Hazardous and non hazardous waste

Hazardous and non- Hazardous Waste 

COURSE OUTLINE

●Overview of hazardous materials regulations

●Hazardous waste

●What is hazardous waste?

●What do I do with my hazardous waste?

●Emergency response

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines solid waste as any garbage or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities. There are two primary types of solid waste -– municipal solid waste (trash or garbage) and industrial waste (a wide variety of non-hazardous materials resulting from the production of goods and products. Conversely, hazardous waste is waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, gases, sludges, discarded commercial products (e.g., cleaning fluids or pesticides), or the by-products of manufacturing processes.

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It is important to understand the difference between the general term "hazardous materials" and the more specific term "hazardous wastes".

•"Hazardous materials" generally applies to certain raw materials or products, purchased from outside suppliers, that are stored and used at your facility.

•"Hazardous wastes" is a term with a specific legal meaning that applies to certain materials that have been generated as wastes from processes carried out at your facility. 

Some examples of hazardous waste are:

•Flammable liquids, such as non hydrogenated solvents

•Corrosive liquids, such as strong acids and bases

•Solid oxidizers

•Wastes that contain heavy metals and halogenated organics

•Greases and oils

How does a material become a hazardous waste?

There are two primary ways that a waste material can become classified as a hazardous waste, subject to the RCRA requirements:

1.Listed wastes:  Wastes from certain industrial processes are automatically classified as hazardous.  Each waste of this type is given a code number.  The full list of hazardous waste codes appears in the Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR 261.

2.Characteristic wastes:  Wastes that do not appear on the CFR lists may nevertheless be classified as hazardous if they have one of four properties:

1.ignitability

2.corrosivity

3.reactivity

4.toxicity

In addition, materials can acquire hazardous waste status if they are mixed with, or contaminated with, or are derived from, other wastes that are themselves hazardous.

The generator of the waste is responsible for determining if the waste is hazardous.  The rules can get complicated.

•HAZARDOUS MATERIALS REGULATIONS

Hazardous materials are regulated by three primary 

government agencies:

●Department of Transportation (DOT)

●Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

●Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

●DOT regulations direct us how to properly 

package, identify, and label hazardous materials and 

hazardous wastes for transportation

●OSHA regulations tell us how to protect ourselves 

from the effects of hazardous materials in the 

workplace

●EPA regulations tell us how to protect our environment  

EPA REGULATIONS

Congress placed into law several acts that the EPA uses to establish regulation to protect environment:

●Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)

●Clean Air Act

● Clean Water Act

●Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)

●Emergency Planning & Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

●Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)

RCRA Goals

•Protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal

•Conserve energy and natural resources

•Reduce the amount of waste generated

•Ensure that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner

RCRA Programs

•Solid waste management 

•Hazardous waste management

•Underground tank 

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Classification of Wastes according to
their Effects on Human Health and the Environment

•Hazardous wastes

•Substances unsafe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically and have any of the following properties- ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity & toxicity.

•Non-hazardous 

•Substances safe to use commercially, industrially, agriculturally, or economically and do not have any of those properties mentioned above. These substances usually create disposal problems.

Hazardous Waste

•A subset of solid waste

•Often generated by industrial processes

•Possess one or more of these characteristics

–Ignightability

–Corrosivity

–Reactivity

–Toxicity

•Or may be on a Source-Specific List

Hazardous Waste Manifests

•To track waste, EPA requires generators to prepare a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest

•Manifests must accompany waste where ever it travels

•This form, and its multiple copies, ties generator, all transporters, storage facilities, and disposal facilities with the waste

•Each individual handler must sign and mail copies of the manifest to EPA or authorized state authority

PRIMARY RCRA REQUIREMENTS

RCRA requires that you:

●Label containers with a description of their contents

●Store only the permissible volume of waste.

●Ensure lids and caps are securely fastened at all times, except when putting wastes into the containers

●Ensure all materials are properly segregated

●Use containers that are compatible with your waste

● Use intact containers (no cracks, holes, etc.)

●Ensure that spills and overfills do not occur

●Ensure that mismanagement does not occur 

RCRA REQUIREMENT FOR TRAINING

The purpose of this training is to comply with 

requirements set forth by the EPA.

(Personnel Training)

The scope of the training is to ensure that personnel 

who use chemicals:

1. Understand how to identify hazardous wastes

2. Understand how to package and label hazardous wastes

3. Understand how to have their hazardous materials disposed

4. Know how to respond effectively to emergencies

LISTED WASTES

●F-listed wastes are from non-specific sourcesExample: halogenated solvents used to degrease equipment

●K-listed wastes are from specific sourcesExample: petroleum refining or pesticide manufacturing

●U-listed wastes are toxic wastes

●P-listed wastes are acutely hazardous wastes

Hazardous waste compatibility 

Compatibility = the ability of two or more materials to exist in close association with each other without the formation of harmful chemical or physical reactions

Need compatibility between:

•waste & container

•wastes stored together

•wastes stored close to each other

•wastes & environment

Identification of Non-Hazardous Secondary Materials That Are Solid Waste 

The non-hazardous secondary material (NHSM) regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) identify which NHSM are, or are not, solid wastes when burned in combustion units as ingredients or fuels. These regulations help combustion facilities in determining applicable emission standards for combustion units under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the purposes of determining which Clean Air Act requirements apply:

•Units that burn NHSM that are not solid waste under RCRA are subject to cCA requirements.

