detecting, and preventing releases of extremely hazardous substances at facilities that produce, use, or store such substances. 

Harris RH, Highland JH, Rocricks JV, et al. 1984. Adverse health effects at a Tennessee hazardous waste disposal site. Hazardous Waste 1 183-204. 

Figure 2. Quantities of hazardous waste disposed in 1981 (preliminary data).

Generally the procedure that has been developed Is effective In reducing the volume of waste that must be handled by a pesticide applicator by a factor of 100. Five thousand gallons of wastewater can be reduced to 50 gallons of sludge and spent activated carbon. Under current regulations these materials would most likely have to be disposed of at a hazardous waste disposal site. 

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