Management waste minimisation

Waste Minimisation management procedures to prevent, reduce or re-use waste material streams - does not usually involve investing in major plant Cleaner Technology step changes to prevent, reduce or re-use waste material streams -often involves investing in major new plant. 

Chemical companies can make significant environmental improvements in their products, processes and management by the adoption of waste minimisation and clean technology measures. 

Achievements and targets group targets for 1998 and 1999 are reported under the headings waste minimisation material and co-products effluent treatment plant stakeholders and management systems. 

Hence, at the level Reactor-Separators-Recycles the material balance can be brought in a narrow optimal region. On this basis can be started the process integration steps regarding the optimal management of energy, mass separation agents, process water, waste minimisation, etc. 

Smith, R., E. A. Petela, 1991-1992, Waste minimisation in process industries. The Chemical Engineer (UK), ibid. 1. The problem, 24-25, Oct. 1991, ibid. 2. Reactors. 17-23, Dec. 1991, ibid 3. Separation and recycle systems, 24-28 Febr. 1992, ibid 4. Process operations, 21-23, April 1992, ibid 5. Utility waste, 32-35, July, 1992 Towler, G. P., R. Mann, A. J. Serriere, C. M. D. Gabaude, 1996, Refinery hydrogen management cost analysis of chemically-integrated facilities, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 35 (78), 2378-2388... 

The management of impurities is an important issue both in Process Design and Operation. A key point is the interaction between these two aspects. Strict environmental regulations forbid the dump of harmful materials in the environment. Therefore waste minimisation, aiming to zero effluents, is a fundamental feature of sustainable process design. The increased number of recycles in integrated plants, makes the control and the operation much more difficult. 

In line with its environmental strategy DuPont has adopted an Integrated Resource Management (IRM) approach to its activities. This includes directives on waste avoidance, waste minimisation, reuse and recycling and the evaluation of environmental decisions and industrial activities with Life Cycle Assessment. The resulting strategy for the DuPont nylon business will be presented, with the emphasis on recycling efforts. 

As in Europe, waste minimisation is a key element of US policy, endorsed by regulatory requirements including the Pollution Prevention Act (1990), The Clean Air Act(1967) and the amendments of 1990, the Toxics Substances Control Act (1976), and The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1976) The Pollution Prevention Act (1990) arose out of growing national concern with waste generation and management practices (Thurber and Sherman, 1995), and In it s deliberations, US Congress declared that "source reduction is fimdamentally different and more desirable than waste management and pollution control". 

Coggins, P.C. (1993) The important option of waste minimisation. Wastes Management Proceedings, April, 9-12. 

Freeman, H.M. (1995) Pollution Prevention - A New Agenda, hi Industrial Pollution Prevention Handbook (Freeman, H.M. ed.) pp 1-8. McGraw-Hill, USA. Freeman, H.M. and Lounsbury, J. (1990) Waste Minimisation as a Waste Management Strategy in the United States. In Hazardous Waste Minimisation (Freeman, H.M. ed.) pp 3-14. McGraw-Hill, USA. 

As can be seen, there is a good deal of overlap between the terms waste minimisation and cleaner production. Both terms fit within the hierarchy of waste management techniques ... 

Policy. Waste minimisation should be a cornerstone of any company s Environmental Policy Statements (EPS). Each company in the UK, by now, should have a published EPS and all employees should be aware of the implications. Responsibility for the implementation of the policy rests with line management and specific responsibilities should be assigned to specific individuals. No level of exhortation to the work force to go out and minimise waste will achieve results unless there is a managed system in place which allows ideas to be pursued and supplemented. 

Waste minimisation is not always achieved by changing processes, solvent, reaction conditions or by improving management techniques. Addition of auxiliary chemicals to the system under review changing the physical characteristics of the reaction medium, can achieve more efficient hence cleaner chemistry. 

It is essential that the senior management of a company is engaged in the waste minimisation programme and provides leadership to the process. This ensures interest in ... 

Napier, C., Waste Management Legal Requirements and Good Practice for Producers cf Waste Waste Minimisation An Environmental Good Practice Guide for Industry, Environment Agency (2001)... 

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