•Units that burn NHSM that are solid waste under RCRA are subject to the CAA requirements.

Non-hazardous secondary materials are any materials that are not the primary product of a manufacturing or commercial process, and can include post-consumer material, post-industrial material, and scrap. Many types of these materials have British Thermal Unit (BTU) or material value, and can be reclaimed or reused in industrial processes. A wide and diverse range of NHSMs exists and some percentage of the approximately 200,000 boilers or industrial furnaces use these secondary materials as substitutes for primary fuels or as ingredients. 

DOT REGULATIONS 

DOT classifies hazardous materials into 9 primary hazard 

classes which are subdivided into multiple subsidiary risk 

groups. You don’t need to memorize these, but the 

primary hazard classes are:

Class 1: Explosives

Class 2: Compressed Gases

Class 3: Flammable Liquids

Class 4: Flammable Solids

Class 5: Oxidizers

Class 6: Poisons and Toxics

Class 7: Radioactive materials 

Class 8: Corrosives

Class 9: Miscellaneous hazardous materials 

that don’t fit any other hazard 

class… (i.e. dry ice)

OSHA REGULATIONS

OSHA regulations include the following standards:

●Hazard Communication Standard (Hazcom, Right-to-Know)

●Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Labs, 

including requirements for Chemical Hygiene Plans

●Respiratory Protection Standard

● Confined Space Entry Requirements

● Asbestos Standard

●Lead (Pb) Standard

● Blood borne Pathogen Standard

●Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Methylene Chloride standards

OSHA also establishes Permissible Exposure Levels (PELs) for hazardous chemicals

Classification of wastes according to their origin and type 

•Municipal Solid wastes: Solid wastes that include household garbage, rubbish, construction & demolition debris, sanitation residues, packaging materials, trade refuges etc. are managed by any municipality.

•Bio-medical wastes: Solid or liquid wastes including containers, intermediate or end products generated during diagnosis, treatment & research activities of medical sciences.

•Industrial wastes: Liquid and solid wastes that are generated by manufacturing & processing units of various industries like chemical, petroleum, coal, metal gas, sanitary & paper etc.

•Agricultural wastes: Wastes generated from farming activities.  These substances are mostly biodegradable.

•Fishery wastes: Wastes generated due to fishery activities. These are extensively found in coastal & estuarine areas.

•Radioactive wastes: Waste containing radioactive materials. Usually these are byproducts of nuclear processes. Sometimes industries that are not directly involved in nuclear activities, may also produce some radioactive wastes, e.g. radio-isotopes, chemical sludge etc.

•E-wastes: Electronic wastes generated from any modern establishments. They may be described as discarded electrical or electronic devices. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as Pb, Cd, Be or brominated flame retardants.

IMPACTS OF WASTE IF NOT MANAGED WISELY

•Affects our health

•Affects our socio-economic conditions

•Affects our coastal and marine environment

•Affects our climate

•GHGs are accumulating in Earth’s atmosphere as a result of human      activities, causing global mean surface air temperature and    subsurface ocean temperature to rise.

•Rising global temperatures are expected to raise sea levels and change    precipitation and other local climate conditions.

•Changing regional climates could alter forests, crop yields, and water    supplies.

•This could also affect human health, animals, and many types of    ecosystems.

•Deserts might expand into existing rangelands, and features of some of    our national parks might be permanently altered.

IMPACTS OF WASTE…

   - Some countries are expected to become warmer, although sulfates might limit warming in some areas.

   -  Scientists are unable to determine which parts of those countries will become wetter or drier, but there is likely to be an overall trend toward increased precipitation and evaporation, more intense rainstorms, and drier soils.

   -  Whether rainfall increases or decreases cannot be reliably projected for specific areas.

Impacts of waste….

•Activities that have altered the chemical composition of the atmosphere:

-Buildup of GHGs primarily carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20).

-C02 is released to the atmosphere by the burning of fossil fuels, wood and wood products, and solid waste.

-CH4 is emitted from the decomposition of organic wastes in landfills, the raising of livestock, and the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil.

-N02 is emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels. In 1977, the US emitted about one-fifth of total global GHGs.

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SOURCES OF HUMAN EXPOSURES

Exposures occurs through

•Ingestion of contaminated water or food

•Contact with disease vectors

•Inhalation

•Dermal

Points of contact

•Soil adsorption, storage and biodegrading

•Plant uptake

•Ventilation

•Leaching

•Insects, birds, rats, flies and animals 

•Direct dumping of untreated waste in seas, rivers and lakes results in the plants and animals that feed on itf

Waste hierarchy

Waste hierarchy refers to 3 Rs

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Impacts of waste on health

Chemical poisoning through chemical inhalation

Uncollected waste can obstruct the storm water runoff resulting in flood

Low birth weight

Cancer

Congenital malformations

Neurological disease

•Nausea and vomiting

•Increase in hospitalization of diabetic residents living near hazard waste sites.

•Mercury toxicity from eating fish with high levels of mercury.

