Pollution Prevention Recycling

In the Environmental Protection Agency (ERA) hierarchy of pollution prevention, recycling is listed as a viable technique. Glass, food, and beverage containers are... 

There are a number of papers and patents on recycling dye and textile industry wastewater for reuse of dye, textile auxiUaries, and water (99,102,120,306—311). Recycling is considered a part of pollution prevention. 

Although the EPAs policy does not consider recycling or treatment as actual pollution prevention methods per se, these methods present an opportunity to reduce the amount of waste that might otheiwise be discharged into the environment. Clearly, the definition of pollution prevention and its synonyms (e.g., waste minimization) must be understood to fully appreciate and apply these techniques. 

Figure 1.4 Schematic represeotation of mass-integration strategies for pollution prevention segregation. mixing, interception, recycle and sink/gen tor manipulation (El-Halwagi and Spriggs, 1996).

Segregation simply refers to avoiding the mixing of streams. In many cases, segregating waste streams at the source renders several streams environmentally acceptable and hence reduces the pollution-prevention cost. Furthermore, segregating streams with different compositions avoids unnecessary dilution of streams. This reduces the cost of removing the pollutant from the more concentrated streams. It may also provide composition levels that allow the streams to be recycled directly to process units. 

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 is tlie most important regulation regarding pollution prevention. The 1990 act establishes tlie pollution prevention liierarchy as national policy, declaring tliat pollution should be prevented or reduced at tlie source wherever feasible, while pollution tliat cannot be prevented should be recycled in an environmentally safe manner. 

Pollution prevention practices have become part of the U.S. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program, working in conjunction with best management practices (BMPs) to reduce potential pollutant releases. Pollution prevention methods have been shown to reduce costs as well as pollution risks through source reduction and recycling/reuse techniques.5... 

If the program continues and additional reductions are desired, more expensive and more complex projects begin to emerge (Phase II). These are often associated with equipment modifications, process modifications and process control and may include the addition or adaptation of auxiliary equipment for simple source treatment, possibly for recycle. This phase usually has little immediate ROI, and more inclusive approaches to assessing the economics of the operation (estimating costs for waste handling, long-term liability, risk) are needed to justify the continued pollution-prevention operation. 

Pollution prevention in the U.S., whether through source material reduction/reuse, or waste recycling, is practiced in various sectors of the nonferrous metals industry. Pollution prevention techniques and processes currently used by the nonferrous metals industry can be grouped into the following general categories1 2 3 4 ... 

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. 

Fishbein, B., Extended Product Responsibility A New Principle for Product-Oriented Pollution Prevention, Industry Program to Collect and Recycle Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) Batteries, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA530-R-97-009, Washington, DC, pp. 6-1-6-32, 1997. 

The production of the virgin fibre-based papers (boxboard and corrugating base paper) needs, in comparison to recycled fibre-based papers, more resources. Based on data from the report of IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) and calculations according to Table 1, the additional yearly consumptions equal for water 63.1 Mio m3, for electricity 3.9 Mio MWh and for thermal energy 34.2 Mio GJ in terms of steam. 

Within the broad framework of sustainable development, we should strive to maximize resource efficiency through activities such as energy and nonrenewable resource conservation, risk minimization, pollution prevention, minimization of waste at all stages of a product life-cycle, and the development of products that are durable and can be re-used and recycled. Sustainable chemistry strives to accomplish these ends through the design, manufacture and use of efficient and effective, more environmentally benign chemical products and processes". 

Several options have been identified that refineries can undertake to reduce pollution pollution prevention options, recycling options, and waste treatment options. Furthermore, pollution prevention options are often presented in four... 

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