Waste management options, selection

FIGURE 9.4 Waste management options in United States (2010). The numbers in select... 

S.3.6.3 STEP 3 Select the best waste management option... 

Section (g) identifies the BPEO for each waste stream. Other aspects of the waste management options such as energy use, technical feasibility, cost, etc., are likely to influence the final selection of the best practical waste management option for each stream. The review should also include consideration of other waste treatment facilities that are already in existence on the site so that the most cost-effective combination of waste treatment methods can be identified. 

An integrated approach to municipal waste management is put forward as the only sensible solution, selecting from a range of resource management and reeovery options. These are examined and diseussed, with particular reference to incineration with energy recovery. 

The WRH in column one has been completed by the authors for each option. If you have an option that is not included in the list of options you may add it to the list and assign it an appropriate WRH value. Source reduction has the greatest point value because source reduction is usually the easiest and cheapest methods of waste reduction to implement. Treatment, on the other hand, is on the lower end of the scale and is considered to be the least desirable option. Treatment is discouraged as the first alternative in hazardous waste management. These point values are selected by the authors. If you feel that they should be modified you should feel free to change them when you use the WRAM. 

When possible, select a single management option. Some waste management methods are appropriate for more than one waste hazard. Low-level radioactive animal tissue (a radioactive-biological waste) can often be incinerated on-site, which may be a satisfactory disposal option for both the radioactive and the biological characteristics of the waste. Some multihazardous waste can be disposed of safely in the sanitary sewer when allowed by the local publicly owned treatment works (POTW). 

Select Preferred Waste Management Practices Choose the preferred management practices identified in Step 6 and incorporate waste minimization options from Step 7 wherever feasible. Specific instructions for implementation shoidd be developed. 

In the second step, various schemes are formed by combining selected options in the production, use and waste management stage (Table 13.4). 

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