Impacts of waste on Environment

•Waste breaks down in landfills to form methane, a potent greenhouse gas

•Change in climate and destruction of ozone layer due to waste biodegradable

•Littering, due to waste pollutions, illegal dumping, Leaching: is a process by which solid waste enter soil and ground water and contaminating them.

Effects of waste on animals and aquatics life

•Increase in mercury level in fish due to disposal of mercury in  the rivers.

•Plastic found in oceans ingested by birds.

•Resulted in high algal population in rivers and sea.

•Degrades water and soil quality.

CATEGORIES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE

Hazardous waste determinations are based upon 

whether the material is a:

● Characteristic waste

● Listed on the D-list or TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure)

● Listed waste

● Materials specifically identified on one of the following lists: F, K, U or P lists

●Universal waste 

●Batteries, lamps, pesticides, mercury from thermometers

CHARACTERISTIC WASTES

●D001 – Ignitable Wastes (flashpoint is less than 140º F) includes oxidizers

●D002 – Corrosive Wastes (pH less than or equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 12.5)

●D003 – Reactive Wastes (water reactive, 

normally unstable materials, cyanides & sulfides, etc)

●D004 – TCLP Wastes

SOURCES OF HAZARDOUS WASTE  

Sources of hazardous wastes (HW) include:

●Research and academic laboratories

●Shops and repair facilities

●Art and theater departments

●Facility maintenance and grounds

●Power Plant operations

●Experimental Farm operations

EXAMPLES OF U-LISTED WASTES

Acetaldehyde 1,4-Dioxane

Acetone Ethyl acetate

Acetonitrile Ethyl ether

Aniline Formaldehyde

Benzene Methyl alcohol

Bromoform Methylene chloride 

1-Butanol Phenol

Chloroform Toluene

U-listed chemicals are commonly found in  labs

•Chemical Waste

•A regulated chemical waste is defined as a waste based on the quantity, concentration, physical and chemical characteristics may:

•cause, or significantly contribute to, the harm of an individual including increased mortality or serious illness; or 

•poses a potential or present threat to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, disposed of, or otherwise managed. 

1.Biological (or Special) Waste

•Biological (or special) waste is a waste requiring special handling to protect human health or the environment.

•A solid waste that if improperly treated or handled, could transmit an infectious disease. 

•Examples include microbiological, animal, human blood and blood products, pathological, sharps. 

•Regulated by the TCEQ and the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS).

1.Radioactive Waste

•Radioactive waste generated by laboratories is usually limited to low-level radioactive waste from the use of by-product materials and naturally occurring or accelerator-produced radioactive materials (NARM). 

•By-product material is reactor-produced radioactive material and includes most purchased radio-labeled chemicals. 

•NARM includes uranium and thorium salts. 

•The use and disposal of by-product material in the State of Texas are regulated by the TDSHS and the TCEQ and usually require a license.

1.Mixed Wastes

Mixed waste contains both radioactive and hazardous waste components. Mixed wastes are regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Atomic Energy Act (AEA). The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) regulate the radioactive portion of mixed waste under AEA authority, while EPA regulates the hazardous waste portion of mixed waste under RCRA authority. Examples of mixed wastes are generated from medical diagnostic testing and research, pharmaceutical and biotechnology development, pesticide research, and nuclear power plant operations. 

UNIVERSAL WASTES

Universal wastes include the following materials that are commonly found in the workplace

Batteries

Fluorescent lamps

Pesticides

Thermometers (containing mercury)

Bulbs 

●Keep the “used oil” container closed (lid in place and secured) except when adding or removing used oil

●If you use a funnel for transfers, the funnel must be removed when not in use and the container capped 

BEFORE YOU START A PROJECT

● Plan ahead

●Is there a product or procedure available that will accomplish the task w/o generating a hazardous waste? 

●Strive for waste minimization

●Only make as much solution as you need

●Substitute less hazardous chemicals if possible

●Use microscale chemistry techniques

●Before purchasing chemicals, log onto your EHS Assistant online inventory and click on the “Surplus Chemicals” button at the top of the main page.

CHEMICAL SPILLS

● Report all spills to HSE if there is an immediate threat of harm to life or property

●Depending on the nature of the spill, you may be asked to complete the  Oil and Hazardous Substance Spill Reporting Form 

●If you have not been trained and/or do not have the 

appropriate personnel protective equipment, please call for assistance!

●Never put yourself or others at risk to cleanup a spill!

If you don’t know…don’t go

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: RELEASE OF 

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

●Call emergency # in the event of an emergency or if anyone is in danger

●Move away from the site of the hazard to a safe location

●Follow the instructions of emergency personnel

●Alert others to stay clear of the area

●Notify emergency personnel if you have been exposed or have information regarding the release

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: EVACUATION

●Know the evacuation procedures and evacuation route information for your area

● Evacuate the building using the nearest safe exit

●Do not use elevators!

●Take personnel belongings (keys, purses etc., but don’t put yourself or others at risk by delaying evacuation)

●If possible, secure any hazardous materials or equipment

●Follow the directions given by emergency personnel

●Go to Evacuation Assembly Points (EAPs) designated on the emergency evacuation sign for the building

●Assist persons with disabilities

WASTES: CONTAINERS AND STORAGE

● Only use containers that are compatible with the materials to be collected

●Always label containers with a description of their contents

●Don’t store incompatible materials together

●Do not store wastes in the fume hood. Store in the appropriate storage cabinet (e.g., flammable, acid)

●Provide secondary containment for liquid wastes

●Always keep the container closed (lid firmly secured)

●A funnel in an open bottle is NOT a lid

●Check waste storage areas regularly (weekly).

