Waste reduction piping

It is evident therefore that the reduction of emissions by action at source can have a significant impact on the size and hence the cost of an end-of-pipe treatment system. On this basis, it should be established practice in industry that no capital expenditure for end-of-pipe treatment should be made until all waste reduction opportunities have been exhausted. This has not often been the case, and many treatment plants have been built that are both larger and more complicated than is necessary. 

Closed-loop recycling. To further promote waste reduction and recycling, spent materials that are reclaimed and returned to the original process in an enclosed system of pipes and tanks are excluded from the definition of solid waste, provided that the following conditions are met ... 

Closed loop sampling—benefits waste reduction and the environment because the sample stream is returned to the process via piping, reducing or eliminating any release of waste into the atmosphere. 

Reduced Emissions and Waste Minimization. Reducing harmful emissions and minimizing wastes within a process by inclusion of additional reaction and separation steps and catalyst modification may be substantially better than end-of-pipe cleanup or even simply improving maintenance, housekeeping, and process control practices. SO2 and NO reduction to their elemental products in fluid catalytic cracking units exemplifies the use of such a strategy (11). 

It is not currently feasible to achieve a zero discharge of chemical pollutants from metal finishing operations. However, substantial reductions in the type and volume of hazardous chemicals wasted from most metal finishing operations are possible.8 Because end-of-pipe waste detoxification is costly for small- and medium-sized metal finishers, and the cost and liability of residuals disposal have increased for all metal finishers, management and production personnel may be more willing to consider production process modifications to reduce the amount of chemicals lost to waste. 

This represents a significant flow rate. Assuming a 15-min emergency response period to stop the release, a total of26,000 kg of hazardous waste will be spilled. In addition to the material released by the flow, the liquid contained within the pipe between the valve and the rupture will also spill. An alternative system must be designed to limit the release. This could include a reduction in the emergency response period, replacement of the pipe by one with a smaller diameter, or modification of the piping system to include additional control valves to stop the flow. 

All point source and nonpoint source wastewaters at an industrial site must be properly managed for source separation, waste minimization, volume reduction, collection, pretreatment, and/or complete end-of-pipe treatment [39,47]. When industrial waste is not disposed of properly, hazardous substances may contaminate a nearby surface water (river, lake, sea, or ocean) and/or groundwater. Any hazardous substance release, either intentionally or unintentionally, increases the risk of water supply contamination and human disease. Major waterborne contaminants and their health effects are listed below. 

This study identifies and examines source reduction, recycling, and treatment strategies for reducing California s metal-bearing waste streams. All of the strategies examined are alternatives to land disposal of the wastes. The methodologies stressed in the report are those that prevent the generation of hazardous wastes. Pollution prevention is preferable to "end-of-the-pipe treatment or recovery. 

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