Waste audits phases

The principal intent of a waste audit is to critically assess various inputs, processes, and outputs to find methods and practices for minimizing waste and reducing the resource consumption in a sustainable and environmentally benign way without compromising the commercial interest of the company. The waste audit phase would typically be a data collection and information synthesis phase that explores the current situation. Traditionally, an industrial waste audit also develops a list of waste minimization options and undertakes some preliminary technical and economic feasibility studies on the identified options to recommend about these opiions. 

The phases of a typical waste audit process are illustrated in Figure 2. Note that an energy audit process can also be divided into similar phases. The rest of the chapter discusses each of these steps in detail with illustrations, examples, and workouts. 

Phases I to n have covered planning and undertaking waste audit, resulting in the preparation of a material balance for each unit operation. Phase IV represents the interpretation of the material balance to identify process areas or components of concern. Figure 4 represent a material balance algorithm for the textile industry in establishing waste reduction options. 

Waste auditing is as important as any other step in a waste-minimization or cleaner-production project. A proper waste audit should essentially provide a platform on which the rest of the project would be built. It should be a repository of all data and information that would be required to carry out the rest of the phases. As information is the strength so is a successful waste audit. 

It should be appreciated that a waste audit forms the vital activity of data col-lechon and investigation of the current condition of the factory and its activities. Therefore, it is the very base of the next series of activities. The waste audit should be undertaken with utmost care and should be as thorough as possible. The more effort is spend at this phase, the better will be the chance of success of the project. 

Step 6 Write the Component Material Balances. The Phase II auditing steps define the pollutants and wastes that are among the team s focus. Its objective has always been to identify specific wastes or pollutants that the enterprise can reduce these are the components the team needs to assess in the material balances. It is important to note that once the material balance for each unit operation has been completed for raw-material inputs and waste outputs, it is necessary to repeat the procedure for each contaminant of concern. 

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