● Inspect containers to make sure they aren’t getting brittle or starting to crack

Storage should be for as brief a period as possible

•Permitted temporary storage duration varies from country to country

Western Europe:

•Typically 28 or 90 days

USA:    

•Up to 90 days for large quantity generators

•Up to 180 days for small quantity generators

Some European countries and Far East:

•Indefinite period allowed

Duration of hazardous waste storage

Long term storage

•For longer term storage, different controls needed

•If storage may be indefinite, controls should be similar to those for final disposal facilities

•Long term storage may be a practical solution to the problem of a shortage of hazardous waste treatment and dsiposal facilities

•Important to avoid ‘storage’ becoming an excuse for uncontrolled disposal

Types of storage

•Containerised

•Bulk liquids in tanks

•Bulk solids in bunkers, silos, skips

Packing materials 

•Must be inert and not react with the hazardous waste

• Must be able to absorb impact 

•Materials which can be used include: 

•Steel

•Aluminium

•Natural Wood

•Plywood

•Reconstituted wood

•Fibreboard

•Plastic material

•Textile

•Metal (other than steel or aluminium)

•Glass or stoneware

Types of containers

•Bags

•Boxes

•Drums

•Jerrycans

•Combination packaging

•Composite packaging

Container selection criteria

•Inert    will not react with contents is impervious to attack from contents 

   

•Robust and able to absorb impact

•Good condition, free of leaks, structural defects or rust, clean

•Able to be kept closed except when waste material being added or removed

•Contents will not escape in normal handling

•Suitable for quantity/volume of wastes - not over filled

Containers

•Maximum amount that can accumulate in the lab is 55 gallons of hazardous waste or 1 kilogram of acutely toxic waste.

•If you accumulate more than the maximum amount, the waste needs to be removed from your lab no later than 3 days after these maximum amounts are reached.

Drums and cans  

 Drums:

• Reconditioned drums are cheaper than new ones

• Inspect quality and type of drum

Cans:

• Useful for vertical free space

Potential problems:

• Increase in disposal cost

• Increase in handling risks

Tanks  

•Suitable for storage of bulk material

•Offer rigid and integral containment

•Easy to inspect

•Suitable for bulk materials handling systems eg pipelines, belt conveyors

All markings 

Markings should be:

•Durable

•In English and/or native language

•Unobscured

•Against a contrasting background

•Away from other markings

Labels

Labels should be:

•Made of good quality materials

•Durable

•Weather resistant

•Well located

•Recognisable and legible in day and night time

•Give information about handling precautions and prohibitions

•At least 100mm on each side

Hazard labels:

•In the shape of a square set at 45º

•Required for most dangerous goods except for magnetised materials

Handling labels:

•In various rectangular shapes

•Required either alone or in addition of hazard labelsfor some dangerous goods

Types of labels

Inspection:

•To ensure proper handling and storage

•To check integrity of storage 

Record keeping:

•To provide a record of waste generation and movement

•To inform a subseqeuent disposal option

•To serve as “chain of custody” document

•To comply with regulations

•To ensure duty of care

Record keeping and inspection

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

•Reduce Waste

-  Reduce office paper waste by implementing a formal policy to duplex all draft reports and by making training manuals and personnel information available electronically.

-  Improve product design to use less materials.

-  Redesign packaging to eliminate excess material while maintaining strength.

-  Work with customers to design and implement a packaging return program.

-  Switch to reusable transport containers.

-  Purchase products in bulk.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE

Reuse

   -  Reuse corrugated moving boxes internally.

   -  Reuse office furniture and supplies, such as interoffice envelopes, file folders, and paper.

   -  Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, cups, and glasses.

   -  Use incoming packaging materials for outgoing shipments.

   -  Encourage employees to reuse office materials rather than purchase new ones.

Some common hazardous chemicals

•Lead

–paint, gasoline, pipes, accumulates in soil and water

–neurological damage, slows brain development, kidney disorders; children especially vulnerable

•Mercury

–paint, batteries, old thermometers, industrial processes, combustion of coal, dental fillings, contaminated historical mining sites

–damages brain, kidneys, developing fetus, learning disabilities, death with high doses

•Arsenic

–treated wood, industrial processes, contaminated soil and water

–impairs organ, heart, and blood functions; damages nervous system

•PCBs (Ploycholorinated biphenyls)

–industrial chemical (used in fire retartands, lubricants, insulation for electrical transformers, some printing inks)

–carcinogenic, birth defects, lower IQ, learning disabilities, impairs neurological development

Principles of treatment

•Volume reduction

•Reduce the volume of waste with hazardous components by concentration

•Destruction

•Convert hazardous to non-hazardous substances

•Containment

•Isolate hazardous materials

Treatment options 1

•Physical

•Chemical

•Physical and chemical

•Biological

•All treatments are aimed at modifying physical and chemical properties of the hazardous component

•Most treatments leave residues for disposal

Treatment options 2

•Thermal

•Stabilisation and solidification

•Combined treatment methods

•All treatments are aimed at modifying physical and chemical properties of the hazardous component

•Most treatments leave residues for disposal

Disposal options

Landfill and land disposal may include:

•Co-disposal

•Disposal in engineered hazardous waste sites or cells within sites

Other options:

•Soil biodegradation

•Underground injection

•Deep mines

Technology selection

•At on-site level, to deal with a particular waste stream

•At national level, to decide what off-site facilities are needed to deal with residues from individual premises

•Always need to know quantities and types of waste

•There will always be a need for landfill

Technology criteria for on-site treatment of wastes

•Can it deal with amount and type of waste?

