Pollution Prevention Disposal

Waste minimization generally considers all of the methods in the EPA hierarchy (except for disposal) appropriate to reduce the volume or quantity of waste requiring dispos (i.e., source reduction). The definition oi source reduction as applied in the Pollution Prevention Act, however, is any practice that reduces the amount of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant entering any waste stream... 

Of course, several of these pollution-prevention elements are used by industiy in combination to achieve the greatest waste reduction. Residual wastes that cannot be prevented or otherwise managed are then disposed of only as a last resort. 

Reduced negative environmental impacts. Through an evaluation of pollution-prevention alternatives, which consider a total systems approach, consideration is given to the negative impact of environmental damage to natural resources and species that occur during raw-material procurement and waste disposal. The performance of pollution-prevention endeavors will therefore result in enhanced environmental protection. 

Note that some treatment operations choose a pollution prevention technique to dispose of the float. This involves feeding the float to animals. When this is done for the situation where the feed animals are used for human consumption, organic compounds such as chitosan, carrageenan, lignosulfonic acid,or their derivatives can be used. Use only compounds that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Veterinary Medicine. 

Develop some pollution prevention options for the disposal of brine or salt solution derived from a desalting operation. 

Sludge or solid waste is unavoidably produced in the treatment of water containing suspended solids. There are, however different technologies that we can select among that will indeed concentrate these solids, and thereby reduce the volumes that we ultimately must dispose of. In addition, some sludge can be stabilized and treated, which can impart a low, but none-the-less marketable value to this waste. These technologies and practices do indeed constitute pollution prevention and waste minimization programs within water treatment plant operations, and they can... 

Best management practices are inherently pollution prevention practices. Traditionally, BMPs have focused on good housekeeping measures and good management techniques intending to avoid contact between pollutants and water media as a result of leaks, spills, and improper waste disposal. 

U.S. EPA endorses pollution prevention as one of the best means of pollution control. In 1990, the Pollution Prevention Act6 was enacted and set forth a national policy that pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible pollution that cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner, whenever feasible pollution that cannot be prevented or recycled should be treated in an environmentally safe manner whenever feasible and disposal or other release into the environment should be employed only as a last resort and should be conducted in an environmentally safe manner. ... 

To reduce the amount of waste, start with pollution prevention. Starting with pollution prevention leads to less or no leftover waste that could potentially become hazardous wastes. The use of rechargeable batteries results in a longer life span and use fewer batteries. However, rechargeable batteries still do contain heavy metals such as nickel-cadmium. When disposing of rechargeable batteries, recycle them if possible. 

Another model, used in the USA, is the OASYS Pollution Prevention Optional Analysis System, developed by the Toxic Use Reduction Institute. Technologies are assessed on a variety of hazard criteria, including acute and chronic human toxicity, physical properties, aquatic impacts, persistence/bioaccumulation, atmospheric releases, disposal, chemical properties, energy/resource use, product hazard and exposure potential. Alternatives are rated to... 

Verlicchi P, Galletti A, Al Aukidy M (2011) Hospital wastewaters quali-quantitative characterization and strategies for their treatment and disposal. In Sharma SK, Sanghi R (eds) Water treatment and pollution prevention advances in research. Springer (in press)... 

Pollution prevention hierarchy - The order of preference (highest to lowest) is source reduction, recycling, treatment, and secure land disposal ... 

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