Solid waste control

This book provides an advanced level of study of industrial hygiene engineering situations with emphasis on the control of exposure to occupational health hazards. Primary attention is given to industrial ventilation, noise and vibration control, heat stress, and industrial illumination. Other topics covered include industrial water quality, solid waste control, handling and storage of hazardous materials, personal protective equipment, and costs of industrial hygiene control. 

The EPA, like any other regulatory agency, sets standards (laws) and then checks to see that the laws are obeyed. It must enforce the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and Resource Recovery and Conservation Act (solid waste control). One way it does this is by monitoring industrial sites to determine if the site is deliberately releasing pollutants into the environment. Operators, instrumentation and analyzer technicians, and maintenance personnel working in refineries, petrochemical, and manufacturing plants are responsible for the proper operation of their equipment and proper performance of their duties so as to keep their facility in compliance with environmental standards. These employees will receive training on... 

The rate of solid waste combustion is controlled by diffusion, rather than by reaction kinetics. In general, the time required for combustion of a single particle of waste (1) can be expressed as ... 

Disposal The final func tional element in the sohd-waste-management system is disposal. Disposal is the ultimate fate of all solid wastes, whether they are wastes collected and transported direc tly to a landfQl site, semisolid wastes (sludge) from industrial treatment plants and air-pollution-control devices, incinerator residue, compost, or other substances from various solid-waste processing plants that are of no further use. 

Much of the current activity in the field of solid-waste management, especially with respect to hazardous wastes and resources recoveiy, is a direc t consequence of legislation. It is imperative to have a working knowledge of waste regulations, including RCRA (for EPA hazardous waste) TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) for PCBs and toxic waste Sohd Waste Disposal Act the Clean Air Ac t and PSD (prevention of... 

LandtiUing of Solid Wastes Landfilling involves the controlled disposal of solid wastes on or in the upper layer of the earth s mantle. Important aspects in the implementation of sanitary landfills include (1) site selection, (2) landfimng methods and operations, (3) occurrence of gases and leachate in landfills, (4) movement and control of landfill gases and leachate, and (5) landfill design. The landfilling of hazardous wastes is considered separately. 

FIG. 25-71 Vents used to control tlie lateral movement of gases in landfills, (a) Cell, (h) Barrier, (c) Well. From G. Tchohanoglous, H. Theisen, and R. Eliassen, Solid Wastes Engineering Principles and Management Issues, McGraw-Hill, New Yor k, 1977. )... 

Solid-wa.ste-filling plan. The specific method of filling will depend on the characteristics of the site, such as the amount of available cover material, the topography, and local hydrology and geology. To assess future development plans, it will be necessary to prepare a detailed plan for the layout of the individual solid-waste cells. On the basis of the characteristics of the site or the method of operation (e.g., gas recovery), it may be necessaiy to incorporate special features for the control of the movement of gases and leachate from the landfill. 

The process related to the paint shop does not impose a significant pollution load on the environment compared to many other industrial activities. It is, however, essential that all possible aspects of environmental pollution by wastewater, environmental hydrology, environmental hydraulics and pneumatics, air, solid waste, noise and hazardous wastes etc. are reviewed to control any kind of pollution within the prescribed limits. Otherwise subsequent tragedies, if caused by environmental negligence in the industrial processes, may lead to the formation of stricter environmental laws. 

The atmospheric movement of pollutants from sources to receptors is only one form of translocation. A second one involves our attempt to control air pollutants at the source. The control of parhculate matter by wet or dry scrubbing techniques 3delds large quantities of waste materials—often toxic—which are subsequently taken to landfills. If these wastes are not properly stored, they can be released to soil or water systems. The prime examples involve the disposal of toxic materials in dump sites or landfills. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and subsequent revisions are examples of legislation to ensure proper management of solid waste disposal and to minimize damage to areas near landfills (4). 

Figure 30-lD represents the simplest, least expensive, and lowest water consumer of all the alternatives. There is a single solid waste product. The key element is the integrated S02/particulate control process. Using sodium-based sorbants, compliance may be achievable for western United States coals. 

Environmental factors include (a) the impact of control technology on ambient air quality (b) the contribution of the pollution control system to the volume and characteristics of wastewater and solid waste generation and (c) maximum allowable emissions requirements. 

The results should be reported to the responsible authorities and relevant parties, as required. Table 3 highlights some of the pollution prevention practices that are applied to controlling air emissions. There are many other pollution prevention practices that can be applied to wastewater and solid wastes. Can you think of some of these ... 

The main purpose of pesticide formulation is to manufacture a product that has optimum biological efficiency, is convenient to use, and minimizes environmental impacts. The active ingredients are mixed with solvents, adjuvants (boosters), and fillers as necessary to achieve the desired formulation. The types of formulations include wettable powders, soluble concentrates, emulsion concentrates, oil-in-water emulsions, suspension concentrates, suspoemulsions, water-dispersible granules, dry granules, and controlled release, in which the active ingredient is released into the environment from a polymeric carrier, binder, absorbent, or encapsulant at a slow and effective rate. The formulation steps may generate air emissions, liquid effluents, and solid wastes. 

The aluminum smelter solid wastes, in the form of spent pot lining, are disposed of in engineered landfills that feature clay or synthetic lining of disposal pits, provision of soil layers for covering and sealing, and control and treatment of any leachate. Treatment processes are available to reduce hazards associated with spent pot lining prior to disposal of the lining in a landfill. Other solid wastes... 

Venmri scrubbers have been applied to control PM emissions from utility, industrial, commercial, and institutional boilers fired with coal, oil, wood, and liquid waste. They have also been applied to control emission sources in the chemical, mineral products, wood, pulp and paper, rock products, and asphalt manufacrnring industries lead, aluminum, iron and steel, and gray iron production industries and to municipal solid waste incinerators. Typically, venturi scrubbers are applied where it is necessary to obtain high collection efficiencies for fine PM. Thus, they are applicable to controlling emission sources with high concentrations of submicron PM. 

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