•Will it enable compliance with regulations?

•What are the likely costs? What are the implications for operation?

•Are there any workplace, environmental or social concerns?

•What residues will be generated that have to be removed off-site?

Selection criteria for delivering national strategy

•The nature and quantity of waste

•The desired characteristics of outputs from treatment

•The role of a centralised landfill for stabilisedwastes from individual generators

•The technical adequacy of treatment alternatives

•Economic and financial considerations

•Workplace, environmental and social considerations

Selection criteria for particular waste stream

•Can it deal with amount and type of waste?

•Will it enable compliance with regulations?

•What are the likely costs and possible revenues?

•Are there any environmental or social concerns?

Physical treatment

●Manual separation - removes selected wastes by visual inspection

●Sieving and screening - removes coarse material

●Sedimentation  - settles solids to separate liquid

●Decanting - removes water content

●Centrifuging - removes water content

●Filtration

●Solvent extraction

●Adsorption

●Soil washing - extracts soluble contaminants

●Sludge drying

●Autoclaving - sterilises waste by heat & pressure

●Microwave irradiation - sterilisation

Physical treatment - example of application

Chemical treatment

●Chemical reduction and oxidation - uses oxidising and reducing agents to transform constituents

●Neutralisation - adjusts pH to neutral

●Precipitation - separates hazardous constituents from solution

●Dechlorination - removes chlorine from organic materials

●Hydrolysis - breaks down constituents by adding water

●Electrolysis - breaks down chemical compounds with electrical charge

Biological treatment
Biodegradation of organic into simple inorganic species with suitable microbes

●Activated sludge treatment - biodegrades organic species with bio-active sludge in aqueous phase

●Rotating biological contactor - breaks down aqueous organic species in contact with bacterial rich filter

●Aerated lagoons and stabilisation ponds - break down organic wastes in shallow pools with oxygen 

●Anaerobic digestion - degrades organic waste in absence of oxygen

●Land application - biodegrades organic matter through action with soil microbes

Thermal treatment

Thermal treatment of waste:

●Incineration

→ allows energy recovery, materials recycling

● Pyrolysis

●Gasification

→ allow recovery of useful materials

•Landfill -

• carefully designed structure built into or on top of the ground in which trash is isolated from the surrounding environment (groundwater, air, rain). This isolation is accomplished with a bottom liner and daily covering of soil. A sanitary landfill uses a clay liner to isolate the trash from the environment. A municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill uses a synthetic (plastic) liner to isolate the trash from the environment

The purpose of a landfill is to bury the trash in such a way that it will be isolated from groundwater, will be kept dry and will not be in contact with air. Under these conditions, trash will not decompose much. A landfill is not like a compost pile, where the purpose is to bury trash in such a way that it will decompose quickly.

Incinerators

Incinerators are enclosed devices that use controlled flame combustion for the thermal treatment of hazardous waste. When performed properly, this process destroys toxic organic constituents in hazardous waste and reduces the volume of waste that needs to be disposed.

Land Treatment Units

Land treatment units use naturally occurring soil microbes and sunlight to treat hazardous waste. This is accomplished by applying the hazardous waste directly on the soil surface or incorporating it into the upper layers of the soil in order to degrade, transform, or immobilize the hazardous constituents. Land treatment units rely upon the physical, chemical, and biological processes occurring in the topsoil layers to contain the waste. Because of this, the units are not required to have liner systems or a leachate collection and removal systems.

Before hazardous waste can be placed in a land treatment unit, operators must complete a treatment demonstration to demonstrate the unit's effectiveness and ability to treat the hazardous waste. Once operational, operators must monitor the unit (unsaturated zone monitoring) to ensure that all hazardous constituents are being treated adequately. Unit closure consists primarily of placing a vegetative cover over the unit and certifying that hazardous constituent levels in the treatment zone do not exceed background levels.

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There are three main types of waste that you need to know about so you can put the right kind in the right bin for our collection teams:

•Food and garden waste (green service)

•Mixed dry recycling (blue service)

•Non-recyclable waste (black service)

Where to put different types of wasteType of wasteWheeled binSacks (for properties without enough space to store bins)Food and garden wasteGreen topCorn starch or paper sackMixed dry recyclingBlue topClear sackNon-recyclable waste (what's left)Black topBlack sacks (provide your own)

Different types of waste we collect

Food and garden waste (green service)

Food waste refers to all cooked and uncooked food, including:

•fruit and vegetables 

•meat, fish and bone 

•plate scrapings

•rice, pasta and bread 

•tea bags and coffee grounds 

•used tissues or paper kitchen towels

Garden waste includes:

•grass, hedge and shrub cuttings

•leaves and weeds

•plants and flowers

•straw, hay and sawdust

•tree bark and small branches (less than 50mm or two inches in diameter)

•vegetarian pet waste (for example, from rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters)

Please do not put plastic bin liners, plastic sacks, carrier bags or degradable/biodegradable sacks in your green-top bin as they are not compostable and do not break down quickly enough.

Mixed dry recycling (blue service)

Cans, including:

•food tins and drinks cans 

•empty aerosol cans 

•tinfoil and foil ready-meal containers (with food removed)

Cardboard, including:

•cardboard boxes

•cardboard food packets

•greeting cards

•toilet roll and kitchen roll inserts

•food and drink cartons (with liquids removed)

Paper, including:

•newspapers and magazines

•catalogues, telephone directories and paperback books

•envelopes and junk mail

•shredded paper (bagged)

Glass, including:

•glass drinks bottles (clear and coloured) 

•glass food jars and bottles

Plastic, including:

•plastic bottles (emptied drinks, milk, shampoo and bleach bottles)

•yoghurt pots, plastic ready-meal containers, margarine and ice-cream tubs, plastic fruit punnets and cling film (clean with food removed) 

•supermarket carrier bags

Non-recyclable waste - or what's left over (black service)

use the black service for:

•disposable nappies 

•sanitary towels and incontinence pads (bagged) 

•polystyrene packaging 

•pet waste or cat litter (double-bagged) 

•broken crockery (wrap first to avoid injury) 

•cigarette ends and ashtray contents 

•coal and wood ash (cooled)

•cotton wool pads and buds and make-up wipes 

•vacuum cleaner waste

•textiles (which you can also take to a recycling bank, or request a free kerbside collection)

Remember, if you are unsure where an item goes, put it in the black-top bin.

Saudi Arabia has acted with urgency to develop a comprehensive framework for measuring and monitoring activities that cause environmental degradation. Its actions include measures to ensure efficient use of natural resources, prevention of depletion, and implementation of sustainable development. Saudi Arabia has adopted a comprehensive list of Standards and Guidelines.  It regulated matters ranging from air pollution, to wastewater management, to transportation of chemicals; sustainability was an important principle incorporated in these measures.

Waste Management

Saudi Aramco's Industrial Waste Management Plan ensures wastes are properly handled to protect the environment. The plan, which has received international recognition, provides for the special industrial waste management needs of each of the company's operating plants.

The company utilizes several environmentally acceptable methods for treating industrial waste. Sanitary landfills are used for the disposal of municipal solid waste, while industrial wastes are segregated and handled according to their hazard risk following approved industry practices. Several industrial waste treatment plants have been built, including separators to treat oily water, dedicated asbestos disposal areas, and on-site oxidation of pyrophoric waste. The company has a Waste Minimization Program that reduces waste generation and lowers associated costs, and it aggressively recycles through reclamation and recovery of reclaimable materials.

Air

AMBIENT AIR STANDARD 2012

Ambient Air Standard 2012 was published and made mandatory on March 24, 2012. The Standard relates specifically to the ambient air quality in Saudi Arabia. The Standard prescribes limit values for ambient air quality parameters and establishes the responsibilities of the Presidency of Metrology and Environment (PME) with regard to managing ambient air quality in the kingdom. The Standard aims to provide a basis for the maintenance and restoration of ambient air quality in an effort to prevent or reduce harmful effects on human health and the environment. It introduces new limits for companies that are required to manage their emissions. However, if the company performs one of the exempted activities, the limits stated by this Standard would not apply. The Standard exempts from limitations dispersion zones (which are authorized by the PME), indoor air, and natural events.  A different Standard on air adopted on the same day and made mandatory for all new equipment relates to the control of emissions from mobile sources.

STANDARD ON EMISSIONS FROM MOBILE SOURCES 2012 

The Standard on Mobile Sources Emissions requires companies to reduce their emissions to the levels required and to properly maintain their equipment to ensure emissions reduction. The Standard presents a framework for a sustainable management of mobile sources.  It sets out emission limit values depending upon the engine type and capacity. Companies are required to ensure that the emissions of their mobile sources are in compliance with the emission limits for all new equipment. However, for existing equipment they have five years to bring their emissions in line with the limits stated. The Standard introduces emission limits for pieces of equipment used outdoors and aims at protecting, maintaining, and improving the environment and public health. The mobile sources include those such as mobile generators, agricultural machinery, and large earthmoving equipment. The emission limits include those for diesel engines, small and large gasoline engines, and recreational vehicles not included in Saudi Arabia Standard Organization (SASO) Standards.

GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARD FOR NOISE 2012

The General Environmental Standard for Noise of 2012, which introduced noise emission limits, was made mandatory on March 24, 2012. The Standard regulates community noise, noise from industrial units in areas set aside primarily for industrial facilities, noise from construction activities, noise from vehicles (including motorized vessels and recreational craft), and noise from equipment used outdoors. The Standard issued by the PME provides a basis for statutory control to restrict and reduce the nuisance caused by environmental noise. It must be noted that the Standard does not address the issue of occupational noise, which is regulated by the National Health and Safety Laws. Furthermore, the Standard does not extend to noise related to public transportation, including noise from highways and railways, and noise from commercial and private aircraft, including helicopters, both in flight and operating on the ground, as well as to some other activities that are exempt, including calls for prayer and sports events.

Water 

NATIONAL AMBIENT WATER QUALITY STANDARD OF 2012

The Standard sets forth a framework for the sustainable management of ambient water quality by protecting the water supply and the natural aquatic environment.  It provides, additionally, a   basis for the restoration of water used for recreational, agricultural, industrial, potable, and ecological purposes. This Standard applies to all coastal and underground water and includes any surface freshwater that may be present permanently or temporarily. On March 24, 2012, the National Ambient Water Quality Standard for Saudi Arabia adopted by the Presidency of Metrology and Environment became effective.  The ambient water covered by the Standard includes coastal and underground water and any surface freshwater that may be present permanently or temporarily. 

WASTEWATER DISCHARGE STANDARD OF 2012

Companies and persons discharging wastewater are now subject to the Wastewater Discharge Standard as of March 24, 2012. The Standard aims at enabling Saudi Arabia to reach its ambient water quality objectives. The Standard sets out use-related criteria and specific limits on individual discharges designed to protect water quality. Liquid waste generators are required to comply with the emissions limits, permit requirements, as well as any reuse or conservation requirements. Notably, if a facility cannot restrict its emissions to the limits stated in the Standard, it is required to obtain a permit by June 24, 2012. The Wastewater Discharge Standard applies to liquid emissions generated by persons or facilities. It is intended to improve wastewater management in Saudi Arabia without increasing the financial burden on companies. 

Chemical  Management

TECHNICAL GUIDELINE OF 2012 ON THE PREVENTION OF MAJOR ACCIDENTS 

In the case of activities involving the manufacturing, processing, using, storing, or otherwise handling of dangerous substances irrespective of their size or location, it is now required to take necessary actions to prevent major accidents, such as the release of toxic materials, the release of flammable materials, fires, explosions, major structural failures, and any accident that involves dangerous substances. The Standard is mandatory for all facilities storing or handling hazardous chemicals in excess of the threshold values. The Technical Guideline on the Prevention of Major Accidents intends to reduce and prevent accidents involving dangerous substances. The Guideline states that there are different categories of companies varying from lower tier to higher tier based on the threshold levels. The Standard entered into force on March 24, 2012.

STANDARD ON WASTE TRANSPORTATION 2012

Hazardous, non-hazardous, and inert waste transporters must comply with the updated Framework for Waste Transportation in Saudi Arabia. The Standard on Waste Transportation adopted by the Presidency of Metrology and Environment intends to monitor and control waste movement to protect both human health and the environment, as well as to provide consistent standard requirements for hazardous substances regarding the classification and labeling of waste to facilitate the movement of waste and dangerous goods inside and outside the country. Companies are now required to comply with the labeling and classification requirements regarding the waste transported, necessary documentation for the waste transported, vehicle safety, and the drivers’ training and certification. The Standard‘s main purpose is to reduce road accidents involving waste transporters, to provide waste transporters with a consistent system regarding waste classification and waste labeling, to facilitate transboundary waste movement, as well as to simplify waste transportation processes to ensure easier compliance. 

Waste Treatment and Disposal

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS ON MATERIAL RECOVERY AND RECYCLING OF WASTE 2012

Companies operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia might have to comply in the near future with the new waste disposal and treatment procedures. The Presidency of Meteorology and Environment has issued a guidance document which is intended to be the foundation for the development of best environmental practices in relation to waste recovery and recycling. Although the document does not have a direct impact on industries, since it is based on the internationally recognized waste management hierarchy including prevention, recycling, treatment, and disposal, it might serve as the basis for the adoption of future provisions impacting all industry sectors. The Environmental Standards on Material Recovery and Recycling of Waste became effective March 24, 2012.

BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT STANDARD OF 2012

Biological treatment and incineration facilities must comply with a series of new requirements relating to the design, location, operation, and closure of such facilities. The Biological Treatment Standard provides requirements related to the treatment and disposal of biodegradable waste. The requirements apply to the pre-development of a new biological treatment facility that receives and handles biodegradable waste. However, operators of existing facilities must implement the requirements wherever and whenever that is feasible. The Standard on Biological Treatment sets forth the design parameters and operational requirements for biological treatment facilities in Saudi Arabia. The Standard applies to privately operated as well as publicly operated biological treatment facilities. The Standard does not apply, however, to domestic biological processes such as home composting initiatives undertaken by householders at their places of residence. 

Oil Spill Preparedness

Although Saudi Aramco has never had a major oil spill incident, the company recognizes the value of preparation and has the capability to respond to incidents anywhere it operates. The company has a broad spill-response organization and hones its response plans through regular drills held both at home and abroad in cooperation with local, national and international agencies.

In addition to its readiness training, the company maintains regional command and control centers for oil spill response and houses emergency equipment, including dedicated aircraft, to battle spills at sea. The company engages in aerial and sea surveillance of all its offshore operating areas.

Saudi Aramco is also a charter member of key regional and international agencies involved in oil spill response, such as the Gulf Area Oil Companies Mutual Aid Organization and the International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association, whose main purposes are to inform members of environmental developments and facilitate communications between the oil industry and relevant international organizations on environmental issues.

Saudi Armaco

Saudi Aramco produces oil and gas, but it regards itself as an integrated energy business, which also generates power and runs refineries and petrochemicals plants. Although the company does not give details of its total carbon footprint, its 2013 “Corporate Citizenship” report said the company avoided almost 2.5m tonnes of CO “through energy conservation measures and further reductions in flaring” at its sites.

The company’s main annual report for 2013 reports that flaring in Saudi Aramco facilities was reduced by 17% during the year. The company said its flare monitoring systems enabled it to reduce flaring at upstream facilities from 0.89% of raw gas production to 0.72% and that it had achieved zero flaring at nine wells on its new Manifa field.

Downstream, its Ras Tanura refinery used pressure swing absorption technology, which separates different gases under pressure, to achieve zero tail gas flaring, resulting in a gas cost avoidance equivalent to $8.33m per year. Its Yanbu refinery also managed to reduce flaring by 41% in 2013 by using the company’s facility flaring guidelines.

Saudi Aramco has run an Energy Management Programme since 2000 and said in 2013 that in that period it had identified 700 energy saving opportunities and acted upon 74 of these in 2013 alone, which collectively enabled the company to cut energy consumption by 5.8%. It reports that in 13 years the investments and amendments to procedures it has made have resulted in savings equivalent to around 150,000 barrels of oil a day.

Saudi Aramco has also invested in projects to conserve both marine and desert environments. It signed a 10-year research partnership with King Abdullah University of Science and Technology to conduct studies on the Red Sea coast, where its exploration activities have increased and its Manifa field, which consists of man-made islands, bridges and causeways in the Gulf, was nominated for a UNESCO environmental responsibility award. The company is also developing a 600-sq-km wildlife sanctuary in the Rub Al Khali, or the Empty Quarter. It is home to rare native species such as the sand fox, sand cat, reptiles and migrating birds. Arabian oryx and Reem gazelles are also being reintroduced to the area decades after they were last seen there.

Sabic

SABIC is another major Saudi enterprise working to harness efficiency savings and carry out initiatives designed to reduce its carbon footprint. In its 2014 “Sustainability Report” SABIC said that its total GHG emissions across the company’s international operations were equivalent to 56m tonnes of CO , down from 57m tonnes in 2012. The report said, “Our ambition is to reduce our GHG, energy and water intensity by 25%, and to reduce material-loss intensity by 50% versus 2010 levels by 2025.”

Carbon Capture & Storage 

Both Saudi Aramco and SABIC have been involved in carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives as well. SABIC expects that its United project will be operational by the end of 2015. The CO emitted in the process of producing glycol at its affiliate Jubail Unified Petrochemical will be captured in the ethylene-glycol process and transferred via pipelines to other SABIC affiliates, where it can then be used to produce urea, methanol or industrial-grade CO , which is used in the food and beverage industry.

If this pilot project works, SABIC will study the feasibility of extending it to another affiliate. The process is expected to yield 1.5% in product revenue for United, and SABIC believes the environmental benefits will include a 500,000-tonne-per-year decline in CO emissions, a 13% reduction in energy and water intensity, and a 76% reduction in material-waste intensity. SABIC said it has found several customers for its pure gaseous CO . “We see this as the start of a journey where CO recovery and its use become as common as the recycling of aluminium cans today.”

Saudi Aramco’s CCS demonstration project was launched on July 29, 2015. CO captured from its Hawiyah natural gas liquids recovery plant is being reinjected into mature oil fields in the Uthmaniya area. The company is confident the 40m standard cu feet per day of CO will be captured and used in this enhanced oil recovery process, thereby reducing emissions of GHG while enhancing oil recovery. Saudi Aramco has partnered with the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) to create a CO Research Centre near KAIST’s main campus in Daejeon, where interdisciplinary research teams will explore CO management technologies for fixed sites and vehicles. One piece of Saudi Aramco research has involved developing a mobile carbon capture unit mounted on a Ford F-250 truck. The latest version of the capture unit is one-eighth of the size of the original prototype and is capable of capturing 20% of emissions compared to 10% with the original design. A smaller version is now being developed for use on a Toyota Camry.

Conclusion 

despite Saudi Arabia’s vast hydrocarbons wealth, a desire for sustainable growth has created various opportunities for investors in renewable energy, carbon-saving technology and green building. Regulatory changes and a desire to maximise the export potential of its hydrocarbons by improving energy efficiency in the Kingdom have generated a demand for green business solutions. With an ongoing five-year plan focusing on reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency, developments in this space are helping create jobs and drawing public and private sector spending.

End

The following basic principles should be followed:

•written cleaning protocols should be prepared, including methods and frequency of cleaning; protocols should include policies for the supply of all cleaning and disinfectant products

•standard precautions (including wearing of personal protective equipment [PPE], as applicable) should be implemented when cleaning surfaces and facilities (see ‘Standard and additional precautions’)

•cleaning methods should avoid generation of aerosols

•all cleaning items should be changed after each use and cleaned and dried before being used again. They should also be changed immediately following the cleaning of blood or body fluid/substance spills. Single-use cleaning items are preferred, where possible, such as lint-free cleaning cloths

•sprays should not be used, because they can become contaminated and are difficult to clean. Sprays are not effective, as they do not touch all parts of the surface to be cleaned

•detergents should not be mixed with other chemicals

•all cleaning solutions should be prepared fresh before use.